How to Organise Your First Local Quran Contest (With Tech)

Organising a local Quran contest can be a rewarding yet complex task, requiring careful planning and coordination. When executed properly, such events can inspire participants to deepen their relationship with the Quran, promote community engagement, and encourage excellence in memorisation and recitation. Adding technology into the mix streamlines the process and ensures better management, especially as the number of participants grows. This guide outlines the essential steps in planning your first local Quran competition, with a focus on integrating technology for efficiency and scalability.

1. Planning and Preliminary Decisions

Before implementation begins, organisers must answer several foundational questions to clarify the scope and structure of the competition.

Define the Purpose and Scope

Decide whether the contest focuses on memorisation (Hifz), recitation (Tajweed), or both. Consider whether to target a specific age range, gender, or educational level. The goals should align with the needs of your local community, whether your audience is children in weekend Islamic schools, teenagers in Islamic associations, or members of a mosque congregation.

Select Competition Categories

Typical categories may be divided by:

• Age group (e.g. under 10, 11–14, 15+)
• Juz’ memorised (e.g. Juz’ Amma, 5 Juz’, 10 Juz’, full Quran)
• Recitation level (e.g. beginner, intermediate, advanced)

Clear categorisation helps judges assess fairly and ensures that participants are compared with peers of similar ability.

Set the Timeline and Budget

Determine the best date to hold the event — avoiding exam seasons or holiday periods — and design a planning timeline backwards from that date. Budget planning should cover costs for:

• Venue rental or preparation
• Judges’ expenses (if applicable)
• Trophies, medals, or certificates
• Marketing and registration tools
• Software licenses or subscriptions

2. Forming the Team

Assign clear roles within a team to divide responsibilities. A typical setup may include:

• Event Coordinator – oversees the overall delivery of the competition
• Chief Judge – leads the judging panel and ensures assessment consistency
• Tech Manager – handles the competition platform and digital tools
• Communications Officer – sends participant updates and promotion
• Logistics Officer – manages the venue, refreshments, and setup

Effective delegation allows each team member to specialise and maintain quality in their area.

3. Choosing the Right Technology

Modern technology can help organisers reduce administrative burden and increase accuracy. The following tools are highly recommended:

Digital Registration Platforms

Create an online registration form using tools such as:

• Google Forms or Microsoft Forms – free and easy to use
• Typeform or Jotform – more advanced but offer conditional logic and branding
• Dedicated Quran event platforms – designed specifically for Quran competitions

Capture fields such as name, age, school/madrasa, parent contact details, and selected category. Always ensure data protection and privacy best practices are followed with online submissions.

Digital Scheduling Tools

Use shared calendars or scheduling tools to manage trial rounds, preparation sessions, or rehearsal events. Recommendations include:

• Google Sheets or Airtable for timetable creation
• Doodle or Calendly to allocate judging slots or interviews

Quran Marking and Scoring Software

Instead of pen-and-paper assessments, consider using a digital Quran scoring tool that allows:

• Live scoring from multiple judges
• Error logging (memorisation slips, Tajweed mistakes)
• Instant result calculation and percentage-based scoring
• Centralised database of results for reporting

These tools can significantly reduce the chance of manual errors and disputes while also saving time during result tabulation.

Communication Platforms

Set up central channels to broadcast event updates. Suitable options include:

• WhatsApp broadcast groups (for announcement-style messages)
• Telegram channels (if dealing with large communities)
• Mailchimp or Sendinblue (for email-based updates)

For internal team collaboration during planning stages, tools like Google Workspace, Slack, or Microsoft Teams are also valuable.

4. Preparing for the Event

Venue Arrangements

Choose a venue based on estimated attendance numbers and type of participants. School halls, mosque prayer areas (with separate judging spaces), or community centres are suitable venues. Key considerations include:

• Audio setup – microphones for clear delivery and microphones for judges (if recording)
• Acoustics – ability to hear the recitation without echo or distortion
• Seating and orientation of stages
• Wi-Fi access – if using tech tools during the event

Participant Guidelines

Send out competition rules and expectations ahead of the event. Include:

• Dress code and punctuality reminders
• List of judgeable errors and their penalties
• Allowed supports (e.g. whether Mushaf is allowed for non-Hifz events)
• Contact details for urgent issues

Judge Training and Standardisation

Hold a meeting (in person or virtual) to ensure that each judge follows the same method of assessment. Topics covered should include:

• Error classification – major vs. minor errors in Tajweed or memorisation
• Use of scoring software and password security
• Protocols in case of participant nervousness or disputes

5. Running the Competition

On-the-Day Process

Have a clear schedule for each category with assigned volunteers to manage participant flow. Provide visible signage at the venue to help attendees navigate. Assign a help desk or duty manager for general queries.

Digital Scoring

Each judge can use a tablet or laptop to enter scores into the central platform. Ideally, this should be done in real-time. The software should compile average scores and allow for error flags to be reviewed before finalising positions.

Live Updates and Results

If appropriate, provide live updates for attendees using digital scoreboards or announcement screens. Use pre-created results templates that pull directly from the scoring system to minimise delays before award presentations.

6. Post-Event Activities

Announcements and Celebrations

Publish results publicly via your chosen communication channels. Send each participant their individual result, including summary feedback where possible. Consider issuing e-certificates generated automatically from your registration list and scoring software.

Feedback Collection

Send a digital feedback form to attendees, including judges, participants, and parents. Focus areas could include:

• Clarity of event structure and timings
• Treatment of participants
• Usefulness of the feedback received
• Suggestions for future improvements

Data Analysis for Improvement

If you used digital tools for scoring and registration, it will be easier to generate reports, such as:

• Number of participants by age or category
• Average scoring metrics
• Most common error types in Tajweed

These reports can help structure training courses or workshops in the future, and inform how your next contest is organised.

7. Common Challenges and Solutions

During early competitions, a few logistical and tech-related issues are common. Here are some challenges and possible mitigations:

• Internet instability: Download offline versions or use tools with offline sync options. Have a backup device ready.
• Device availability: Ask judges to bring their smartphones or tablets, and prepare spares in case of failure.
• Delayed schedule: Pad the timetable with small breaks between each category and avoid back-to-back judging.
• Subjective judging: Use detailed marking rubrics and standard training to align expectations across judges.

Conclusion

While organising a local Quran contest involves considerable effort, utilising technology can dramatically improve both participant experience and administrative control. From online registration and scoring systems to real-time communication and automated certificates, digital platforms help organisers focus on the core values of the event — showcasing talent, fostering love for the Quran, and building community spirit. With continuous refinement and community feedback, your first contest can lay the foundation for an annual tradition with increasing impact and professionalism.

If you need help with your Quran competition platform or marking tools, email info@qurancompetitions.tech.