How to Launch a First-Time Hifz Competition in Your City

Organising a Hifz (Qur’an memorisation) competition is a valuable initiative that encourages the memorisation and preservation of the Holy Qur’an. A well-structured competition can inspire participants to perfect their recitation, build confidence, and foster a sense of community. For cities hosting this type of event for the first time, planning and execution require detailed consideration. This guide outlines the essential steps and components needed to successfully launch a first-time Hifz competition in your local area.

Understanding the Objectives

Before launching any event, being clear about the purpose is essential. A Hifz competition typically aims to:

• Promote the memorisation of the Qur’an among children and adults
• Celebrate and reward excellence in tajweed (rules of recitation) and accuracy
• Build a sense of religious identity and motivation within the community
• Strengthen ties between local mosques, schools, and Quranic institutions

Identifying these objectives early helps guide decisions regarding structure, participants, and logistics.

Creating a Planning Committee

A successful competition requires a capable and trustworthy planning committee. This group will oversee the entire process from conception to delivery. The ideal committee should include individuals with the following expertise:

• Event coordination and logistics
• Knowledge of Qur’anic sciences and tajweed
• Connections to local Islamic institutions or schools
• Experience in public relations or communications

Assign clear roles such as project lead, programme manager, finance officer, communications coordinator, and volunteer coordinator to ensure shared responsibility.

Selecting Competition Categories

Different participants will be at various levels of Hifz. Structuring your competition into categories allows fair assessment and appropriate challenge. Common example levels include:

• Juz Amma (30th Juz) only – suitable for beginners or young children
• Half Juz – often used for intermediate learners
• One Juz – popular for upper-primary age children
• Three, Five, Ten or Fifteen Ajza’ – for more advanced students
• Whole Qur’an – for full Hifz candidates

You may choose to allow participants to self-select their category during registration or verify placement through teacher recommendation or screening tests.

Designing the Assessment System

Establishing Criteria

Assessment frameworks should reflect both memorisation accuracy and quality of recitation. Marking criteria usually include:

• Accuracy – correctness of all words and pronunciation
• Tajweed – application of voice rules, such as ghunnah, idghaam, and qalqala
• Fluency – confident flow and rhythm without excessive pauses
• Prompting – deduction for needing help from a judge or forgetting

Deciding on Judges

Qualified judges must be able to assess both the memorisation and recitation aspects thoroughly. Each judging panel should ideally consist of two to three members:

• A Hafiz familiar with formal rules of Hifz testing
• An expert in tajweed
• An adjudicator to monitor scoring integrity (optional)

Judges should also be briefed on using scoring rubrics consistently and ethically across sessions.

Securing a Venue

Your choice of venue plays a crucial role in the competition’s success. Mosques, community halls, or Islamic centres are frequent choices. When choosing a location, consider:

• Proximity to public transport and parking availability
• Acoustic properties for recitation clarity
• Separate areas for different categories or age groups
• Facilities for guests, food, ablution, and prayer

You may also require additional rooms for hospitality, prayer breaks, volunteer coordination, and private waiting areas for participants.

Promoting the Event

Outreach Strategy

To attract participants, schools, teachers, and community leaders need to be involved. A multi-channel promotion approach may include:

• Announcing in local Friday khutbahs or mosque newsletters
• Distributing posters in Islamic schools and centres
• Email campaigns to teachers, parents, and Qur’an instructors
• Creating social media posts targeting local groups and communities

Registration Systems

Online registration forms save time and ensure consistency. Required fields may include:

• Participant’s full name and date of birth
• Parent/guardian contact details
• Memorised portion (with verification option)
• Teacher/school reference

Setting a clear registration deadline and confirming each entry helps in planning resources and timing schedules.

Managing Event Logistics

Attention to logistical detail on the day of the competition contributes significantly to its success. Key elements to plan for include:

• Time scheduling – Allocate specific time slots to each category or age group to avoid long delays
• Volunteer coordination – Assign stewards for directions, registration desks, and crowd management
• Sound and seating – Ensure microphones, speakers, and audience seating are set up in advance
• Participant check-in – Verify names and test order using pre-prepared lists
• Refreshments – Provide water and snacks, particularly for children and judges

Having a detailed programme schedule shared in advance with all volunteers, judges, and school groups enhances efficiency on the day.

Scoring and Fairness

To maintain the competition’s credibility, the scoring system must be transparent and impartial. Best practices include:

• Using pre-standardised score sheets or digital platforms to avoid bias
• Adding up totals in front of at least one observer from the committee
• Inputting marks into a spreadsheet or scoring system for double-verification
• Maintaining anonymity of participants during marking, where possible

Posting category results at a set time ensures fairness and reduces uncertainty or crowding around judges.

Awarding and Recognition

At the conclusion, a short awards ceremony acknowledges the efforts of both participants and teachers. Consider the following recognitions:

• Top three positions for each category (gold, silver, bronze)
• Certificates for all participants, showing their category and date
• Special commendations for youngest participant, excellent tajweed, or highest scorer overall

Award presentations can be done publicly to celebrate student progress and encourage wider community interest.

Post-Event Evaluation

After the competition, seek to evaluate feedback from all involved parties. This includes:

• Online or in-person surveys from participants and attendees
• Private debrief sessions with judges and key volunteers
• A financial report covering expenses, donations, or fundraising targets
• A short published summary for community reflection and transparency

Documenting lessons learned will assist future organisers in planning annual events more efficiently and improving participant experience.

Legal and Ethical Considerations

Even religious or voluntary events can require compliance with local regulations. Key considerations may include:

• Child safeguarding procedures and permissions
• Data protection in storing and using registration details
• Insurance for venue use, public liability, or volunteers
• Permissions for photography or video use (especially of children)

Maintaining professional standards and policies builds trust between the organisers and the broader community.

Conclusion

Launching a first-time Hifz competition in your city is an admirable and achievable goal that can significantly contribute to strengthening Qur’an learning and community engagement. By carefully planning each stage – from registration to rewards – and ensuring fairness, your event can become a valuable contribution to the religious and educational development of your area. With clear roles, communication, and feedback systems, your event has the potential to set a strong precedent for future competitions.

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