How to Host an Inclusive Quran Bee

Introduction

A Quran Bee serves as an educational and spiritual event that combines memorisation, recitation, and understanding of the Holy Quran. These competitions can inspire young learners, foster a love of scripture, and build a sense of community. To maximise the benefits for all participants, it is essential to ensure inclusivity at every stage—from registration to recitation assessment. This guide outlines the essential steps and considerations involved in hosting an inclusive Quran Bee that accommodates diverse backgrounds, abilities, and learning styles.

Understanding Inclusivity in the Context of a Quran Bee

Inclusivity refers to the practice of ensuring equal access, representation, and participation for all individuals, regardless of gender, ability, socioeconomic status, or cultural background. In a Quran Bee, inclusivity means creating an environment where every participant feels respected, supported, and empowered to succeed. It also involves removing barriers that might prevent some individuals from taking part or performing at their best.

Planning and Structure

Set Clear Objectives

Defining the goals of the Quran Bee helps shape an inclusive structure. Key objectives might include:

  • Encouraging memorisation and understanding of the Quran
  • Facilitating constructive competition within Islamic values
  • Promoting public speaking confidence and Tajweed skills

Clearly identifying whether the competition is focused on memorisation, Tajweed, translation, or comprehension can help ensure that participants are aware of expectations and can prepare accordingly.

Form an Inclusive Planning Committee

Develop a committee that reflects diverse backgrounds. Including women, people of various ages, and individuals with educational or accessibility experience can help address different community needs. Committee members can help identify barriers that others may not anticipate, making the event more welcoming overall.

Participant Inclusion

Age and Experience Categories

Divide contestants into appropriate groups to avoid unfair comparisons. Common groupings include:

  • By age (e.g. under 7, 8–12, 13–17, 18+)
  • By schooling level (primary, secondary, adults)
  • By memorisation level (e.g. Juz Amma only, five Juz, full Hifz)

These categories ensure that participants are judged among peers with similar skill levels, reducing anxiety and fostering confidence.

Gender Considerations

To accommodate different cultural practices, organisers can offer:

  • Separate judging panels for male and female participants
  • Mixed-gender competitions with equitable judging practices
  • Separate physical presentation spaces (e.g. female-only audiences)

Clarifying the event’s gender arrangements in advance can encourage families to register in confidence.

Accessibility for Participants with Disabilities

It is important to support participants with physical, cognitive, or sensory disabilities. Provisions may include:

  • Wheelchair-accessible venues and stages
  • Printed materials in Braille or large print
  • Allowing use of assistive technology (e.g. voice amplifiers, reading aides)
  • Flexible time limits for neurodiverse children or those with speech delays

Organisers should consider consulting with disability support specialists to ensure inclusive accommodations are implemented effectively.

Registration and Communication

Provide Multilingual Information

Clear communication is vital for inclusive participation. Offering promotional and registration information in multiple languages relevant to your area can boost understanding and participation from non-native English-speaking families. Where appropriate, consider Arabic, Urdu, Somali, Turkish, or Bengali translations.

Offer Online and Offline Registration

To promote broad participation, provide options for digital and physical registration. Some families may not have stable internet access or may prefer paper forms. Ensure that both systems are equally monitored and confirmed to avoid confusion or exclusion.

Transparency in Rules and Criteria

Make judging criteria, round formats, scoring methods, and time allocations publicly available ahead of the event. This supports participants in preparing effectively and fosters trust in the fairness of the event. Consider using diagrams or examples to make formats more understandable for first-time entrants.

Judging and Assessment

Train a Diverse and Qualified Judging Panel

Judges should be properly trained in Tajweed, memorisation evaluation, and respectful engagement techniques. Including male and female judges, as well as individuals from different racial or ethnic backgrounds, reinforces fairness and discourages bias.

Essential qualities for judges include:

  • Excellent knowledge of the Quran and proper recitation techniques
  • Awareness of different qira’at (recitation modes)
  • Cultural and social sensitivity

Use Objective Marking Tools

Develop standardised rubrics that eliminate subjectivity where possible. Criteria may include:

  • Pronunciation accuracy
  • Tajweed adherence
  • Memory accuracy (number of errors)
  • Confidence and clarity in speech

Using a digital system or checklist can streamline fairness by applying consistent penalties and scores. Digital scoring tools can also aid transparency and support feedback for participants.

Event Logistics & Environment

Choose a Suitable Venue

The location should be accessible, Islamic in character, and spacious enough for both contestants and audiences. Considerations include:

  • Gender-segregated sections if culturally required
  • Quiet rooms for younger children needing a break
  • Reliable sound systems and microphones for clear recitation

Child-Friendly Facilities

Since many participants are children, consider offering facilities such as:

  • A play area for non-participating siblings
  • Pram parking and nappy changing areas
  • Water and healthy snacks to maintain focus

Respectful Atmosphere

An inclusive Quran Bee is free of harsh correction or public embarrassment. Emphasise positive reinforcement and structure the event as a celebration of effort and spiritual connection rather than only technical perfection. Make du’a and moments of reflection part of the event to maintain a spiritual tone throughout.

Post-Event Follow-Up

Feedback Collection

Gather feedback from participants, families, and judges to strengthen future events. Questions may cover logistics, fairness, difficulty levels, and areas for improvement.

Certificates and Recognition

All participants should receive a certificate or token of participation, regardless of score outcomes. Additional recognition—such as best newcomer, most improved, or excellent Tajweed—can help highlight effort beyond final rankings.

Share Learning Outcomes

Where appropriate, share anonymised results or common errors to help teachers and students improve future study. Offering a summary of best practices or links to practice resources also extends the impact of the event.

Conclusion

Hosting an inclusive Quran Bee requires thoughtful planning, community engagement, and structured fairness. By considering accessibility, diversity, and communication at all stages, organisers can ensure that every participant has the opportunity to benefit from the experience. An inclusive approach not only enhances educational outcomes but also fosters unity and respect in the wider community.

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

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