The Forgotten Role of Pronunciation in Assessment

Introduction: A Journey Through Quran Competitions

Having spent over fifteen years involved in Quran competitions—as a participant, teacher, judge, and organiser—I have witnessed the landscape of assessment shift and evolve in ways that can feel both promising and concerning. One trend, in particular, stands out for its subtle yet far-reaching consequences: the diminishing focus on pronunciation as a core criterion in evaluating recitation.

My earliest memories in this space are tied to gatherings in humble mosques, with participants sitting cross-legged on worn carpets, their voices trembling with both nerves and reverence. The judges, often respected elders or local imams, would listen closely, sometimes closing their eyes to absorb not just the words, but the way they were uttered. Many young reciters, myself included, would spend countless hours just on getting the makhraj of ض or the softness of ظ just right, because those details mattered—deeply so.

The Significance of Pronunciation in Quran Recitation

Quranic Arabic is not like modern conversational dialects. Each letter has a fixed place of articulation (makhraj), and specific qualities (sifaat). Proper pronunciation is a gateway to preserving meaning, beauty, and tradition. Slight shifts in articulation can change meanings; sometimes subtly, sometimes drastically. For example, confusing ذ with ز may seem trivial to the untrained ear, but in Quranic context, precision carries both linguistic and spiritual weight.

Correct pronunciation is more than a technical skill; it is part of our sacred trust in transmitting the Quran as it was revealed. For generations, teachers drilled these details into their students, knowing that a single mispronounced letter could ripple through and affect the integrity of what was recited.

Shifting Priorities: Where Did Pronunciation Go?

In recent years, as Quran competitions have grown in size and formal structure—spanning continents, languages, and even shifting online—the assessment criteria have evolved. Complexity, fluency, and memorisation tend to dominate the scoresheets. While these elements are undoubtedly important, I’ve repeatedly noticed that pronunciation, once meticulously scrutinised, now often receives token attention in the marking rubrics.

I have sat on panels where scoring sheets allocated a meagre portion—sometimes just a single point—to pronunciation errors, compared to five or ten for memorisation mistakes. Often, in heated post-competition discussions, judges would admit, “His غين wasn’t great, but at least he didn’t forget an ayah.” Over time, this has led to the subtle erosion of pronunciation as a formative pillar of assessment.

Why Pronunciation Gets Overlooked

• Intimidation by Complexity: Pronunciation scoring can be daunting. While it’s easy to mark a major omission, it takes expertise (and patience) to recognise a softened ص or an improperly pronounced ء.
• Time Constraints: With participants sometimes numbering in the hundreds, organisers and judges may feel pressured to keep assessment swift—leading to a focus on the more obvious, time-efficient criteria.
• Lack of Standardisation: Criteria for pronunciation mistakes fluctuate widely from one competition to another. Some score every single mistake, others overlook minor slip-ups entirely.
• Language Barriers: In international competitions, some judges may themselves struggle with certain nuances of classical Arabic pronunciation, making detailed assessment challenging.

Consequences of Downgrading Pronunciation

The long-term effects of overlooking correct pronunciation extend well beyond the competitions themselves. As a teacher, I have noticed a quiet shift in students’ attitudes. When marks are overwhelmingly awarded for memorisation and fluency, reciters naturally gravitate toward what is measured. Pronunciation is relegated to the “nice but not essential” category.

This is not to say that today’s Quran competitions are not producing technically outstanding Huffaz and readers—they surely are. Yet, when mistakes in articulation go unchecked, there is the risk of these becoming accepted, passing down not just through competitions but into the daily practice of recitation in mosques and homes. The result is a gradual distancing from the exactness and beauty that characterise the revealed text.

Restoring Balance: Practical Steps from the Field

While the challenge is real, there are practical lessons and solutions, drawn from experience, which can help bring pronunciation back to the heart of assessment:

• Allocate Clear Marks: In competitions where I have had a hand in designing the marking rubrics, we made it a point to allocate equal or close-to-equal marks for major sections: memorisation, fluency, tajweed, and pronunciation. This simple change sends a clear message on what matters.
• Judge Training: Before major competitions, running short calibration workshops for judges has proved invaluable. We listen to sample recitations, discuss borderline errors, and agree on what constitutes a ‘major’ versus ‘minor’ pronunciation mistake. This not only boosts consistency but also confidence among judges.
• Feedback Mechanisms: Many students never learn where their pronunciation stands if feedback is limited to their final mark. At smaller competitions, I have insisted on providing oral or written notes to participants, even if brief—highlighting strengths and gently pointing out areas for improvement.
• Use of Technology: While not without its faults, recording recitations and replaying them can help both judges and students hone in on subtle errors. Some online platforms even allow comparison with reference reciters, though care must be taken not to promote mimicry at the expense of individual voice and expression.
• Parental and Community Involvement: Pronunciation is not formed in isolation; it is a product of both classroom and community. Encouraging parents and local imams to reinforce good pronunciation habits goes a long way, particularly for younger reciters.

The Human Side: Encouragement Without Discouragement

One of the greatest challenges in re-emphasising pronunciation is avoiding discouragement. I have seen young participants leave competitions feeling defeated over an elusive ض or a confused ث. As assessors and organisers, it is our job to set high standards with compassion. Through years of teaching, I have learned that the best results come when constructive feedback is paired with sincere encouragement.

In one competition, I recall a judge who after marking a student down for recurring pronunciation errors, took him aside and demonstrated the correct articulations softly, away from the public eye. The boy came back the next year with remarkable improvement—not just in scores, but in confidence and love for the Quran. This, to me, is the clearest evidence that it is possible to uphold high standards without sowing seeds of discouragement.

Advice for Organisers, Judges, and Teachers

• Re-examine your marking rubric: Are you truly reflecting the importance of pronunciation, or has it become an afterthought? Consider a balanced scheme.
• Invest in training: Make time for calibration, discussion, and shared practice among judges. Even an hour before the competition can uproot years of inconsistency.
• Communicate expectations: Make participants (and their teachers) aware of your standards before the competition. This not only improves quality but also fairness.
• Celebrate effort as well as outcome: Especially for children, acknowledging growth in pronunciation—however small—fosters resilience and improved learning.
• Document and reflect: After each event, note recurring errors. Share anonymised feedback to inform future teaching and assessment practices.

Conclusion: Upholding a Sacred Trust

Pronunciation is not an ornament in Quran recitation; it is an essential pillar. If competitions are to serve their true purpose—preserving, honouring, and transmitting the Quran—then attention to pronunciation must be restored to its central place in assessment.

My experiences, and those shared by colleagues and students over many years, make one truth clear: overlooking pronunciation may appear to save time in the short term, but in the long run, it costs us the very accuracy and beauty we set out to uphold.

As organisers, judges, teachers, and above all, stewards of this tradition, our greatest success lies not just in what is recited, but in how it is pronounced—and in the love for the text that such attention inspires.

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