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Competition rules

Who can enter, how the categories work, and how the judges mark each recitation. Sending an entry means you agree to these rules.

For the 2027 competition · Updated 25 September 2026

1Who can enter

  1. 1.1
    The competition is open to brothers and sisters who live in Norway, Sweden or Denmark, or who hold a passport from one of them.
  2. 1.2
    Taking part is free.
  3. 1.3
    Under 18s need a parent or guardian's consent, given on the form.

2Categories

Brothers and sisters compete separately in every category, judged against the same rubric. Age limits count on the day of the final.

  • 1 JuzAny one juz, from 1 to 30Up to age 20
  • 3 JuzJuz 1 – 3 or Juz 28 – 30Up to age 23
  • 5 JuzJuz 1 – 5 or Juz 26 – 30Up to age 28
  • 10 JuzJuz 1 – 10 or Juz 21 – 30Up to age 30
  • 15 JuzJuz 1 – 15 or Juz 16 – 30Up to age 30
  • HafidhThe whole QuranUp to age 35
  1. 2.1
    Rank up to three categories on the form. You compete in your first choice. If it is cancelled, we move you to your next one and tell you.
  2. 2.2
    Name the riwaya you will recite in, on the form.

3How the competition runs

  1. 3.1
    Entries are open from 25 September to 24 December.
  2. 3.2
    An organiser checks every entry. An approved entry goes through to the online auditions, 26 December – 3 January, and gets its audition time by email.
  3. 3.3
    The judges decide who goes through to the final, in Oslo in January 2027.
  4. 3.4
    The winners are announced, and the prizes handed over, in the hall on the day of the final.

4Online auditions on Zoom

  1. 4.1
    Turning on your video is a requirement. Video is crucial, and it helps the judges officiate accurately.
  2. 4.2
    Test your video and audio before your meeting at zoom.us/test.
  3. 4.3
    Look at the camera. It takes a bit of getting used to, but the judges need to see your face.
  4. 4.4
    When you can, use a good camera and headset rather than your computer's built-in ones. Zoom works fine with the built-ins, but the quality is sharper with better hardware.
  5. 4.5
    Adjust your camera if it sits too low or too high. It should be at eye level, so the judges can see you easily.
  6. 4.6
    A good internet connection matters. Zoom works on wireless all the way down to 3G, but the quality is best on a wired connection, so wire in when you can. Otherwise, make sure your Wi-Fi is reliable.
  7. 4.7
    Do not communicate with anyone while you recite. Only you should be visible on camera, as it is a competition.
  8. 4.8
    Apart from the device you are calling from, you may not have a phone or any other electronic device with you while you recite.
  9. 4.9
    You may not look into the mushaf, the Quran, under any circumstances. Anyone found using one breaks the competition rules and is disqualified.
  10. 4.10
    Show your full name, as on your entry, on your Zoom profile for the whole of your recitation.
  11. 4.11
    Be punctual: join the Zoom meeting promptly at the session time emailed to you.
  12. 4.12
    Stay on the call until the host asks you to leave.
  13. 4.13
    Mute your microphone while someone else is reciting.
  14. 4.14
    If you are more than 5 minutes late for your slot, you are disqualified automatically.
  15. 4.15
    If you have technical problems, tell the organisers straight away at sc_qurancomp@muslimskstudent.no.

5How recitations are marked

Reciters are judged on three criteria only, out of 100 points.

Memorisation 75 points
Correct memorisation.
Tajweed 20 points
Correct tajweed and pronunciation of letters.
Delivery 5 points
A correct and fluent recitation.
  1. 5.1
    Voice, good or bad, is not the main consideration. A melodious voice is a gift from Allah, and we feel it is unfair to judge a reciter on it. A correct and fluent recitation is what is judged.
  2. 5.2
    The same score card is used for every reciter, and the judge signs it when the recitation is finished.
  3. 5.3
    Every judge must be completely impartial.

6The questions

  1. 6.1
    The verses chosen must be fair. Coordinators prepare the questions before the competition, based on internal consultation and review by the appointed advisors. Judges are not allowed to select the questions.
  2. 6.2
    The questioner recites just five words of the question.
  3. 6.3
    Questions must not be meant to trick the reciter. Fairness in the questions, for everyone, is essential.
  4. 6.4
    No question begins with a frequently repeated verse.
  5. 6.5
    Each question is ¾ of a page in 1 Juz and 5 Juz, and one page in Hafidh. The reciter must read the whole of the allocated section.
  6. 6.6
    At most two questions are asked in 1 Juz and 5 Juz, and at most three in Hafidh.
  7. 6.7
    At most three mistakes are allowed per question.
  8. 6.8
    After a fourth mistake in a question, the questioner asks the reciter to move on to the next question.
  9. 6.9
    A completed question is marked with a tick. A question not completed is marked with an x: not memorised.
  10. 6.10
    Reciters are never told that they have been eliminated. This is an internal process known only to the judges.

7Memorisation, 75 points

If a reciter falters, they are alerted with a tap on the microphone, a light or a buzzer.

  1. 7.1
    Corrected before any alert: no marks are deducted. A reciter who keeps making mistakes and correcting them can lose points for fluency.
  2. 7.2
    Corrected after the first alert: ½ point is deducted.
  3. 7.3
    Not corrected after the first alert: a second alert is given, and a further 1 point is deducted.
  4. 7.4
    Not corrected after two alerts: the reciter is corrected, and a further 1 point is deducted.
  5. 7.5
    Memorisation mistakes include adding or leaving out a letter in a word, putting one letter in place of another, and general memorisation mistakes.

8Tajweed and pronunciation, 20 points

  1. 8.1
    ½ point is deducted for each tajweed mistake. Tajweed mistakes are not corrected; only the points are taken off.
  2. 8.2
    Tajweed includes full mouth and empty mouth, leaving out a madd muttasil or laazim, and adding a madd in the wrong places. It also covers the rules of noon and meem saakin, the letter raa, laam jalala and all sifat aridha.
  3. 8.3
    The judges' points should be close to each other. The appointed auditor checks every judge's points at the end of each category.

9Delivery, 5 points

  1. 9.1
    The reciter is assessed on the quality of presentation, confidence, fluency and reverence (khushoo). Voice is not considered.
  2. 9.2
    Frequent mistakes corrected before any alert also cost points here.
  3. 9.3
    Original voice modulation is rewarded over imitating a famous reciter.
  4. 9.4
    Incorrect waqf, stopping or pausing where it changes the meaning, also counts here.

10At the final

About sisters' participation

At the final in Oslo there is no screen or anything similar for sisters to recite behind, so the audience can partly see you. You sit angled towards the judges' table, and mainly towards the female judge when there is one.

The seating gives some cover, but expect to be partly visible. Recording is banned while sisters recite, and we expect the audience to respect that. We cannot fully guarantee that nobody records.

11Prizes

The prizes will be announced before the final.

12Changes and questions

Categories, age limits and other details may still change. If a change affects your entry, we will email you.

Questions? Email sc_qurancomp@muslimskstudent.no.

وَفِي ذَٰلِكَ فَلْيَتَنَافَسِ ٱلْمُتَنَافِسُونَ

“So for this let the competitors compete.” 83:26