Every hafiz will tell you the same thing: memorising new pages is the exciting part, but revision is what makes hifz last. Without a clear plan, students race ahead with new lessons and quietly lose the earlier juz they worked so hard on.
The traditional answer, used in hifz classes around the world, is a three-part system: sabaq, sabqi and manzil. This guide explains each part, how to balance them and how to adapt the plan for a busy family schedule.
Keep on reciting the Quran, for by Him in Whose Hand my soul is, the Quran escapes faster than camels that are released from their tying ropes.
The three parts of a hifz revision plan
1. Sabaq – the new lesson
The sabaq is the new portion memorised each day. For a young beginner this might be a few lines; for an experienced student it might be a page or more. It is memorised thoroughly, then recited to the teacher without looking.
2. Sabqi – recent lessons
The sabqi is the portion memorised recently, often the last several days of sabaq or the current juz. This is the most fragile part of memory, so it is revised every day until it becomes firm.
3. Manzil – everything memorised before
The manzil is the older memorisation, revised on a rotating cycle so that every juz comes back regularly. As the student memorises more, the manzil grows, and its share of daily time grows with it.
Names vary between regions and institutes. Some call the manzil "dhor" or use "sabqi" slightly differently, but the principle is the same: new, recent and old are all recited every day.
Why all three must happen every day
- Sabaq without sabqi – new pages never settle and are forgotten within weeks.
- Sabqi without manzil – the student stays strong on the latest juz but weak on earlier ones.
- Manzil without sabaq – memory stays strong, but progress stalls.
A balanced plan keeps all three moving. When time is short, protect revision first. Most teachers would rather a student skip a new lesson than lose what they already hold.
Sample daily plans
These are starting points to discuss with your teacher, not fixed rules. Every student's capacity is different.
A school-age child (about 45–60 minutes in total)
- Sabaq: 3–5 lines, memorised before class and recited to the teacher.
- Sabqi: the last 5–7 days of sabaq, read from memory.
- Manzil: a quarter juz to half a juz of older memorisation, split across the day.
An older student or adult with more time
- Sabaq: half a page to one page.
- Sabqi: the current juz, or the last 10–15 pages.
- Manzil: one juz or more a day, so the full memorisation is revised on a regular cycle.
Wondering how long the whole journey takes at different paces? See our guide on how long it takes to memorise the Quran.
How to revise hifz effectively
- Use one Mushaf. Visual memory of the page layout is powerful, so stick to the same print throughout.
- Recite aloud. Silent reading feels easier but hides mistakes.
- Listen to yourself or a partner. A parent, sibling or friend following in the Mushaf can catch slips.
- Mark weak spots. Note pages where you hesitate and give them extra repetitions.
- Revise in salah. Reciting manzil portions in sunnah and nafl prayers is a time-honoured way to strengthen memory.
- Spread it out. Short revision sessions across the day often work better than one long block.
Watch for similar verses
Many passages in the Quran are nearly identical (mutashabihat). Students often jump from one to another. Keep a small notebook listing these pairs and revise them side by side until the differences are clear.
Plan a weekly check
Once a week, recite a larger portion of manzil in one sitting, ideally to your teacher or a parent. This shows which juz are firm and which need more attention, so next week's plan can be adjusted before small gaps turn into big ones.
Fitting hifz around school and family life
For families in the UK, USA and Australia, the challenge is rarely motivation. It is time. School, homework and exams all compete for the same hours. A few practical ideas:
- Do sabaq and sabqi in the morning when the mind is fresh, if your school timetable allows.
- Use the evening for manzil, which needs less effort than new memorisation.
- Lighten the sabaq during exam season, but never drop revision completely.
- Use weekends and school holidays to catch up on manzil.
Our article on balancing GCSE, A Level and Quran has more ideas for older students.
The role of the teacher
A good hifz teacher does much more than hear the new lesson. They listen to sabqi and manzil, spot weak juz early and adjust the pace. In our online Hifz programme, students recite in live one-on-one classes on Zoom or Skype, scheduled in their local time zone, and parents receive monthly progress reports. Students who need to refine pronunciation can also take Tajweed classes.
Hifz is a long journey, and steady revision is what keeps it alive. Ask Allah for ease, stay patient with the process and keep your manzil moving every single day.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between sabaq, sabqi and manzil?
Sabaq is the new lesson memorised each day, sabqi is the recently memorised portion (often the last several days or the current juz), and manzil is all older memorisation, revised on a rotating cycle.
How much should I revise each day during hifz?
It depends on how much you have memorised and how much time you have. Many students revise the last week of lessons as sabqi and a quarter juz to one juz or more as manzil. Your teacher should set the amounts.
What should I do if I am forgetting earlier juz?
Reduce or pause new lessons and increase manzil until those juz are strong again. Recite aloud, mark weak pages and give them extra repetitions.
Can hifz be done online?
Yes. In live one-on-one online classes, the teacher hears your sabaq, sabqi and manzil just as they would in person, and can adjust your plan as you progress.