Sabaq, Sabqi and Manzil Explained: How Hifz Revision Works

In Hifz, sabaq is the new portion you learn today, sabqi is the revision of what you learned in recent days, and manzil is the revision of everything older that you have already memorised. Together they keep new learning from pushing out old learning, and they are the backbone of most memorisation programmes.

Sabaq: the new lesson

Sabaq (literally "lesson") is the fresh portion for the day. It might be a few lines for a beginner or a page for an experienced student. You listen to it, read it, repeat it aloud and recite it to your teacher. The key rule is that the amount should be one you can learn well, not just get through. For most learners the sabaq is the shortest of the three parts.

Sabqi: recent revision

Sabqi (the "previous lesson") means going over what you learned in the last few days, up to a week or so, depending on your teacher's plan. This is the most fragile material, because it is new and not yet settled. Teachers commonly ask for sabqi to be recited every day, so it moves from short-term to long-term memory.

Manzil: older revision

Manzil (literally a "stage") is the revision of everything you have already memorised beyond the recent portion. Because this grows over time, it is usually divided into sections that are revised in turn, for example one section per day over a cycle of days. As the amount memorised increases, the manzil takes up more of the day. Many experienced hafiz students spend more time on revision than on new learning.

A sample daily structure

• Manzil first: the day's section of older material, while the mind is fresh.
• Sabqi next: recite the last several days' portions.
• Sabaq last: learn and recite the new lesson, then go over it again before bed.

Some teachers prefer a different order, and the quantities depend on the student's age, time and goal. This is an example, not a rule. Your teacher will set a plan that suits you.

To make this concrete, picture a young beginner on a light day. The sabaq might be three new lines. The sabqi might be the lines learned over the last five days, read through once each. The manzil might be one earlier surah, recited in full. Another student further along might have a page of sabaq and a whole section of manzil. The structure stays the same, only the amounts change. Teachers adjust the amounts week by week according to how secure the memory is.

Why the three-part system works

• It spaces repetition, which strengthens memory more than cramming.
• It surfaces mistakes quickly, while they can still be corrected.
• It gives each day a clear structure, so you always know what to do next.
• It protects older memorisation from fading as new material is added.

Because the manzil keeps growing, many students divide it into equal sections and revise one section a day, so that the whole of what they have memorised comes round again in a set number of days. For instance, a student with a large amount memorised might go over a juz a day, so the cycle repeats every so many days. The exact cycle depends on how much is memorised and how much time is available, and teachers set it individually.

What to do if you fall behind

If you miss days, resist the urge to push on with new material. Reduce or pause the sabaq and rebuild sabqi and manzil first. A smaller, solid memorisation is better than a large, shaky one. Teachers help here by hearing you recite and adjusting the plan.

When you talk through your own plan with a teacher, these questions are worth asking:

• How much new material should I take each day, given my time?
• How do we divide the revision, and over how many days does it cycle?
• How will you tell me that a portion is secure enough to move on?
• What should I do on a day when I cannot study?

Setting this up with a teacher

With live, one-to-one lessons the teacher listens to all three parts, so recitation errors are caught early. Our Hifz programme is taught live by Saba Afzal, who holds an Ijazah in Tajweed and Qira'at. Lessons run Monday to Friday, cost $4 for 30 minutes, $9 for 60 minutes or $15 for 90 minutes, with details on the pricing page. If you are new to memorising, start with the step-by-step guide, add these memorisation tips and read about how long it takes.

You can book a free trial class to talk through your plan. No card is needed.

Frequently asked questions

What does sabaq mean in Hifz?

Sabaq is the new lesson, the fresh portion of the Quran you memorise on a given day.

What is the difference between sabqi and manzil?

Sabqi is revision of recently learned material, often from the last few days. Manzil is revision of older material memorised earlier.

How much time should revision take?

It varies by student, but as the amount memorised grows, revision usually takes more of the day than new learning. Your teacher will set the balance.