Sabaq, Sabqi and Manzil explained: the three parts of a Hifz day

Most Hifz programmes split each day into three parts: sabaq (the new lesson), sabqi (the recent lessons) and manzil (older memorisation). Keeping all three going every day is what stops new memorisation from pushing out the old. This guide explains each part and how they fit into an online Hifz routine.

Sabaq: the new lesson

Sabaq is the new portion the student memorises today. Its size depends on the learner, not on a fixed rule: a young beginner may manage a few lines, while an older student with fluent reading may manage half a page or more. The student reads the portion with the teacher first, so pronunciation and Tajweed are corrected before it is memorised. Memorising a mistake is much harder to undo later.

Sabqi: the recent lessons

Sabqi is revision of the last few days or weeks of sabaq, often up to the current juz. These pages are still fragile, so they are recited every day until they are firm. Many teachers listen to sabqi before giving new sabaq: if the recent pages are weak, the new lesson is made smaller or paused until revision catches up.

Manzil: older memorisation

Manzil is the revision of everything memorised before the sabqi portion. It is usually spread over a cycle, for example a set amount each day so that all older juz are revised within a week or two. As memorisation grows, manzil takes more of the day than sabaq. That is normal, and it is the part most students are tempted to skip.

How the three fit into one day

• Before the lesson: the student prepares the new portion by reading it several times and listens to sabqi pages.
• In the lesson: the teacher hears sabqi, then the new sabaq, and sometimes part of the manzil.
• After the lesson: the student repeats the new lines at spaced times in the day and recites the manzil portion to a parent or into a recording.

The exact split is agreed with the teacher. A schoolchild may do sabaq and sabqi on weekdays and a larger manzil portion at the weekend. Our guide to planning Hifz revision alongside school shows sample weeks.

Warning signs to watch for

• Sabaq keeps growing while sabqi mistakes increase.
• Manzil is skipped for several days in a row.
• The student can recite only when the teacher prompts the start of each page.

Any of these usually means the new lesson should shrink for a while so revision can catch up. Slower new memorisation with strong revision lasts longer than fast memorisation that fades.

How parents can help

Parents do not need to know Arabic to help. Listening to the manzil portion with the Mushaf open, ticking off the day's three parts on a simple chart, and keeping a fixed revision time make a real difference. Share what you notice with the teacher at progress reviews.

Start or continue Hifz online

In one-to-one online Hifz lessons the teacher hears every line of sabaq, sabqi and manzil and adjusts the plan to the learner. Read more about the Hifz course or request a free trial (three days on eligible plans; the Weekend plan is excluded).