Annual Ijtema 26

PARTICIPATION

Take Part

The Ijtema is something to join in with, not only attend. Academics, sports and non-competitive activities run across all three days.

Ways to take part

Learn, play and take part

Categories

Academic competitions

Judged competitions from the Ijtema syllabus. Entry is through your Regional Ijtema.

  • Tilāwat

    Recitation of the Holy Qur’ān from the verses selected for the Ijtema syllabus.

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    Marked on
    Correct pronunciation, Qir’at/Tajweed and tune.
    Age groups
    Saf-e-Awwal (55+) and Saf-e-Doem (40–55). Individual competitions are held in these two groups.
    Eligibility
    Only Ansar awarded 1st position at their Regional Ijtema may compete at the National Ijtema. If a position holder cannot attend, the Regional Nazim Aala and Regional Nazim Ta’leem may propose a Nasir to represent the Region, approved before the deadline of 15 days before the National Ijtema.

    Rules

    • A participant may only recite verses of the Holy Qur’ān which are selected for the Ijtema syllabus.
    • A Tilāwat recited from outside the syllabus will NOT be marked.
    • Judges reserve the right to stop a participant at any point.
    • There will be no extra marks for reciting from memory.

  • Poem (Nazm)

    Recitation of couplets from the poems selected for the Ijtema syllabus.

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    Marked on
    Correct recitation, voice quality and tune.
    Age groups
    Saf-e-Awwal (55+) and Saf-e-Doem (40–55). Individual competitions are held in these two groups.
    Eligibility
    Only Ansar awarded 1st position at their Regional Ijtema may compete at the National Ijtema. If a position holder cannot attend, the Regional Nazim Aala and Regional Nazim Ta’leem may propose a Nasir to represent the Region, approved before the deadline of 15 days before the National Ijtema.

    Rules

    • A poem recited from outside the syllabus will NOT be marked.
    • Judges reserve the right to stop a participant at any point.
    • There will be no extra marks for reciting from memory.

  • Prepared speech

    A prepared speech in English or Urdu on one of the set topics.

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    Time
    3 minutes in total. The first bell rings at 2 minutes, after which the speech should be completed before 3 minutes.
    Marked on
    Correct pronunciation, content, presentation and memorisation.
    Age groups
    Saf-e-Awwal (55+) and Saf-e-Doem (40–55). Individual competitions are held in these two groups.
    Eligibility
    Only Ansar awarded 1st position at their Regional Ijtema may compete at the National Ijtema. If a position holder cannot attend, the Regional Nazim Aala and Regional Nazim Ta’leem may propose a Nasir to represent the Region, approved before the deadline of 15 days before the National Ijtema.

    Set topics

    • The Holy Prophet ﷺ — Mercy for the Whole of Mankind
    • Blessings of Durood
    • Istighfar

    Rules

    • A participant may only speak on one of the set topics.
    • A speech delivered from outside the syllabus will NOT be marked.
    • Reading from papers is allowed, however additional marks are awarded for delivering the speech from memory.
    • Judges reserve the right to stop a participant at any point.

  • Extempore speech

    An unprepared speech, open to any Nasir.

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    Age groups
    Saf-e-Awwal (55+) and Saf-e-Doem (40–55). Individual competitions are held in these two groups.
    Eligibility
    An open competition — any Nasir may take part.

    Rules

    • This is an open competition; thus, any Nasir can participate.
    • A Nasir can participate in the English language speech competition or in Urdu, but not in both.

  • Bait Bazi

    Couplet-matching, played knock-out between regional teams.

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    Team
    Teams of 3 members.
    Eligibility
    Only Ansar awarded 1st position at their Regional Ijtema may compete at the National Ijtema. If a position holder cannot attend, the Regional Nazim Aala and Regional Nazim Ta’leem may propose a Nasir to represent the Region, approved before the deadline of 15 days before the National Ijtema.

    Rules

    • The couplets will be allowed only from: Durr-e-Sameen, Kalam-e-Mahmood, Kalam-e-Tahir, Durr-e-Adan and Bukhar-e-Dil.
    • Teams have to narrate the couplet starting from the ending letter of the couplet which the previous team has completed.
    • 10 seconds will be given to deliver a response.
    • Competition will be conducted on a knock-out basis.

  • Message relay

    A message passed quietly along the team and written out by the last member.

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    Team
    One team per region, consisting of 5 members.
    Eligibility
    Only Ansar awarded 1st position at their Regional Ijtema may compete at the National Ijtema. If a position holder cannot attend, the Regional Nazim Aala and Regional Nazim Ta’leem may propose a Nasir to represent the Region, approved before the deadline of 15 days before the National Ijtema.

    Rules

    • Only one team per region consisting of 5 members will be permitted.
    • Each team will have a choice to select their message either in Urdu or English.
    • The message will be read out 2 times to every team leader in the beginning. He will then be allowed 2 minutes to pass on the message.
    • Every team member must convey the message quietly, else the team may be disqualified.
    • The last member of every team will be allowed 5 minutes to write the message neatly.

  • Essay writing (extempore)

    An essay written on the day, in Urdu, English or Arabic.

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    Time
    30 minutes, at a designated place.
    Eligibility
    An open competition — any Nasir may take part.

    Rules

    • This is an open competition; thus, any Nasir can participate.
    • Held during the Ijtema, until Zuhar prayer of the second day of Ijtema.
    • Participants can write in Urdu, English or Arabic language.
    • Prizes will be awarded to the first 3 positions.

  • Hifz-e-Qur’an

    Not a competition — the year’s memorisation syllabus, tested at local and regional level.

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    Eligibility
    Anyone who is Hafiz Qur’ān is NOT allowed to take part.

    Rules

    • The syllabus this year is already provided by Qiadat Ta’leem Ul Qur’an.
    • This is not a competition; every Nasir who memorises the given syllabus should be tested at local/regional level. The verses must be memorised with correct pronunciation.
    • Although the syllabus given is for the whole year, Ansar who memorise the complete syllabus during the month of Ramadhan will be awarded a certificate and prize. Ansar who memorise later this year will also be awarded certificates, In sha’Allah.
    • The translation will not be tested.
    • Every Majlis is responsible to conduct the activity and submit.

Categories

Sports competitions

Sporting competitions across the weekend.

  • Team sports

    Football, cricket, volleyball and tug of war. Team sizes to be confirmed.

  • Athletics

    Sprints, brisk walk, shot put and strength events. To be confirmed.

Categories

Non-competitive

Recreational activities for anyone who would rather join in without competing.

  • Non-competitive sports

    Chess, carrom board and other recreational games for those who prefer less physically demanding activities. Full list to be confirmed.

    TO BE CONFIRMED

  • Chess

    Indicative only — the 2026 activity list has not been confirmed.

    TO BE CONFIRMED

  • Carrom board

    Indicative only — the 2026 activity list has not been confirmed.

    TO BE CONFIRMED

  • Other recreational games

    Further less physically demanding activities. The full list is to be confirmed by the Ijtema team.

    TO BE CONFIRMED

Rules and material

Downloads

How and when to take part will be published closer to the Ijtema. No 2026 activity list, age group or team size has been confirmed. Nothing here has been carried over from 2025 as fact.