Qur’anic Memorization in ‘Ajamic Communities: a Systematic Review of Trends, Challenges, and Functional Reception

Muhamad Arpah Nurhayat; Muhammad Amin

Article Details

Qur’anic Memorization in ‘Ajamic Communities: a Systematic Review of Trends, Challenges, and Functional Reception

Authors:

Muhamad Arpah Nurhayat | Muhammad Amin

Publisher:

Institut Agama Islam Negeri (IAIN) Curup

Main Topics:

Religion | Humanities | Education | Law, Crime, Criminology & Criminal Justice | Social Sciences

Journal:

AL QUDS : Jurnal Studi Alquran dan Hadis Vol.10 Issue 2, pp.0-0

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

1/2026

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001876726

pISSN:

2580-3174

Abstract:

 This study investigates research trends in Qur’anic memorization within the ‘Ajamic community (non-Arabic speaking Muslims), a practice often criticized as “parrot learning” and therefore marginalized in academic discourse. This research is urgent because it addresses limited scholarly attention given to non-Arabic contexts, despite the persistence of memorization traditions that shape religious identity and communal life. Using a systematic literature review guided by the PRISMA protocol, the search was conducted in the Scopus database and restricted to journal articles published between 2013 and 2023. From 1,830 initial records, successive filtering and eligibility criteria yielded nine relevant studies, which were analyzed qualitatively to answer five research questions concerning memorization methods, inhibiting and supporting factors, impact and role, and motivational aspects. The findings reveal that memorization in ‘Ajamic communities is predominantly performed through oral repetition without immediate comprehension of meaning, yet remains resilient despite structural challenges such as limited facilities, time constraints, and secular critiques. Positive impacts include enhanced learning abilities and significant social roles for memorizers, particularly as imams and proofreaders in communal worship, while motivations are sustained by religious devotion and communal identity. The novelty of this study lies in its systematic mapping of Qur’anic memorization research in non-Arabic contexts, which has not been comprehensively reviewed before. It contributes to the development of tafsir studies by shifting scholarly attention from exegetical and literary receptions toward oral and functional dimensions, thereby challenging reductive assumptions about rote learning and identifying gaps for future inquiry.

Article Details

Qur’anic Memorization in ‘Ajamic Communities: a Systematic Review of Trends, Challenges, and Functional Reception

Authors: Muhamad Arpah Nurhayat | Muhammad Amin

Publisher: Institut Agama Islam Negeri (IAIN) Curup

Main Topics: Religion | Humanities | Education | Law, Crime, Criminology & Criminal Justice | Social Sciences

Journal: AL QUDS : Jurnal Studi Alquran dan Hadis Vol.10 Issue 2, pp.0-0

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 1/2026

Document Language: English

Document ID (Org No.): 2001876726

pISSN: 2580-3174

Issues

Authors:

Muhamad Arpah Nurhayat | Muhammad Amin

Publisher:

Institut Agama Islam Negeri (IAIN) Curup

Main Topics:

Religion | Humanities | Education | Law, Crime, Criminology & Criminal Justice | Social Sciences

Journal:

AL QUDS : Jurnal Studi Alquran dan Hadis Vol.10 Issue 2, pp.0-0

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

1/2026

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001876726

pISSN:

2580-3174