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Ijāza Certifications
Ribāṭ Tajwīd Ijāza Certification
The Ribāṭ Quran Ijāza Program offers advanced students the opportunity to earn an official ijāza (certification) in the recitation of the Holy Quran with full application of tajwīd. This esteemed certification is recognized globally and has an uninterrupted sanad (chain of transmission) linked directly to Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ, following the Ḥafṣ ʿan ʿĀṣim recitation. Additionally, the ijāza grants the student authorization to teach and transmit the Quran.
In this competency based program, students accelerate at the pace they choose, working one-on-one with a certified tajwīd teacher to complete the memorization or recitation of the Quran with full application and knowledge of the tajwīd rules. Students will complete a series of oral tests as they progress with their memorization and will be issued the ijāza upon a final comprehensive exam and assessment by the Ribāṭ Tajwīd Committee.
Students may choose between two ijāza tracks:
- Reading: The student memorizes the last 5 ajza’ of the Holy Quran and reads (recites aloud) the entire Quran while looking from the muṣḥaf, applying all tajwīd rules accurately.
The program must be completed within two academic years. - Memorizing: The student embarks on a journey to memorize (ḥifẓ) the entire Quran, recites it from memory with complete application of tajwīd rules, and completes a series of oral assessments.
The program must be completed within seven academic years.
Degree
Ijāza Certification
Required credits
NA
Competency-Based Program
Areas of Focus
Tajwid Mastery, Quran Recitation, Memorization
Admissions Dates
Open: January 5, 2026
Closes: February 22, 2026
TuitionProgram Objectives
By the end of this program, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate mastery in reciting the entire Quran in the Ḥafṣ ʿan ʿĀṣim recitation style with full and correct application of tajwīd rules.
- Articulate and explain principles of tajwīd
- Demonstrate understanding of the key concepts of al-Jazariyyah
Before You Apply
- New students to Ribāṭ Tajwīd must begin with an assessment. Applicants who have not previously taken a Ribāṭ Tajwīd class are required to complete a Tajwīd and Arabic assessment. Based on the results, students are placed into one of three levels and begin working toward the prerequisites needed to apply for the Ijāza program.
External Tajwīd coursework does not transfer. We do not currently accept transfer credit or waive Tajwīd requirements based on courses completed outside of the Ribāṭ program.
A prior Ijāza does not automatically waive prerequisites. Students who hold an Ijāza from another institute must still complete the initial Tajwīd assessment. Any consideration of prior credentials will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis after assessment.
Recent Ribāṭ students may apply directly. Students who have completed all required prerequisites do not need to submit another assessment and are encouraged to proceed with the application.
Placement results are valid for one year. Arabic and Tajwīd placement results expire after one year. Students who do not enroll in a Tajwīd course within that timeframe will be asked to complete the assessment again.
Returning students do not need to retake the assessment. Students who previously completed a Tajwīd course with Ribāṭ do not need to submit a new assessment, even if more than a year has passed. Prior coursework will be used to determine appropriate placement.
Incomplete Juzʾ 30 requirements must be fulfilled before applying. Students who did not complete the Juzʾ 30 prerequisite while enrolled in TAJ 401 must be rematched with a teacher for review and testing. Re-enrollment in TAJ 401 is recommended before applying to an Ijāza program.
Admissions Requirements
Prerequisites required for applying to the Ribāṭ Tajwīd 5 Ajza’ Certification, Ribāṭ Tajwīd Ijāza Certification – Memorizing and Ribāṭ Tajwīd Ijāza Certification – Reading, are to have completed with Ribaat Academic Institute, Ribāṭ University, or tested out of:
- Quran Fluency Part 1
- Quran Fluency Part 2
- Tajwīd Part 1: Letters and Phonics
- Tajwīd Part 2: Rules and Rhythm of Recitation
- Quran Khitma Project
- Recitation of Juz’ 30 from memory to a certified Ribāt tajwid teacher as part a Ribāt course
- Successful testing on Juz’ 30 by the Ribāt Tajwīd Committee
*some requirements may be waived based on the Tajwid & Arabic Assessment
**If you apply to the ijāza program directly and have not completed the memorization of the last 5 ajzā you will be required to begin with that requirement once admitted into the program and you will not have an extra 5 years to complete it. If you need the full 5 years to complete the 5 ajzā memorization requirement we recommend you apply for to the 5 ajzā program before applying to the ijāza program
The general application process includes, but is not limited to:
- A non-refundable fee of $35 submitted with the application
- Official transcripts from all prior academic institutions attended
- A completed application
- A personal essay
- Declaration of ijāza of interest on the application
- An Arabic language exam may be requested
- A tajwīd assessment may be requested
- An interview may be requested
- International applicants, where English is a second language, must submit all of the above, plus submit proof of compliance with English Language Proficiency Requirement. The English Language Proficiency Requirement can be official results from the TOEFL, IELTS, or the Duolingo English Test results.
Please contact admissions@rabata.org for any questions regarding eligibility before applying to the Ijāza Certification Programs.
Have questions?
For more information or assistance, applicants may contact the Admissions Office at
Email: admissions@rabata.org