International Islamic College

NQC 2026 · Remote semi-finals

Semi-final — how to set up your room

Out of fairness to everyone, the fair-play check is identical for every contestant. It takes about a minute — and it is there to protect honest reciters.

Microsoft Teams
Phone or tablet only
A one-minute fair-play check

Step 1 · The device

Phone or tablet — nothing else

Install Teams today

Install the free Microsoft Teams app on the phone or tablet today, and test it. No Microsoft account is needed — you join as a guest.

Do this today

No laptops or computers

Laptops and computers are not permitted for the recitation.

No phone or tablet at home?

Email us today at info@theiic.uk

Do this today

Step 2 · Positioning

How your room should look

Diagram: a contestant seated at a clear desk, a phone on a stand about one metre in front at chest height, light coming from the front, and a guardian seated behind the contestant's shoulder, in view of the camera.41≈ 1 m235
1Device on a stand.
2About 1 metre away, at chest height.
3Waist-up frame — the face and both hands stay visible.
4Light from the front — never a window behind.
5The guardian sits behind the contestant's shoulder, in view of the camera.

Step 3 · The guardian

One guardian in the room — and nobody else

One parent or guardian must be in the room with the contestant, and no one else. Their role:

1Set up the device and join the meeting.
2Appear on camera during the check to confirm the contestant's identity.
3Run the room tour when asked.
4Sit in view behind the contestant's shoulder — silent and still — until the recitation ends.

Any prompting, whispering or gesturing by anyone cancels the question and can lead to disqualification.

Step 4 · Room rules

Before you join

No headphones, earphones or earbuds of any kind — on anyone. Device speaker and microphone only.
Every other phone, tablet, laptop, TV and smartwatch is out of the room — or switched off and handed to the guardian.
Any TV or monitor that stays in the room is unplugged.
Nothing readable near the contestant — no muṣḥaf, books, notes, posters or screens.
A quiet, well-lit room.

Step 5 · The fair-play check

About one minute — rehearse it together

The check is identical for every contestant, so your family can practise it in advance:

aThe contestant says their full name and contestant number; the guardian confirms on camera.
bThe guardian slowly shows the whole room in a circle — including behind the device, the desk top, under the desk, the contestant's chair and lap, and the doorway.
cThe contestant shows open palms and wrists.
dThe guardian takes their seat behind the contestant's shoulder.

With dignity, always

Contestants wearing hijab will never be asked to adjust or touch it.

The judging panel may ask for the room to be shown again at any time during the recitation.

Step 6 · Joining on the day

The lobby, your name, your turn

15 minutes early

The lobby opens 15 minutes before the session — join the lobby 15 minutes before your slot.

Your exact name

Join with this name, exactly as it appears in your email:

#<number> <full name>

One at a time

Contestants are admitted one at a time, and a turn lasts about 7 minutes.

If the connection drops

Rejoin at once with the same name. A drop never restarts a question and never changes the passage. If you cannot rejoin within 3 minutes, you are re-admitted at the end of the session.

Optional extras

Welcomed — but never required

Optional

Room cam

A second phone may join the same meeting — mic muted, propped to the side so it shows the contestant and the main device. It is warmly welcomed, and it will become standard in later rounds. Name it:

ROOM CAM — #<number> <name>
Optional

Lock the device to Teams

If you wish, lock the device so it stays in Teams for the whole session:

iPhone / iPad — Guided Access

  1. 1Settings → Accessibility → Guided Access — switch it on.
  2. 2Set a passcode you will remember.
  3. 3Open Teams, then triple-click the side button to start.

Android — App pinning

  1. 1Settings → Security → App pinning — switch it on.
  2. 2Open Teams, then open the recent-apps view.
  3. 3Tap the Teams icon and choose Pin.

Fair play

In short

A setup problem — Is simply fixed together — no penalty.
Suspected aid — That question is cancelled and a fresh passage is drawn.
Declining the room check, confirmed assistance, or someone else reciting — Disqualification — always confirmed only after review of the session recording.

The full session is recorded for judging review only — stored securely, never published, and deleted after the competition.

Questions? We are glad to help — info@theiic.uk

نَسْأَلُ اللهَ أَنْ يُوَفِّقَ كُلَّ مُتَسَابِقٍ وَمُتَسَابِقَة، وَأَنْ يَجْعَلَ الْقُرْآنَ الْكَرِيمَ رَبِيعَ قُلُوبِهِمْ

May Allah grant every contestant success, and make the Noble Qur'an the spring of their hearts.

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