Mosques can serve not only as places of worship but also as centers for education and community development. This is demonstrated by a community service project conducted by Afra Sofinatunnajah and Dina Mardiana from the University of Muhammadiyah Malang (UMM). Published in June 2026, the study highlights how Al-Islah Mosque in Adiwerna District, Tegal Regency, Central Java, successfully enhanced the quality of education at its Rumah Tahfidz Qur'an (RTQ) through teacher capacity building, administrative improvements, and stronger collaboration with parents and the local community. The program resulted in a more structured, effective, and sustainable Qur'anic education system.
Rumah Tahfidz Qur'an (RTQ) plays an essential role in providing non-formal Islamic education by helping children develop the ability to read, memorize, understand, and practice the teachings of the Qur'an. However, many RTQs face common challenges, including a shortage of qualified teachers, weak administrative systems, limited learning resources, and insufficient parental involvement in supporting children's memorization at home. These issues were also experienced by RTQ Al-Islah, where the growing number of students had not been matched by improvements in institutional management.
To address these challenges, researchers from the University of Muhammadiyah Malang implemented a community-based participatory approach. The program consisted of five stages: needs assessment and observation, program socialization, training in tahfidz and tahsin teaching methods, implementation and mentoring, and program evaluation. The initiative actively involved mosque administrators, RTQ managers, teachers, students, and parents, ensuring that every stakeholder contributed to improving the institution.
The project focused on three major areas: strengthening teacher capacity, improving institutional administration, and increasing support from families and the surrounding community.
The program produced several significant outcomes:
- Teachers enhanced their competencies through training in more effective and innovative tahfidz and tahsin teaching methods.
- Additional volunteer teachers were recruited from university students, youth mosque organizations, Islamic boarding school alumni, and community members.
- RTQ established a more organized administrative system, including attendance records, learning agendas, memorization progress reports, and mutaba'ah books to facilitate communication between teachers and parents.
- Students' memorization progress became measurable, well documented, and easier to monitor.
- Parents became more actively involved through structured communication and educational outreach.
- Al-Islah Mosque strengthened its role as a center for Qur'anic education and youth development within the local community.
During the training sessions, teachers learned a variety of instructional techniques, including talaqqi, structured muroja'ah (memorization review), and the use of audiovisual learning media. These approaches helped improve students' motivation while enhancing their Qur'an recitation skills and understanding of tajwid. The project also introduced a clearer division of responsibilities among lead teachers, teaching assistants, and administrative staff, creating a more systematic and sustainable learning environment.
One of the program's most important innovations was the introduction of the memorization mutaba'ah book, which allows teachers and parents to monitor students' daily memorization progress together. The researchers also introduced a memorization achievement indicator based on the percentage of completed memorization targets, enabling RTQ administrators to identify students who require additional guidance and support more efficiently.
Beyond improving educational management, the initiative strengthened cooperation between the mosque, families, and the wider community. Parents received guidance on supporting their children's muroja'ah activities at home, while mosque administrators were encouraged to continue developing RTQ as a center for nurturing a Qur'anic generation with strong Islamic character. This collaborative approach created a more supportive learning environment and reinforced the mosque's broader educational mission within society.
According to Afra Sofinatunnajah and Dina Mardiana from the University of Muhammadiyah Malang, improving the quality of Qur'anic education requires more than competent teachers. It also depends on effective institutional management, active parental participation, and strong community engagement. The empowerment model implemented at Al-Islah Mosque offers a practical framework that can be replicated by other Rumah Tahfidz Qur'an institutions seeking to build sustainable and high-quality Qur'anic education systems.
Author Profiles
- Afra Sofinatunnajah - University of Muhammadiyah Malang
- Dina Mardiana - University of Muhammadiyah Malang
Research Source
Sofinatunnajah, A., & Mardiana, D. (2026). The Role of Al-Islah Mosque in Improving the Quality of RTQ Education (Rumah Tahfidz Qur'an) in Adiwerna Tegal. Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat Bestari (JPMB), Vol. 5, No. 6, pp. 533–543.
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