Mapping Qur’anic Reading Competence Among Muslims in Kendari City

Abstract

Fluent Qur’anic recitation is a fundamental religious competence for Muslims, yet prior studies indicate that this competence varies considerably and has rarely been mapped at a granular, city-wide level. This study aims to map the level of Qur’anic reading competence among Muslims in Kendari City, along with the barriers, supporting factors, and improvement efforts perceived by the community. A descriptive quantitative approach with a performance-test-based survey design was employed, involving 1,079 respondents proportionally distributed across 11 subdistricts, selected through stratified multistage random sampling. Data were analyzed descriptively and categorized using a normative reference standard. The results show that competence is predominantly at the moderate level (54.6%), followed by low (24.8%), high (12.1%), and very low (8.4%) categories, with a clear spatial gap: Kambu, Poasia, and Kendari Barat show relatively better attainment, whereas Mandonga, Nambo, and Abeli lag behind. Excessive gadget use during leisure time was the dominant barrier (61.4%), while awareness of the importance of Qur’anic reading was the strongest supporting factor (91.9%), and all proposed improvement efforts received near-unanimous agreement (96.7–99.9%). These findings provide an empirical basis for the Ministry of Religious Affairs and local stakeholders to design targeted interventions for strengthening Qur’anic literacy across Kendari City.