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Advice for Memorizing the Qur’ân
| Sheikh `Abd al-Hakîm al-Qâsim, Professor at the Riyadh Teachers College|
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “The best among you are those who learn the Qur’ân and teach it to others.” [Sahîh al-Bukhârî: (5027)]
Committing the Qur’ân to memory is a blessed and noble activity, and many Muslims dream of carrying the Qur’ân in their heart. It is a great task, and one that takes a lot of effort. Still, it is a goal that can be reached.
The following is some advice to help us to realize this goal:
1. Sincerity: The first and most essential piece of advice that a person who wishes to memorize the Qur’ân needs to hear is to be sincere to Allah. Avoid any tendency to show off or to seek worldly recognition. Seek Allah’s reward.
We are warned that one of the first people to enter Hell will be someone who learned it for worldly fame. In Sahîh Muslim, it is narrated that Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said:
A man who acquired knowledge and imparted it and recited the Qur’ân will be brought forward and Allah will make him recount his blessings, and he will do so.
Then Allah will ask: “What did you do for these blessings?”
He will say: “I acquired knowledge and imparted it and I recited the Qur’ân for your sake.”
Allah will say: “You are lying. You acquired knowledge so people would call you a learned man and you recited the Qur’ân so that people would call you a good reciter. Indeed they called you this.”
Then he will be summoned and dragged on his face until he is cast into Hell.
While we read and memorize the Qur’ân, our hope should be that Allah will tell us on the Day of Judgment: “Recite and elevate your status! Chant it just as you used to do on Earth, for your status will be up to the last verse that you recite.” [Sunan al-Tirmidhî (2914) and Sunan Abî Dâwûd (1464)]
This should be our goal. We must keep in mind that our purpose in memorizing the Qur’ân is to please Allah and seek His reward.
2. A Means of Correction: Ideally, the person memorizing the Qur’ân should have a teacher who can listen to his recitation and correct his mistakes. For proper elocution, a capable teacher is indispensable.
When one does not have access to a teacher, one should rely heavily on recordings and other means, like computer programs, during practice.
3. Planning: Make a log of your reading and memorization. You should record want you have accomplished as well as set goals as to what you plan to accomplish over the next week or ten days.
It is essential that you find times for study that are convenient for you. Whenever you are free from outside pressures and concerns, your ability to learn and memorize will be greater.
4. Review: We should constantly review what we have learned. Before going on to memorize the next section, recite from memory what you have recently learned.
5. Repetition: When you first commit a new passage or section to memory, recite it from memory as many times as you can throughout the day.
It is good to repeat the new memorizing for four consecutive days, then add it to what you have already memorized.
It is also a good practice to connect the previously memorized material with the new material by reading the last verse of the old section with the new material that you are working one.
6. Moderation: Do not memorize at a time more than you can handle, even if it means memorizing only a few verses at a time. Persistence and constancy are far more important than quantity in the long run. If you keep at it, a little at a time, you will reach your goal.
7. Use a Single Printed Edition: Different printings of the Qur’ân use different calligraphic styles. There are a different number of verses on each page. Going from one printed edition to another can slow down your memorization or cause confusion. Use only one printing of the Qur’ân and do not change it. A larger print is recommended.
8. Contextualization: Understand what you are memorizing. This aids the memory and provides added benefit to our religious knowledge. Read a simple book of commentary (tafsîr) along with what you are memorizing. It should be a brief one. You will find that taking this extra effort to understand will speed up your memorization.
9. Practice: There are many ways to practice the Qur’ân outside of the time you set aside for study. Recite passages in your free time, like when you are walking or driving. Practice what you have recently memorized by reading it in your daily prayers.
10. Revision: Periodically assign one day, ideally once a week, to undertake a full revision of everything that you have memorized.
11. Supplication: Know that success is with Allah. Rely on Allah to assist you in memorizing the Qur’ân for his sake. Seek His help through patience and prayer. Ask Him to make it easy for you. Keep away from sin, especially looking at and listening to forbidden things.
May Allah grant us success.
| Sheikh `Abd al-Hakîm al-Qâsim, Professor at the Riyadh Teachers College|
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “The best among you are those who learn the Qur’ân and teach it to others.” [Sahîh al-Bukhârî: (5027)]
Committing the Qur’ân to memory is a blessed and noble activity, and many Muslims dream of carrying the Qur’ân in their heart. It is a great task, and one that takes a lot of effort. Still, it is a goal that can be reached.
The following is some advice to help us to realize this goal:
1. Sincerity: The first and most essential piece of advice that a person who wishes to memorize the Qur’ân needs to hear is to be sincere to Allah. Avoid any tendency to show off or to seek worldly recognition. Seek Allah’s reward.
We are warned that one of the first people to enter Hell will be someone who learned it for worldly fame. In Sahîh Muslim, it is narrated that Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said:
A man who acquired knowledge and imparted it and recited the Qur’ân will be brought forward and Allah will make him recount his blessings, and he will do so.
Then Allah will ask: “What did you do for these blessings?”
He will say: “I acquired knowledge and imparted it and I recited the Qur’ân for your sake.”
Allah will say: “You are lying. You acquired knowledge so people would call you a learned man and you recited the Qur’ân so that people would call you a good reciter. Indeed they called you this.”
Then he will be summoned and dragged on his face until he is cast into Hell.
While we read and memorize the Qur’ân, our hope should be that Allah will tell us on the Day of Judgment: “Recite and elevate your status! Chant it just as you used to do on Earth, for your status will be up to the last verse that you recite.” [Sunan al-Tirmidhî (2914) and Sunan Abî Dâwûd (1464)]
This should be our goal. We must keep in mind that our purpose in memorizing the Qur’ân is to please Allah and seek His reward.
2. A Means of Correction: Ideally, the person memorizing the Qur’ân should have a teacher who can listen to his recitation and correct his mistakes. For proper elocution, a capable teacher is indispensable.
When one does not have access to a teacher, one should rely heavily on recordings and other means, like computer programs, during practice.
3. Planning: Make a log of your reading and memorization. You should record want you have accomplished as well as set goals as to what you plan to accomplish over the next week or ten days.
It is essential that you find times for study that are convenient for you. Whenever you are free from outside pressures and concerns, your ability to learn and memorize will be greater.
4. Review: We should constantly review what we have learned. Before going on to memorize the next section, recite from memory what you have recently learned.
5. Repetition: When you first commit a new passage or section to memory, recite it from memory as many times as you can throughout the day.
It is good to repeat the new memorizing for four consecutive days, then add it to what you have already memorized.
It is also a good practice to connect the previously memorized material with the new material by reading the last verse of the old section with the new material that you are working one.
6. Moderation: Do not memorize at a time more than you can handle, even if it means memorizing only a few verses at a time. Persistence and constancy are far more important than quantity in the long run. If you keep at it, a little at a time, you will reach your goal.
7. Use a Single Printed Edition: Different printings of the Qur’ân use different calligraphic styles. There are a different number of verses on each page. Going from one printed edition to another can slow down your memorization or cause confusion. Use only one printing of the Qur’ân and do not change it. A larger print is recommended.
8. Contextualization: Understand what you are memorizing. This aids the memory and provides added benefit to our religious knowledge. Read a simple book of commentary (tafsîr) along with what you are memorizing. It should be a brief one. You will find that taking this extra effort to understand will speed up your memorization.
9. Practice: There are many ways to practice the Qur’ân outside of the time you set aside for study. Recite passages in your free time, like when you are walking or driving. Practice what you have recently memorized by reading it in your daily prayers.
10. Revision: Periodically assign one day, ideally once a week, to undertake a full revision of everything that you have memorized.
11. Supplication: Know that success is with Allah. Rely on Allah to assist you in memorizing the Qur’ân for his sake. Seek His help through patience and prayer. Ask Him to make it easy for you. Keep away from sin, especially looking at and listening to forbidden things.
May Allah grant us success.
