Treasures Of Memorizing The Qur'an
MuslimInk
EVERY year thousands and thousands of children from different parts of the world memorise the Qur'an.
Although the Qur'an is in Arabic, it is memorised by many, regardless of what country they belong to. And because of Allah’s mercy, the Qur'an is being memorised even by elderly members of the community.
Narrated `Uthman:
The Prophet ﷺ said, "The best among you (Muslims) are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it."
[Sahih al-Bukhari, #5027]
We all know about the rewards awaiting huffadh (those who memorise the entire Qur'an) in the Hereafter and in Paradise. Their ranks will be elevated and their good deeds doubled; they will be honored by being asked to recite Qur'an, and their parents will be crowned. Allah is indeed the most generous in reward.
In this world, the bearer of Qur'an will gain the treasures of doing hifdh, which will beautify him or her both inwardly and outwardly. Let’s look at some of these precious jewels:
Patience Is Key
For those who seek to memorize the Qur'an, patience is key.
Many of us have heard our elders tell us, “You have to learn to be patient!” Well, what better way is there to learn patience than by memorizing the words of Allah?
You will need patience to sit in one place for hours, reciting, learning and revising, until you are fully sure that your portion for each day has been committed to memory.
It takes patience to do what will gain you the pleasure of Allah, instead of spending time according to your desires. It’s patience that makes a hafidh sit late into the night or get up before others, thereby abandoning his or her bed, and give importance to hifdh.
It takes patience not to quit when you are tired, and think you aren’t capable of achieving your goal.
It takes loads of patience.
It doesn’t matter if it’s a just a surah or a juz’ or the whole Qur'an.
“O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.”
[Surah Baqarah: 153]
Being patient is one of the characteristics very beloved to Allah, and is also one which brings the most reward.
The Qur'an not only teaches you to be patient, but by memorizing it, this characteristic is instilled in the believer. What more can you ask for?
Barakah In Time
“There’s so little time” or “time is running out” or “the day seems never-ending!” These expressions sound familiar, don’t they?
We feel like we don’t have enough time to complete everything, or even if we do, we feel guilty for not doing the tasks at hand efficiently. And with our hands so full, we hardly have enough time to memorise the verses of the Qur'an.
Allah says,
“And this is a book which we have sent down, bringing blessings, and confirming which came before it…”
[Surah An’aam: 92]
However busy you are, whether working outside or just at home, make room in your schedule for memorizing the Qur'an. Even if you can afford to learn just one line per day, do it!
This will bring immense blessing in your life and especially in your time. Just do it and you will know the difference.
Peace In Our Lives
We seem to be busy round the clock, from the time we get up in the morning till we get to bed. Yet, there always seem to be something “missing” in our lives.
Money, status, family and friends might keep us happy yet there is something that nags us at the back of our minds, and we know that there is still one important piece left in the jigsaw puzzle of our life. That missing piece is “peace”.
Peace that brings calmness to your body, mind and soul. And nothing in this world can bring such tranquility except for the words of Allah, the glorious Qur'an.
“Those who believed and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah. Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest”
[Surah Ra’d: 28]
Itmi'naan means to be reassured; it means that the heart is relieved from anxiousness and worries.
When is it that we are not anxious? We are always worrying about one thing or the other, isn't it? Allah says remembering Him brings peace and comfort to the heart.
Ibn Kathir commented on this ayah, saying:
"Allah says for their hearts find comfort on the side of Allah, become tranquil when He is remembered and are pleased to have Him as their protector and supporter."
And what an excellent way to remember Allah by learning His Book! Indeed, memorizing the Qur'an will give you immense tranquility. Listening, reciting, learning and revising the Qur'an will bring peace to your heart, mind and soul. Once you open the Qur'an, you will be lost in it and find your heart connected to Allah.
Your heart and soul will be nourished with verses of the Qur'an, not by the futile worries of this world. You will find your heart at more peace than you have ever known.
Return To Allah
“And they fall upon their faces weeping, and the Qur'an increases them in humble submission”
[Surah Israa’: 109]
Memorizing the Qur'an brings out this emotion from the heart in the most beautiful way. You may have taken the task of learning a small surah. By its length it looks quite easy, so you start off.
But soon you realise that it’s getting difficult to commit it to memory. You will find yourself making du'aa to Allah to make it easy for you to learn. You will keep returning to Allah, asking for his Help and support, until you have achieved your goal.
Once you reach your target, your heart and tongue will be filled with shukr and praise for Allah, because you know that the task wouldn’t have been possible had not it been for the help of Allah.
You will submit to Allah, not only for hifdh, but in every small and big affair that will come into your life. Once you submit to Allah, it is then that you realise how near Allah is.
“And when My servants ask you, concerning Me- indeed i am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. so let them respond to Me and believe in Me that they might be (rightly) guided.”
[Surah al-Baqarah: 186]
Learn from Mistakes
Accepting mistakes and correcting them is done by those who are strong willed and ready to improve themselves.
It’s not easy to subdue your ego and accept that you are wrong. Yes, it’s difficult. But just by memorizing the Qur'an, you will learn how to step down from your ego.
No one is perfect. When it comes to committing anything to memory, mistakes are eventually going to happen. You might forget to recite a verse, or recite a different verse instead; you may not stop at the right place, you may not pronounce a word according to its makhraj or you may even have forgotten what you memorized completely due to nervousness.
All these things are bound to occur. But they are just mistakes, which can be overcome easily with the help of correct guidance and teacher.
Memorizing the Qur'an will make you understand that mistakes are part and parcel of life, but it’s to our advantage if we are ready to accept them, learn from them and improve through them.
Change of Heart
“Our Lord, let not our hearts deviate after You have guided us and grant us from Yourself mercy. Indeed, You are the Bestower.”
[Surah Al-Imraan: 8]
Is it even possible that you would start to memorize the Qur'an, and your heart would remain the same? Impossible!
The Qur'an, whether by listening, reciting or memorising, has a direct and prolonged affect on the heart.
It is no wonder that during the time of Jaahiliyah, a polytheist would become a Muslim just by listening to a few verses of the Qur'an. What a tremendous effect it has on our hearts! If this is so, then just imagine the state of your heart if you memorize the Qur'an!
The Qur'an softens the hardest of the hearts, and hifdh melts down the hardness of one’s heart until it is flourishing with emaan. The more pages you memorise, the stronger your emaan will become.
RECITING the Qur'an will no longer be a chore to you or done with the feeling that you are obliged to do it; rather, you will do it out of immense love for the Qur'an.
The love which was hidden away in some corner will now envelop your heart. With love of the Qur'an, your love for Allah too increases, and so does your love for His Prophet and His deen. Subhan Allah!
“The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, their hearts become fearful, and when His verses are recited to them, it increases them in faith; and upon their Lord they rely”
[Surah Anfaal: 2]
Even though you may or may not understand the words of Allah, you will find that they move you, change you, humble you, and instill khushoo in you; just listening to them brings tears to your eyes, because you realise that they are the words of your Lord The Great.
“Allah has sent down the best statement; a consistent Book wherein is reiteration. The skins shiver therefrom of those who fear their Lord; then their skins and their hearts relax at the remembrance of Allah. That is the guidance of Allah by which He guides whom He wills. And one whom Allah leaves astray-for him there is no guide.”
[Surah Az-Zumar: 23]
Make Time To Think And Reflect
“(This is) a blessed Book which We have revealed to you, (o Muhammad), that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded.”
[Surah Saad: 29]
Memorising the Qur'an has such an effect that you will find yourself pondering upon a certain verse with a new perspective which you may have never thought of before. This is one of the best benefits that a person might get from memorising the Qur'an, i.e, being able to reflect on the verses of the Qur'an.
When we sit to recite the Qur'an, we feel as if there is very little time and unfortunately end up rushing through it. But when you start to give time to learn the Qur'an, your curiosity grows, and then you think “What could this verse mean?”
A verse that you previously read so many times without thought may now change your life, increase your emaan, and make you closer to Allah. Just because you pondered and reflected upon it, Subhan Allah!
It’s no wonder that the Companions had such high levels of emaan. Why not? Because they understood and learned the words of Allah.
Strength in memory
“ Eat almonds! It makes your memory stronger. ” How many times have you heard of this well-known remedy for strengthening memory? Plenty of times.
But has anyone said you “ memorize the Quran! It will make your memory stronger ”? In all these years of my life, not a single person said this to me, nor have I heard anyone giving this remedy to someone else.
Rather, whoever is making one’s child memorise the Quran is asked by almost everyone: “ how will your child manage both the Quran and studies? ” or “ won’t memorisation affect their grades? ” or “ don’t you think it will burden your child? ”; not one compliment or word of encouragement. May Allah forgive us all. Ameen.
But today I will do the honor of giving you this absolutely special remedy for strengthening your memory. Memorise the Quran.
I’m not just saying this; I’m speaking from experience. Ask any hafidh for that matter. Believe me, memorisation of the Quran strengthens your memory power many times over.
If you are thinking of making your child a hafidh, don’t hesitate, for memorisation of the Quran will not affect his or her grades at all. Rather, the opposite will happen. Their grades will become better with the help of Allah.
If you are in college or school, memorise the Quran, for your strength in memory doesn’t apply only when you pick up the mushaf but at all times, in all areas.
Becoming well-organised
Some of us run our lives in a well-organised way. But some of us lead them in a haphazard fashion, and could need a training.
Well, for those who are looking for a training, it’s time you took up admission in hifz classes. What is the connection between the two?
Well, I would say there is no connection; rather, being organized and memorising the Quran are one.
Allow me to explain.
Once you start memorising the Quran, you have taken a badge for yourself, and that is “student of knowledge”. Being a student of knowledge, you don’t do things when you feel like it; rather, now time has become more precious than wealth for you.
The moment you join a class of hifdh or perhaps do hifdh from home, your mind starts working like a computer, listing the top most important things you have to do for the day, assigning a special time for hifdh only, cutting down any unnecessary activities, etc. You will set your priorities and do your tasks in an efficient and well-organised manner.
Give it a try, start memorising and you will notice the difference. Your priority becomes the Quran, and your whole day revolves around it.
Zaid ibn Thabit narrated that the Messenger of Allah said: “ Whoever is focused only on this world, Allah will confound his affairs and make him fear poverty constantly, and he will not get anything of this world except that which has been decreed for him. Whoever is focused on the Hereafter, Allah will settle his affairs for him and make him feel content with his lost, and his provision and worldly gains will undoubtedly come to him. ”
(Ibn Majah, 4105. Sahih)
There is no set age for hifdh
“And we have certainly made the Quran easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember?”
(Surah Qamar:17)
I have always heard that the age for doing hifdh is 6 or 7 years, as the mind is fresh and one doesn’t forget when is learnt at this age. This statement discouraged me a lot, because by the time I wanted to do hifdh, I was past this age. But this would later change.
When I entered my first year at college, we were supposed to memorise. It of course took me by surprise, that at this age I was being asked to memorise; nonetheless, I was happy to know it.
By the end of third year, I had memorised 10 juz’! Alhamdulillah.
It’s only when I summoned the courage to memorise that I realised, no matter what your age, you can memorise, if you have the will and determination to do so!
Yes, you can memorise, whether you are in your 20s, 30s or 50s! Why can’t we?! The Quran itself was revealed to the Prophet when he was 40!
The Companions too were quite advanced in years themselves, yet it didn’t stop them from memorising the Quran. What is stopping us?
Keep aside all excuses, take your Quran, and step forth on this beautiful journey. May Allah help us and give us determination to memorize His words. Ameen.
Now with the treasures of hifdh being admired at, let’s look at how hifdh beautified some other huffadh and what jewels they picked up while on this voyage.
Sister Jasmine, who is a revert, says about her journey of hifdh,
“When I started to memorize the Quran, the first thing that I had come to realise was the deeper miracle of the Quran linguistically, which I had never really known or noticed before.
Secondly, as I started memorizing the Quran, it made me realise my potential and increased my confidence that I too could memorise the words of Allah just like others did; it cleared my misconception that memorisation of the Quran was meant only for genius minds!
And most importantly, memorising everyday made me realise the greatness of the Quran along with the rewards of memorising it.
In short, doing hifdh made me venerate the Quran more and more and gave me an incomparable sense of satisfaction, elation and enlightenment! It also taught me time management and increased the taqwa of Allah in my heart. And needless to mention it was a dream come true.”
Sister Ayesha, who has memorised 10 juz’, says,
“Memorisation of the Quran helped me memorise the hadeeth in a very short time. Even when I’d sit for the jum’ah khutbah, when the khateeb narrates a hadeeth I could grasp it within seconds.
It helped me memorise other things in order. I started to enjoy my salah, especially taraweeh. It made me read tafseer too. Overall, it helped me increase power of memorisation.”
Sister Aafiya, who has memorised over 10 juz’, says,
“Memorisation of the Quran is a very beautiful journey. Initially, I just did as everyone was doing. The first surah which touched me very much was Surah Mujadilah, which made me realise how Merciful Allah is, He heard the complaint of the woman [referred to in the surah] and revealed a surah in favour of her.
Subhanallah! How much He actually loves his slaves!
[It’s] not only for memorisation; whenever I find my heart restless I just read the book of Allah. Even though I don’t understand some ayahs, I find peace reading it; it actually cleanses my heart and that’s the miracle of the Quran, too!
Verse number 44 of Surah Baqarah, ‘do you order righteousness of the people and forget yourselves while you recite the scripture? Then will you not reason?’ is a very scary one in my life!
It made me reduce my sins or at least feel guilty about them. The ayah that most soothes my heart is in Surah Baqarah, number 186, “And when My servants ask you, concerning Me- indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me and believe in Me that they might be (rightly) guided.”
I can’t stop being emotional when I read this ayah, specifically when I make du’a. This ayah made me be strong in making du’a. The strongest du’a is answered.
My ultimate goal is to memorise the entire Quran and one of the reasons that I want to do this is because I can never repay my parents for what they have done for me in this world, so I want to give them the best compensation there can be, that is for them to be crowned in the aakhirah. I am waiting for it. May Allah make it happen! Ameen.”
Sister Sidra, who is fourteen years old and has completed 15 juz’ until now, says,
“Alhamdulillah, I did see some changes in me, in the way I started looking at the world around me, [thinking about] its main purpose, as well as in becoming closer to my siblings, in my attitude towards them and all.
I would also spend most of my time in du’a because I had taken the step of doing hifdh and I did not want to leave it behind until my last breath. The goals I had kept in my life changed. I started striving for the one and the main goal, jannatul firdous.
Yes, alhamdulillah, memorising the Quran did bring many changes in me and it did make me a better Muslimah.”
Sister Aasiya, who has completed memorisation of the whole Quran, says,
“The blessings after memorizing the Quran are incredible. Alhamdulillah, I am able to handle multiple task at a time. Worldly matters don’t mean anything to me. Maximum time is devoted to the Quran.”
Sister Aatifa, who has also memorised the entire Quran, says,
“I memorised the Quran while at school, and saw that reading it increased my intelligence and time.
Even though I gave more time to the Quran, it’s not like I had less time for studying; rather, it was the opposite. I would give time to the Quran, and alhamdulillah there would still be enough time for studying.
I still remember; I started hifdh in the 8th grade, and my grades were always good, but they got even better. Alhamdulillah.”
Another sister says,
“Hifdh brings a lot of blessings from Allah but at times this is not understood.
When I was doing hifdh, I personally felt that it was easy for me to do any good deed and to keep myself away from committing sins. I could feel a sense of tranquility in my heart.
My life seemed so peaceful and there was happiness within and around me. Even though at times it would be difficult to memorise, something would boost me up and it would become like a challenge to complete the task of memorisation.
The greatest blessing anyone can get is to be able to obey the commands of Allah willingly, and this comes from memorisation of the Quran. Now that I have left my memorisation, I don’t find that peace and happiness anymore.
If anyone wants to change their life, they should memorise the Quran and understand it.”
The benefits of hifdh that I have brought forth are just a few among many. Allah is indeed the most generous, who bestows blessings without tiring one out at all.
May Allah make us among those who will proudly recite the Quran to Him in the Hereafter. Ameen!
