The simple way to memorize the Qur’aan.
✏Originally written by Sheikh Abdul Muhsin Al Qasim, Imaam and Preacher of Masjid Nabawi in Medina, Saudi Arabia.
The following is one method to memorize the Qur’aan, which is particularly different from other methods, in terms of strengthening one's memory and the short time it takes to memorize.
We will explain this method by taking an example from a page from Surah Al-Jumu’ah (The Congregational Friday).
1. Read the 1st verse 20 times.
يُسَبِّحُ لِلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ الْمَلِكِ الْقُدُّوسِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَكِيمِ
2. Read the 2nd verse 20 times.
هُوَ الَّذِي بَعَثَ فِي الْأُمِّيِّينَ رَسُولًا مِنْهُمْ يَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ آَيَاتِهِ وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَإِنْ كَانُوا مِنْ قَبْلُ لَفِي ضَلَالٍ مُبِينٍ
3. Read the 3rd verse 20 times.
وَآَخَرِينَ مِنْهُمْ لَمَّا يَلْحَقُوا بِهِمْ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ
4. Read the 4th verse 20 times.
ذَلِكَ فَضْلُ اللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَاللَّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ
5. Read all of the four verses from the beginning until the end 20 times, in order to strengthen the correlation between those verses.
6. Read the 5th verse 20 times.
مَثَلُ الَّذِينَ حُمِّلُوا التَّوْرَاةَ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَحْمِلُوهَا كَمَثَلِ الْحِمَارِ يَحْمِلُ أَسْفَارًا بِئْسَ مَثَلُ الْقَوْمِ الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِآَيَاتِ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ
7. Read the 6th verse 20 times.
قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ هَادُوا إِنْ زَعَمْتُمْ أَنَّكُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ لِلَّهِ مِنْ دُونِ النَّاسِ فَتَمَنَّوُا الْمَوْتَ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِقِينَ
8. Read the 7th verse 20 times.
وَلَا يَتَمَنَّوْنَهُ أَبَدًا بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِالظَّالِمِينَ
9. Read the 8th verse 20 times.
قُلْ إِنَّ الْمَوْتَ الَّذِي تَفِرُّونَ مِنْهُ فَإِنَّهُ مُلَاقِيكُمْ ثُمَّ تُرَدُّونَ إِلَى عَالِمِ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ فَيُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
10. Read the 5th until the 8th verse 20 times to strengthen the correlation between the verses.
11. Read the 1st verse until the 8th 20 times to strengthen the memorization of this page.
✅Use this method to memorize every page of the Qur’aan.
❎Do not try to memorize more then one-eighth length of juz (parts) each day, so as to make it easier to retain it in your memory.
How to combine between adding to the memorized portion and repetition of the previous memory?
🚫Do not try to memorize the Qur’aan without the process of repeating the memorized verses. This is because if you keep adding to your memorization (pages after pages until you’ve completed them all), it will be hard for you to recall what you have memorized at the beginning.
👌Hence, the BEST way to add to the memorization is by combining the addition and recalling process.
Divide the Qur’aan into 3 parts, i.e. each consist of 10 juz. If you memorize 1 page every day, recall the previous 4 pages (every single day), until you’ve completed memorizing 10 juz. If you have done so, stop memorizing for a month to recall the memorization by repeating 8 pages every day.
After a month of recalling, start to add to your memorization, one or two pages every day, depending on your ability to memorize, together with recalling 8 pages a day, every day, until you’ve completed 20 juz.
After that, stop adding the memory for 2 months, to recall the 20 juz you’ve memorized. It is supposed to be done by repeating 8 pages every day.
After 2 months, start to memorize one or two more pages, together with repetition of 8 pages every day until you’ve finished the whole Qur’aan.
If you’ve completed memorizing the whole Qur’aan, repeat the first 10 juz for a month, by repeating half a juz every day.
Then repeat the second 10 juz following the same method as the first ten, together with repetition of 8 pages from the first 10 juz every single day.
After that, repeat the last 10 juz for a month, with the similar method as the previous juz, together with repetition of 8 pages from the first 10 juz and 8 pages from the second 10 juz every day.
✳How to recall/repeat the whole Qur’aan if I have completed the recalling system as mentioned above?
Start by recalling the Qur’aan by reciting 2 juz every day. Repeat it 3 times every day. Thus, you will be able to finish the whole Qur’aan every 2 weeks. By practicing this method for a full year, inshaa’Allaah, you will have a strong and perfect memorization.
✳What should we do after one has completed the memorization of the Qur’aan in a year?
After a full year, strengthen the memorization of the Qur’aan and repeat it.
Use the Qur’aan as your daily remembrance until the end of your life, just as the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه و سلم used to use it as his daily remembrance. He used to divide the Qur’aan into 7 parts, thus he could complete his recitation every 7 days.
Aus Ibn Hudaifa رضي الله عنه said: I asked the Companions of Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه و سلم about how they divide the Qur’aan (for daily remembrance). They said: 3 Surahs, 5 Surahs, 7 Surahs, 9 Surahs, 11 Surahs, and from Surah Qaf until the end. (Narrated by Ahmad).
-- Which means that they divided the recitation of the Qur’aan as follows:
The first day: Reciting Surah ‘Al Fatihah’ until the end of Surah ‘An- Nisaa.’”
The second day: Reciting Surah 'Al-Ma'ida' until the end of Surah 'At-Tawbah.'
Third day: Reciting Surah ‘Yunus’ until the end of Surah -An-Nahl.'
The fourth day: Reciting Surah 'Al-Isra’ until the end of Surah Al- Furqan.'
The fifth day: Reciting Surah 'Ash- Shuara' until the end of Surah Yaasin.'
The sixth day: Reciting Surah 'As-Saaffat' until the end of Surah 'Al- Hujurat.'
The seventh day: Reciting Surah 'Qaf' until the end of Surah 'An- Naas.'
This remembrance of Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه و سلم was abbreviated by the scholars with the saying:
فمي بشوق
(Famii Bisyauqi)
where each alphabet of these words represents the initial Surah from the several Surahs to be read each day.
✳ How to differentiate between the verses that resemble one another in the Qur’aan?
The best way to differentiate two verses that look alike is:
By referring to the mus'haf of Qur’aan at the time you find it;
Paying attention to the difference between them;
Mark that difference so that you can remember it,
Then, when you recall the recitation, pay attention to the differences you have marked before, several times, until you can steadily memorize the resemblance and the difference between those verses.
✳Principles and Confinements in Memorizing the Qur’aan
It is a must for you to memorize the Qur’aan with the help of a (religious teacher) or a Sheikh, to correct your recitation.
Try to Memorize 2 pages every day, (i.e. memorize 1 page after Fajr prayer, and the other page after Asr or Maghrib prayer).
By following this method, you will be able to memorize the whole Qur’aan firmly within a year.
If you try to add more than that, your memory will be weak due to the numerous verses to recall.
Try to memorize from Surah An-Naas until Surah Al-Baqarah, since it will be easier that way. But after you’ve finished memorizing the whole Qur’aan, start the repetition from Surah Al-Baqarah until Surah An-Naas.
Memorize the whole Qur’aan by using one version of Mushaf at a time, to help you to:
Strengthen your memory;
To increase your speed in remembering the position of verses and the and the last part of every page of the Qur’aan.
Everyone who memorizes the Qur’aan during the first 2 years, usually looses their memory easily. This phase is termed as the 'Collecting Phase' - (Marhalah Tajmi’).
Do not be sad for the loss of memory or the mistakes you make, since it is a difficult and full of test-phase. Also beware of Shaitan, since he will sieze this opportunity to tempt you to stop memorizing the Qur’aan.
Neglect that worry and temptation, and keep memorizing the Qur’aan, since it is a worthy treasure not all people can have.
