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iTunes Channel13 steps to memorize the Qur’an by Yasir Qadhi
ShareDuring one of his seminar about the Sciences of the Qur’an, sh. Yasir Qadhi shared with us some practical steps that helped him memorize the Qur’an during his teenage years.
Realize it’s a spiritual AND physical project. It’s a miracle and blessing from Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala that you’re able to absorb the Qur’an. If you want to take advantage of this blessing, you should be in a position to receive it and therefore strive physically to achieve it and strive spiritually to get the maximum benefit.
1. Sincerity. The first matter you have to pay attention to is your intention (if you intend good you will get good). Make sure that the intention you are making is only for the sake of Allah SWT, to seek His Pleasure so that inshAllah, with His Mercy, we will be rewarded in the Aakhirah. It is not to show off in front of others that you have memorized a lot. Sincerity is not a one time factor rather it’s a continual battle that you always have to renew.
2. Consistency . The more frequently you memorize, the easier it becomes. It is very essential to be consistent, and not to skip even one day. There is no Week-end in worship. The bare minimum that one should memorize is at least 3 lines, 5 is more ideal. If you are consistent, inshAllah, you will be able to be huffadh in 5-6 years
3. Timing. The first thing you should do in the day is memorize – even do so before your breakfast, because this is your spiritual breakfast. The best time to memorize is right after Fajr. . (sh. Yasir used to take one hour to memorize a page in the beginning, and eventually came down to 15-20 minutes)
4. Atmosphere. Have a secluded place to go to and memorize in a place that is quiet. You just can’t memorize properly with distractions, so turn off all your devices (like cell phones)
5. Familiarity: start at the same time, at the same place and use the same mushaf every day. You need to have your own copy of the Mushaf (the Madani Mushaf is highly recommended), it will later become so dear to you.
6. No Magic trick: repeat, repeat, repeat, over and over again. It is just repetitive recitation and/or listening that will help to memorize.
7. Memorize with the meaning: read the translation before you start and try to match the Arabic words with their meanings
8. Surround yourself with recitation: listen to the Qur’an. Before you start memorize, listen to what you are about to memorize. Sh. Husary is highly recommended (see here the best resources to help you memorize)
9. Find a recitation buddy: get a friend, a family member or someone you know who will listen to your recitation every day. Ideally, get someone who is also memorizing to create a peer pressure system.
10. Recite daily in your salaat what you have memorized. If you forget one portion, you will immediately rush towards the Qur’an and correct your mistake and you will never do this mistake again.
11. Triple daily dose:
a) New memorization at your assigned time of the day
b) Revision of the previous 7 days, just before you start the new memorization: This is because the fastest thing you forget is the new memorization. And doing so, will also build the connector between the old ones and the new portion you are going to memorize. Plus, it will be a good warm up for the brain when you recall from your memory and recite, before you go into the real exercise of doing the new memorization.
c) At a later/another time of the day, revise those before the recent 7 days. The bare minimum should be 4-5 pages.
12. Do not jump around. Be consistent. Don’t try to go to another surah if you find it difficult and stick to the order. That way, you will have the satisfaction of having completed a juz rather than leaving some portions here and there.
13. The three chunks. Start from the back. Shorter surahs will bring you a big boost. You should divide the memorization of the Qur’an in three parts:
a) Juz 28, 29, 30 or just Juz 29, 30
b) Surah Al-Kahf till Juz 28
c) Surah Al-Baqara to Surah Al-Kahf
(JazakAllah Kheir to those who shared their notes from the class)
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These are great tips mashaAllah!
I live in Indianapolis, IN and alhamdulillah we have our own program for memorizing the Qur’an in our community. The Indianapolis Institute for Qur’an Memorization was established by Sheikh Tewfik Choukri and Sheikh Boubakeur Amiri here in Indy and alhamdulillah we have already had in the two years it’s been in place 6 huffadh graduate in both Hafs and Warsh recitations! It’s really a wonderful program mashaAllah with daily memorization and review at the masjid and supplementary classes on tajweed and tafsir and review sessions on the weekends. All of the students memorize by writing down what they have to memorize in a well organized notebook which is then approved by Sheikh Boukakeur for memorization. Tip #9 is really helpful I think, and alhamdulillah at masjid al-fajr we have plenty of buddies!
BarakAllah fiikum.
I’ve also posted some great free resources for learning Arabic here.
InshaAllah you’ll find them useful.
salaam alaykum.
As-Salamu-Alakum
Sh Yasir, from your experience in Medina, how do the Shooyukh do it??
What I mean is that the Imams of the Haramain work, have familes, and yet somewhat read 5 parts of the Qur’an a day….
Yet when we try that here is hard to even read one. From your experience how do the Imams / Ulama do it??
Wasalam
It is obvious that Allah puts baraka in their time – there is no other explanation for it!
Where there is a will there is a way; if you prioritize the Quran, Allah will bless your day and allow you to do more during it.
Also Sh Yasir
how would you advise to deal with those verses that are very similar. Lie the Ayahs that appear alot (Story of Musa (AS)
Wasalam
Two ways:
1) Constant repetition of reciting the verses AND listening to them being recited
2) Figuring out some wisdoms behind the word variations (these are sometimes found in Tafsir literature, and always found in advanced linguistic explanations of the Quran and specialized works on the subject).
A technique I found useful for the “similar” verses, is when you get to a place that is similar to another, you review all of those places.
For example, when I reach the story of Musa (as) in ANY of its places in the Quran, I review ALL of them, noting the differences.
Another example: I review the Prophet stories in A’raaf, Hud, and Shua’raa’ together.
It will be difficult at first, but it will give to a “CD-rom” type memory (where you can jump around and learn the verses singularly) as opposed to “tape-deck” memory. and Allah knows best.
It helps to look at the structure of the ayats as well. For example look at 6:102 and 40:62. These two ayats are very similar except in the first the kalima comes first and the creation second. Why? In Surah 6 look at the previous verse (and also the previous page) and you will see there are a lot of laams whereas in Surah 40 this is not the case.
Secondly, the dominant theme in Surah 6 is Tawheed thus the Kalima comes first.
In Surah 40 look at aya 57. It starts to talk about creation. Also the previous ayats do not end in the same letter. However, starting with 57 the ending letters are all noons. Also the Kalima is mentioned in surah 40 but it is after 62 and at 65.
I hope that makes sense. It is much easier to explain this with a mushaf.
I also recommend listening to Tafseer especially from Bayyinah Dream. Once you listen enough you start to realize how ayats and Surahas are linked and the general structure of the Qur’an.
Salaam, by the mercy of Allah i was able to memorize the quran. I did it a traditional pakistani style madrasa. Our program was pretty decent it went like this:
After fajr reciting the lesson memorized the night before (we would memorize brand new verses after isha)
Then recite from the beginging of the juz which we were memorizing all the way until the last verse recited that fajr. (ex. memorizing juz 5 and have memorized half of the juz, so we would recite from the beginging of juz 5 until half of the juz)
Then we would recite one juz from the ones we had memorized already. Say we learned 5 juz, so on monday we would recite juz 1, tues juz 2, etc etc.
Lastly we would memorize new verses after Isha at night to be recited the following day after fajr, and then all over again. I agree memorizing after fajr is the best time, it is so much easier to learn at that time than any other time.
Inshallah this program might be beneficial as well. Inshallah keep me in ur prayers wsalaam
Jazak Allaho khairan for the article. Some of my thoughts:
- The most important thing (after sincerity) is to have a system. A system meaning you have a teacher who you recite to and a system of memorization of the actual pages of the Qur’an.
If you are memorizing on your own, you won’t get anywhere even after a long time. On the other hand, if you memorize in a system (e.g. in a 9-3, mon-fri hifdh school) you can finish the Qur’an very quickly, anywhere from 4 months to 1.5 years. A good place to start off hifdh is part-time with a teacher on the weekends and weeknights, even if its on the phone.
- System of memorization: you must have a technique to memorize. If you have a technique, then memorization becomes very easy and methodical. Otherwise its haphazard and you’ll get discouraged very quickly. Here is my technique:
1. Split the page into two. So you have roughly 8 lines in the first half and 7 in the second half.
2. The first ayah or line, you read 3 times while looking closely at the page. Make sure that you follow your finger over the page. Your goal is to store a copy of the page in your head.
3. Then you recite the ayah/line from memory without looking, but your finger is still following the ayah on the page. (You’ve read the ayah/line 4 times now)
4. Now look again at the ayah/line, finger on paper, and read. (You’ve read the ayah/line 5 times by now)
5. Now read without looking, finger on paper following approximately. (You’ve read the ayah/line 6 times by now).
6. One more time looking and not looking (You’ve read the ayah/line 8 times by now).
You’re done the first ayah/line!
7. Move on to next ayah/line. Repeat same process from 2-6.
8. Now read from beginning of the page to where you have memorized, 3 times looking and 3 times not looking, alternating as mentioned above. Please make sure to keep your finger on the text at all times.
You’re done the second ayah/line now, combined with your first ayah/line.
9. Move to ayah #3 or next line. Repeat from 2-8.
10. Continue until you reach your halfway mark. Recite the half page 3 times looking and 3 times not looking, alternating, keeping finger on the page.
Now this half of the page is stored in memory! You should be able to close your eyes and read the page from your mind.
11. Repeat for the second half of the page.
12. Now read the entire page once looking and once not looking, keeping finger on the text. Read more if you are not confident.
Now the whole page should be stored in your memory. You should be able to close your eyes and “see” the page.
13. Go recite the page to your teacher.
This process to start off takes a good 1-1.5 hours per page, but you can speed it up all the way to 30 minutes.
This technique really makes you remember the page in your head. It works really good, alhamdulillah.
jzkk
Wow that was baller! Now I just have some how get thru step 1, sinceritiy, inshaAllah. Jazak Allahu Khairan Sh. Yasir and Sh. Aarij for your tips.
BarakAllahu feekum. From personal experience, I would say #6 is the most valuable tip. JUST do it. Start small and DO IT. The more excuses you make and shortcuts you look for, the less the chance of it ever happening. It’s not easy in the beginning, face it. If you want it badly enough, you won’t care.
asalamualaykum, i read some comments that if you memorize yourself you wont go any where and in order for you to complet the quran you need to go to a hifz school
this is not correct, allamdullah allah blessed me to complet 17 and half juzz ( and counting) my self without and school, i currently study in univeristy , and every day i do around 5 lines and recite to my mom or grandma, ( of course the ideal is to have a shaykh ect qari and what not, but you have to look at your situation and make the best out of it, allah spoke the truth when he said in surah qamar ” verily we have made this quran easy to remember , will there be anyone to take admonition”nearst meaning
allah knows best
Totally agree. I myself did not go to any madrassa but memorized by myself, at home.
From my personal observation, most people that have memorized at home do not have solid memorization. I think one can memorize at home, provided one has a teacher who simply listens to the new lesson. How else would one catch minor mistakes in memorization and major Tajweed mistakes? Also this is not the traditional method of learning the Qur’an.
Secondly, one needs to constantly review, which is difficult for many without being in a school.
Barakallahu feek!
As a beginner without a native Arabic tongue, I’ve found it quite helpful to split each line in the Mushaf to about three parts. I repeat this small part (1/3 of line) constantly until I find it easy for my tongue to recite this portion. I then move to the next small portion. When I’m comfortable with it, I then join the two parts together.
I’d also like to remind myself and others that the goal is not to finish the Qur’an as fast as you can. Rather, our aim should be to learn the Qur’an and have it firmly settled in our hearts so that it would serve as guidance throughout our lives.
(This is not a plug for my website but a simple comment)
My problem is that when I memorize, I forget the parts i memorized a few months ago. I do practice but due to work, family obligations, Islamic work, etc. practicing is hard. That’s why one of the reasons I built halaltunes.com is so anywhere I am (I’m usually always connected to the internet somehow) I can listen to the Qur’an. In fact I am listening to it right now. It saves me time trying to download and add to an iPod or mobile player. Also saves time trying to listen to different reciters.
The most difficult task I’d probably say after memorizing is retaining it and keep reciting it.
Assalamu Alaikum Sh. Yasir,
jazakAllahu khair for the advice.
I have heard before that the madani mushaf is highly recommended and should be adhered to, and was advised to stay away from the Persian (aka Indo-Pak) script. I made the switch but was wondering what the reasons were?
wa alaikum assalam
AS
Assalamu alaikum
The Mauritanian method of memorisation technique is mentioned in the link below
http://forums.alkauthar.org/showthread.php?t=3889
Seems very interesting mashAllah.
Assalam Alaikum
Sh. Yasir,
What exactly are the advantages of the Madinah Mushaf over the other Mushafs, such as the Pakistani one ?
Would you recommend someone from Pakistan, who doesn’t speak Arabic, to memorise from the Madinah Mushaf rather than the Pakistani one ?
I find it easier to recite from the Pakistani one.
Fi Amanillah
Salaam alaikum
Well it really is a personal choice, and there’s nothing ‘wrong’ about using mushafs printed elsewhere.
However, the mushaf printed in the Madinah Complex, in my humble opinion, is the most academic and thorough printing of the Quran ever attempted. The scholarly committee that was convened for this purpose (their names are listed in the back) is a virtual who’s who of the most erudite scholars of Quranic recitation and Quranic sciences of our era. Additionally, the scribe who wrote this mushaf (his name is Uthman Taha) is a living legend, and it really is a beautiful work of art.
There are finer points that demonstrate the superiority of this script and writing over others, but these finer details do not affect one’s actual memorization, and if someone is accustomed to another script that is perfectly fine.
BTW, I myself began memorizing with the Nastaliq script of Pakistani prints, but then switched over to the Naskhi script of the Madinah print and have been a faithful follower ever since
Yasir
BTW, I myself began memorizing with the Nastaliq script of Pakistani prints, but then switched over to the Naskhi script of the Madinah print and have been a faithful follower ever since
Me too..
Some of the ‘finer points’ the shaykh referred to:
A little known fact – the Madani mushaf has some tajweed rules built in. Yes, those color-coded mushafs are somewhat unnecessary if you know how to recognize the signs in the regular one.
Idhhaar – the sukoon is written; tanween is lined up perfectly (if fathah or kasrah), one on top of the other if dammah (tadpole-shape)
Ikhfaa – the sukoon is not written; tanween is offset slightly (fathah and kasrah), dammas are written side by side.
Idghaam – written similar to ikhfaa
Qalqala, heavy letters/heavy ikhfaa, other details – learn tajweed
I’m sure there are many more intricate details as well. MashaAllah, a very scientific mushaf…may Allah reward all those involved in writing it.
*sidenote*: there are two very slightly varying versions of the madani mushaf! The ones in the Haramain have a bit more ’slanted’ and ’sharper’ writing and don’t match up exactly with the ones that are common in america. You’ll find them occasionally, about one out of 10 in the average masjid (the color of the cover is a tiny bit lighter that the others, with more flowery designs inside).
Of course then there are the mushafs used by the old folks in egypt, which are totally different…;)
*sidenote*: there are two very slightly varying versions of the madani mushaf! The ones in the Haramain have a bit more ’slanted’ and ’sharper’ writing and don’t match up exactly with the ones that are common in america. You’ll find them occasionally, about one out of 10 in the average masjid (the color of the cover is a tiny bit lighter that the others, with more flowery designs inside).
Does that have something to do with the publishers? I know that the King Fahd Complex in Madinah is the main publisher of the Madani mushaf, and they are supplied to the haramain, as well as many other countries throughout the world, including the US. I have also noticed that some islamic organzations/bookstores/publishers in the US have published their own copies of the same Madani mushaf by Uthman Taha. It looks almost identical to the ones from saudi, except for the different cover, publisher contact info etc. I did not take a closer look at the actual script to see if there was a difference, like you have pointed out.
As for my sidenote, the King Fahd complex regularly prints new ‘editions’ just about every year. The script is the same of course, just some background colors and design are changed, as well as the front cover. ‘Al-Quran Al Kareem’ is always there, but the designs around it are changed. If you look in the back pages, after the contents, there is one page with arabic writing that has (what I presume) to be the hijrah publishing year. Also, their Madani mushafs, are usually always green. I have even noticed that the same king fahd complex publishes the ‘Pakistani Quran’ version too (sorry if this sounds derogatory). They usually have a blue cover, as opposed to the green, but I have noticed that this is not always the case.
Habeeb
The Madani mushaf always finishes at the end of a verse. This way you can visualise the whole page without having to keep turning over.
The above point is also useful if you get to the stage of memeorising a page a day (or any other given time frame) or half a page.
Additionally, they say that the colour of the paper and ink has been selected such that it is easier to memorise from (your brain will link with it more ‘fluidly’) – without aversion to it.
You can also find the madani mushaf quite easily in many parts of the world. And until recently we’d say, that the print between them all in setting and format, would be the same. This becomes important as you over time get very ‘attached’ and almost dependent on your regular mushaf, alluded to in the article.
The print is also quite clear in general. Furthermore, many/most tajweed initiatives use that text over the majeedi text (the persian one).
Allah knows best.
Salom Dear Shaykh.
My biggest issue, now that i speak Arabic, is that i have to know what i’m memorizing or else i can’t move forward. I need to know why the vowels are the way they are and what the context of the vocabulary is. With this in mind, I’m not moving forward, but i must admit, from the little i’ve memorized like this, it is so much better of a feeling. i know what I’m saying in the prayer and the din becomes a lot more beautiful. It’s like an addiction so much so that blind memorization, while i respect it, has actually become more difficult for me. I respect any approach but was curious as to any advice you have for me. Shall i just work harder and continue to memorize the meaning as i go along or shall i sacrifice that and just look into quantity and not quality, of course, for now.
Thanks Shaykh Qadhi.
Do both. Never posit an ‘either – or’ scenario that is of your own construction.
Memorize the Quran while understanding its meaning, and don’t sacrifice quantity or quality.
Put your heart into it, Allah will make time for your effort.
Great article shaykh but I have one question please: I’m the sort of person who can’t concentrate on many different things at once. I am currently taking Arabic language lessons and would like to memorise Quran. Do you think I should focus my energy on memorising Quran and put other studies eg fiqh, Hadith on hold? I am 30 years old and have been practising for 4 years. Btw the tajweed course you presented- assafaratulkeram is excellent- you should put it on DVD
Jazaka Allah Kahir for sharing the info.
My question to the shaykh: Is it more important to memorize or understand the quran or both?
Here is a lecture by Kamal El-Mekki on how to strengthened one’s memory: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQRZocj0CL8
If sisters want to join a very structured Quran program, Durbah sisters’ hifdh has their deadline today to apply:
http://forums.almaghrib.org/showthread.php?t=35653
Assalamualikum Sheikh,
I feel that memorizing Quran in your daily life is on going process that can be done by pretty much everyone by listening and reading at home while traveling and etc.
However i have a question that if one is memorizing by listening to his favourite Qari and basically imitating the tajweed while memorizing, is this okay? I just need advice of what would you recommend for someone to learn and perfect his Tajweed by himself at his house or through his daily life.
Please advise.
Jazakallah kher, may Allah accept all your efforts
Sure that’s OK… we all have a little bit of ‘Abdul-Basit wannabes’ within us
But make sure you do recite to a Shaykh to correct your tajweed.
Also, as I’ve written about elsewhere, don’t take the imitation thing too far. Eventually, do find your own voice somewhere along the line.
Assalam Alaikum Sh. Yasir Qadhi,
Do you have any advice for sisters to stay on track with their Qur’an memorization during the time of menses?
I’m not sure if there’s other opinions in this regard, but I follow the opinion that a menstrauting woman cannot recite Qur’an.
So how would I keep myself in the habit of memorizing and reviewing?
I know you have not experienced this
alhamdulillah. But any advice would help.
Jazakum Allahu Khairan
Assalamu Alaikum brother yasir qadhi, I have seen almost every video of yours on youtube and they are all excellent I would like to know how much going to University of madinah help you and do they teach Arabic over there using english teachers? and more related to this topic what is a mushaf and specifically the madani mushaf? Jazak Allah khair.
salam alaikum sh. yasir:
JazakAllah khair for sharing this with us…I wanted to ask you:
How did u manage your revision once you started going back to school/college?
What was the bare minimum you reviewed on some days?
Would the tilaawah with looking helped if a soorah was difficult and you didn’t have time to review it from your memory?
barikAllahu feek…
Assalamu alaikum
Memorising the Qur’an is only the beginning. Maintaining the hifz is the real challenge.
I agree with the user who said that one should review all the mutashabihat when coming across them. But to do that you first have to know where they are, which can be quite difficult.
i follow this method which is very good for me
Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday ONLY for memorization
Saturday, Monday, wednesday ONLY for revision and
Friday is a holiday.
I forgot the add that i memorize half page and after 6 months then i memorize 1page and it shouldnt take more than 1hour.
Assalamualaikum Shaikh Yasir,
I am 22 years old, I have intention in my heart to do Hfidz,
I started the memorizing the last 3 juz on my own.
But get my age keeps demoralizing me.
All these years of my life I have pursued the Ilm of dunya for my parents happiness.
I am graduating from University, InshaAllah, and now want to pursue the knowledge of Quran.
All the Hufaaz I have seem or met have memorized in their teennage years.
Is it possible for me at this age, 22?
Do Quran memorization schools allow students of my age?
Brother Yasser Khan,
Assalamualaikum,
You can DEFINITELY memorize at this age, no problem at all. I started when I was 22 years old, am 23.5 now and have alhamdulillah memorized 12 Juz, and I don’t have a teacher or anyone assisting me, except Allah. If you can have a teacher then that would assist you a lot and I would suggest you try your best to find a teacher. Otherwise, start with Juz Amma by listening to it as well as by looking into the mushaf. It is important to first make a clear niyat as to why you want to memorize the Quran so that your efforts pay off when it really matters (i.e. on the Day of Judgement). Then I recommend you use a mushaf that ends with an ayat on every page, either the Saudi one or the Pakistani one, whichever you find easy to read. Once you begin memorizing, DO NOT be disheartened if you find it hard. Thats because for dunya we don’t have to memorize anything, we only need to “understand concepts”, so memorizing would be new. But once you get used to it, it will Inshallah become a part of your life, and Inshallah become natural and easy.
May Allah help you in your noble task,
Wassalam
JazakAllah Khairann brother, it feels better after listening to you.
JazakAllah Khair
Jazakallah for the article.Although I am deviated slightly away from the point of the article it is essential you do not forget what you have memorized. This applies after completing Hifz.
may Allah make easy for those wishing and wanting to become Hafiz and may Allah bless those who have completed the memorizing.
JazakAllah khair for this inspiring article!
I would like to inshAllah start memorizing the Quran but my concern is that I don’t want to memorize it incorrectly. I have never taken proper tajweed classes so what would you guys suggest in my case? I’ve tried listening to a reciter as I memorize but I’m still scared that I may be reading incorrectly..
assalam o alaikum…
i want to ask a question to sh. yasir qadhi..
is it right for amenstruating woman to recite Holy Qura’n if she is doing hifz-e-qura’n or has already done? as it becomes very difficult to learn it very well if these days are to be skipped.. specially if its not very well learnt by heart.. i have read many articles, some says she can and some says she can’t.. what is the correct view? may i know…
jazakAllah Khair
Salams Br. Yasser Khan,
22 is not an old age to begin to memorize the Qur’an.
Many Sahaba memorized the Qur’an as adults too. And MashaAllah they became masters of Qur’an.
Also, look at the many converts we have that have learned so much. Sheikh Suhaib Webb (who just became Hafidh Ul-Qur’an in his 30’s) – it took him 8 years btw. , and look at Hamza Yusuf too, who has mastered the arabic language- even though he is a convert. mashAllah.
And remember all the Sahaba were converts too…They started learning the deen of Allah at an age far beyond that of most Muslims these days.
I’m assuming your not a convert but take them as an example of people who started from scratch and have accomplished so much mashAllah.
Hope that inspires you to understand that it is possible with the help of Allah (Rabb al A’lameen)