Memorization of the Qur’an
Causes that Aid in the Memorization of the Qur’an
By Shaykh Mahmood al-Misri (Abu `Ammaar)
Translated by Farhia Yahya
“And We have indeed made the Qur’an easy to
understand and remember, but is there any that
will remember?”
[al-Qamar: 17]
“Truly, Allaah raises a people by this Book and debases others by it.” [Sahih Muslim]
– The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam).
◊ Benefits of Memorising the Qur’aan
Indeed, reciting the Qur’aan and memorising it has benefits that cannot be counted so let us
look around at these points of benefit so they can lead us and our children onto Hifdh al-
Qur’aan (memorisation of Qur’aan).
◊ People of Qur’aan are a people of Exalted Rank
The Noble Qur’aan is the Word of Allaah which is not approached by falsehood neither from
before it nor from behind it, and whoever is blessed by Allaah to recite it all or memorise it
all, then that is the highest objective and the lofty rank that necks only stretch forth to attain.
Allaah lightens up the heart of the recitor with the noor (light) of Imaan and He protects him
from the darkness of the Day of Judgement. He distances him away from unbearable
difficulties, guides him to the straight path, expands his chest with it and He makes the angels
supplicate for the bearer of Qur’aan with mercy and forgiveness. It is by the Qur’aan that
hearts and homes are built, and they are sustained and enveloped by goodness and blessings.
The shayaateen leave it and stay away from it, and Allaah elevates the capabilities of the
Qaari’ (recitor/memoriser of Qur’aan) in this world and in the Hereafter.
◊ The People of Qur’aan hope for a trade that will never perish
The people of Qur’aan who live with it by their hearts and souls, without desiring to attain by
it the vanities of this temporary life – they hope for a trade and a gain that that will never
perish. Rather Allaah has bore witness to their righteousness. He (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) has
said,
“Verily, those who recite the Book of Allah, perform prayers, and spend (in charity) out of
what We have provided for them, secretly and openly, hope for a (sure) trade-gain that will
never perish. That He may pay them their wages in full, and increase them, out of His Grace.
Verily! He is OftForgiving, Most Ready to appreciate.”
[al-Faatir: 29-30]
Qataadah (radhi’Allaahu ‘anhu) used to say whenever he read this verse: “This is the verse of
the Qurraa’ (recitors).” 1 – and that is because of what it confirms for them from great
recompense and multiplied reward, and they do not take pleasure in just abundant reward,
but rather Allaah increases them in honour and virtue. Al-Qurtubi said: “This increase is
intercession in the Hereafter.” 2
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1 Tafseer Ibn Kathir (3/562)
2 Tafseer al-Qurtubi (14/345)
....
◊ We cannot do without the Book of Allaah ‘azza wa jall
Ibn ‘Abdil-Barr said, “The Qur’aan is the foundation of knowledge, so whoever memorised it
before his coming of age (i.e. puberty), then he went along to study whatever would aid his
understanding of it from language, then that would be a great help for him in attaining his
objective from it (i.e. knowledge).” 3
Indeed no muslim can ever do without the Book of Allaah. For the faqeeh (scholar) uses its
verses to derive evidences, the one who teaches people ‘Aqeedah (creed) requires every verse
in the Book and the one who teaches them the Sunnan (ways) of Allaah in past nations also
has a need towards the Book of Allaah.
So in a nutshell, the Qur’aan is the course and path for a complete life and no Muslim can
ever do without it, regardless of his condition or state.
◊ Memorisation of the Qur’aan guides you to the Straight Path
We know for sure that if a youth keeps himself busy in the memorisation of the Qur’aan from
a young age, then that will keep him busy from falling into sin and disobedience. From there,
he will be going from memorisation to revision and from studying the tafseer (interpretation)
of those verses to striving upon learning the Asbaab an-Nuzool (causes for revelation). Like
that he’ll find himself moving from knowledge to knowledge until at the end of the matter,
he becomes a scholar from the righteous scholars of this Ummah
◊ Memorising Qur’aan means taking advantage of the moments of life
Indeed, the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) ordered us to advantage of every moment
of our lives and use it in the obedience of Allaah. He (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) said,
“Take benefit of five before five:
your youth before your old age,
your health before your sickness,
your wealth before your poverty,
your free-time before your preoccupation,
and your life before your death.” 4
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3 Sahih Jami’ Bayan al-‘ilm wa fadhlihi (454)
4 Reported by al-Hakim and al-Bayhaqi – Sahih Jami’ (1077)
...
In a time when the people of this world are busy with their Dunya and its vanities, and they
make their gatherings one of amusement, heedlessness and slander – the people of Qur’aan
are taking advantage of every moment and living by the Qur’aan, in heart and soul, reciting
it, memorising it, pondering over it and acting upon it.
Beloved brothers and sisters, indeed the nafs (soul) commands evil and if you do not busy it in
obedience, it will busy you in disobedience. Time is like a sword, if you do not cut it, it will
cut you – so take advantage of life… memorise the Book of Allaah and act upon it.
◊ The Qur’aan is a cure for the hardening of the heart
Many people complain about the hardness of their hearts and they ask for the cure to it, so
we say to them: Indeed, the greatest way to cure the hardness of the heart is to draw closer to
the Book of Allaah ‘azza wa jall.
“Allah has sent down the best statement, a Book, its parts resembling each other in goodness
and truth, oft-repeated.
The skins of those who fear their Lord shiver from it.
Then their skin and their heart soften to the remembrance of Allah.
That is the guidance of Allah.
He Guides therewith whom He pleases and whomever Allah sends astray, for him there is no
guide.”
[Az-Zumar: 23]
◊ The Qur’aan increases your Imaan
Whoever wishes for an increase in Imaan day after day, then upon him is (recourse) to the
Book of Allaah, for He (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) has said,
“The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, feel a fear in their hearts and
when His Verses are recited unto them, they increase their Faith; and they put their trust in
their Lord (Alone)”
[Al-Anfaal: 2]
He also said,
“And whenever there comes down a Surah (chapter from the Quran), some of them
(hypocrites) say: “Which of you has had his Faith increased by it?” As for those who believe,
it has increased their Faith, and they rejoice.”
[At-Tawbah: 124]
...
For whenever you read in the Qur’aan how Allaah gave victory to His slaves, the Prophets
and Messengers (`alayhumusalaam) and brought defeat to the disbelievers, you’ll increase in
Imaan. When you read about the Promise of Allaah to His believing servants, the promise of
Paradise and pleasure… and His stern warnings of anger and hellfire to the disbelievers,
you’ll increase in Imaan.
Narrated from Jundub (radhi’Allaahu `anhu) that he said, “We were young youth with the
Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam), so we learnt Imaan before we learnt
Qur’aan, then we learnt Qur’aan and it increased our Imaan.” 5
◊ Indeed in the Messenger of Allaah you have a great example
Allaah Ta’aala said,
“Indeed in the Messenger of Allah you have a good example to follow for him who hopes in
(the Meeting with) Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah much.” [Al-Ahzaab: 21]
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) used to memorise the Qur’aan and he used to be
continuous in its recitation. Jibreel (`alayhisalaam) used to review it with him once every
year and in the year that he (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) was taken (i.e. passed away), he
came to him twice. So whoever memorised the Qur’aan, then he has indeed taken the
beloved as an example.
◊ Memorisation of Qur’aan is from the special characteristics of this Ummah
Hifdh al-Qur’aan is from the special characteristics of the Ummah of Muhammad (sallallaahu
`alayhi wa sallam). Ibn al-Jazari (rahimahullaah) said: “The transmission of Qur’aan by
relying upon memorisation (off by heart) and not upon script in the mus-haf and in books, is
from the most noble of characteristics given to this Ummah by Allaah Ta’aala.”
He also said, “Allaah ta’aala has informed us that the Qur’aan does not need to be confined -
in preserving it - to a page that can be washed with water. Instead it is read in all states as has
been narrated in the description of this Ummah “Their scriptures are in their hearts” - and
this is different to the people of the Book who do not memorise it except in (referring to) the
Books, they do not read it except by looking at it and it is never off by heart.
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5 Nuzhat al-Fudhalaa’ (1/383)
...
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◊ Our Pious Predecessors and Memorisation of Qur’aan
Imam al-Nawawi said, “The pious predecessors would never teach hadeeth and fiqh
(jurisprudence) except to someone who had memorised the Qur’aan” 6
Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr also said, “Seeking knowledge is in consecutive levels and ranks, it does not
befit that they should be bypassed. Whoever bypasses them at once, then he has bypassed the
path of the pious predecessors –may Allah have mercy on them. Whoever bypasses them
intentionally will go astray and whoever bypasses them with sincere effort with fall into
error. The first of knowledge is memorising the Book of Allah `azza wa jall and
understanding it…” 7
Abul-Fadhl al-Razi said: “It was upon the memorisation and teaching (of Qur’aan) that the
hearts of the first ones (of this nation) and those after them lay.” 8
So whoever wishes to take the pious predecessors as an example, then upon him is to
memorise the Qur’aan.
◊ Memorisation of Qur’aan is easy and easily-accomplished
Allaah ta’aala said,
“And We have indeed made the Quran easy to understand and remember, but is there any
that will remember?” [al-Qamar: 17]
Al-Qurtubi said, “This means ‘We have made it easy for Hifdh and we will aid whoever
wishes to memorise it so is there anyone who seeks to memorise it that We may help him?” 9
Indeed, from the miracles of the Noble Qur’aan is the ease of memorisation upon all tongues
such that the non-Arab and others besides them are able to memorise it. Hifdh al-Qur’aan is
the basis of learning (and pursuing studies). Allaah, the Exalted and Most High described this
Qur’aan saying,
“Nay, but they, the clear Ayat are preserved in the breasts of those who have been given
knowledge” [al-'Ankabut: 49]
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6 al-Majmoo’ (1/38)
7 Jami’ Bayan al-‘ilm wa fadhlihi (2/166)
8 Fadha’il al-Qur’aan pg. 33
9 al-Jami’ li-ahkam al-Qur’aan (17/134)