Chapter 5


Allah U has created everybody with different capacities in terms of memory. Some have a photographic memory, others have an average memory and so on.

Besides the memory of each individual, there are also external factors which though they do not affect memory, affect the ability to memorize. As a result somedays it is easier to memorize, somedays it is difficult, and somedays it seems well-nigh impossible.

Tiredness can be a factor, incidents from work, school, or home can be a factor, and on some days just the passion to memorize is not there.

When tiredness or the passion to memorize is a factor, the best thing to do is to take a break and return a while later, or perhaps if one is tired of reading, then he should listen to his lesson (sabaq) by means of a tape/CD or take a quick nap to refresh the mind.

When distractions from work, school, or home are a factor such as an argument, or impending work, then in the latters case it is best to attend to the work at hand if one cannot divert his mind from it.

If an incident occurred, such as an argument, it is best to resolve it as quickly as possible (which is not always easy) because one cannot fight a two front war. Shaytaan and Nafs are already allied and waging their offensive, if a third army is added to this group, the battle will be lost for that day, week or however long that incident continues to affect the mind.

Where individual memory is concerned, Allah U in his Infinite Mercy and Blessings upon this Ummah has chosen to reward us even when our memory is not the best.

“Mulla Ali Qari has reproduced from the riwayat of Tabrani and Baihaqi that one who cannot memorize the Quran well and yet persists in learning it by heart gets double reward. Similarly, one who cherishes a longing for memorizing it and does not possess the ability to do so, but does not give up his efforts either, will be reckoned by Almighty Allah U among he huffaz on the Day of Resurrection.” (Fazail-e-Quran)

While there are many methods for increasing the memory, the following have been selected for their ease of application and proven effect:

RECITATION OF QURAN

The first thing that will increase memory is recitation of Quran. By continuously memorizing, one’s ability to memorize more and more will increase along the way. In the beginning one may only be able to memorize one verse or two verses daily, then after memorizing one juz or two juz that capacity might increase to four verses daily and so on. What seemed difficult in the beginning will seem very easy later on, because the mind has become adapted to memorizing.

Mufti Ebrahim Desai (db) has stated:

“The most important thing is to train the mind to memorize and remember. There are many people in the world with weak memories but are also Hafiz of the Quran. That was also due to training the mind to remember.”

DHIKR/DARUD

Another advice that he renders is:

“Recite Durood as much as possible and place one’s right hand on the forehead after each Fardh Salaat and recite ‘Yaa Qawiyyu’. This has been tried and tested to be beneficial”

The benefit of Durood in increasing memory is also corroborated in Talim al Mutallim, Chapter of what increases Memory:



A lot of Salawaat should be sent on Rasulullah r

since verily he r is a mercy for the worlds.

MISWAAK

A third factor in increasing memory is the use of a miswaak. A miswaak is a ‘natural toothbrush’, essentially a twig of certain specific trees such as an olive tree, a walnut tree, etc.

Kitaabut-Tahaarah mentions that the use of a Miswaak at the time of recitation of the Quran is a Sunnah.

Hadhrat Ali t said: 'Verily, your mouths are the pathways of the Quran (i.e. you recite with your mouth), therefore cleanse your mouth with the Miswaak thoroughly'. (Ibn Majah)

A miswaak is quite beneficial for cleaning the teeth and it also clears the voice. A clear voice assists in making the recitation of Quran pleasant and clear which in turn enables the one reciting it to better hear and remember his own recitation.

Further, according to Ali t Miswaak increases the memory. (Kitaabut-Tahaarah). A similar view is also cited in Talim al Mutallim.

By way of diversion, a story about the memory of a Quranic commentator, Kalbi is being mentioned here:

"Kalbi himself used to say, I have exhibited the excellency of my memory as nobody could have done, and also that of my forgetfulness as nobody could have done. The example of my memory is that I had memorized the whole Quran in six or seven days. And the case of forgetfulness is that one day I held my beard in my fist to trim it below the fist but through forgetfulness I cut it off above the fist." (An Approach to the Quranic Sciences)