Treasures Of Memorizing The Qur'an (Part 1)
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.