Hafiz Abdut-Tawwab Abolaji, Student, Jamia Ahmadiyya International Ghana
Let’s be clear: memorising the Holy Quran is not for the faint of heart. It requires dedication, mental discipline and tenacity that would make even many diligent students think twice.
As a student of Jamia, I am already on a remarkable journey – one that weaves together the pursuit of knowledge with the sanctity of faith. On top of this, I embarked on another quest: memorising the Holy Quran, which requires both divine grace and human determination.
The task before me was daunting, with challenges that tested the limits of my resolve. Despite disruption and unforeseen circumstances, by the grace of Allah, my enthusiasm remained unshakeable, for the support I found in this endeavour was unparalleled.
A lot of things motivated me to memorise the Holy Quran. From the spiritual benefits of the Holy Quran – like the reward for each letter while reciting the Holy Quran is ten – to the revelation of the Promised Messiahas that “all good is contained in the Quran.” (Noah’s Ark, p. 44)
Understanding the Arabic language also motivated me to memorise the Holy Quran because I was a student of Arabic before coming to Jamia. The best book to learn Arabic is the Book of God. How nice is it to commit it to memory?
My methods
I used the basic method of memorisation; I sat alone to avoid distractions, and most times, I memorised at night too. I would repeat a particular portion several times and then go from one verse to the other until I could recite it offhand. When I was fluent, I would recite the portion in my nawafil [supererogatory prayers], as this is a great way to revise the Holy Quran.
I would also recite to my tutor, another student, who would listen to my recitation. Sometimes, to aid the memorisation, I would check the meaning of the verses from the Holy Quran. This helped a lot. Although I understand Arabic, this made me feel very connected to the subjects discussed in that particular portion. At times, I would go further by checking the Five-Volume Commentary for more clarity and understanding.
If not for the help of Allah the Almighty and the regular prayers and guidance of our beloved Khalifa, this dream might not have been fulfilled. I tried to pray Tahajjud [pre-dawn voluntary prayers] regularly, asking Allah to make this task easier for me. I also wrote letters to Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih Vaa, seeking his prayers. Anytime I received his replies, I was elated because they uplifted and propelled me forward.
By the grace of Allah, I memorised the entire Holy Quran in 11 months, finishing on 27 December 2019. May Allah abundantly reward all those who helped me along the way.
The benefits
I firmly believe that those who commit the Holy Quran to memory are bestowed with extraordinary brilliance. Alhamdulillah, I am a witness to this favour. I feel as though the Holy Quran opened my heart and gave me a lot of insight. Academically, I got better with retention. I can mostly memorise anything, provided I can read it. All this is the special grace of Allah. The Holy Quran is not just a book to be memorised but a key to unlocking a treasure trove of wisdom and knowledge.
The Holy Quran helped me shape my life morally as well, because being the word of God, I know injunctions first-hand. It also improved my Arabic. It is a joyful thing that I have completed. I feel accomplished, even though I have another challenge ahead, which is a revision of the Holy Quran.
This is a lifetime duty. Every day is a battle against the greatest enemy of memorisation: forgetfulness. No one wants to forget what he had memorised after much toil. To keep it flowing, revision is very necessary.
The path ahead
Reflecting on my journey, I have learnt that memorising the Holy Quran is not just about retaining words; it’s about embodying the divine message in every aspect of your life. And when you finally reach the end, when you’ve committed every verse to heart, you don’t just close the book and call it a day.
No, that’s when the real work begins – the work of living out the Holy Quran. Because, let’s face it, anyone can memorise words, but to live by them? Now that’s a story worth telling, a journey worth every step, every verse, every chapter of this divine scripture.
Anyone can consider memorising the Holy Quran; it is certainly not impossible. You’ll need to go the extra mile to achieve this. Be slow and steady, have a goal, use the easiest method, and most importantly, pray for your success. Don’t forget to write to Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa for prayers. Always revise, and this is very important, the Holy Prophetsa said:
تَعَاهَدُوا الْقُرْآنَ فَوَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَهُوَ أَشَدُّ تَفَصِّيًا مِنَ الإِبِلِ فِي عُقُلِهَا
“Commit yourself to the Quran, for by Him in whose Hand is my soul, it is surely more prone to break away than a camel in its bind.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab fada’il al-Qur’an, Bab istidkar al-Qur’an wa ta’ahudihi, Hadith 5033)
Similarly, the Holy Prophetsa stated:
مَا مِنِ امْرِئٍ يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ يَنْسَاهُ إِلاَّ لَقِيَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَجْذَمَ
“No man recites the Quran, then forgets it, but will meet Allah on the Day of Judgment in a maimed condition (or empty-handed, or with no excuse).” (Sunan Abi Dawud, Kitab al-witr, Bab at-tashdid fi man hafiza al-Qur’an thumma nasiya-hu, Hadith 1474)
May Allah make it easier for everyone striving to achieve this.