The Method of Memorizing the Noble Qur'an
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Fatwa No. ( 15360 )
Q: What is the ruling of the Shari'ah regarding a young man who wants to complete the memorization of the Qur'an, but he was unable to do so except by following this method, where he stays awake from after the 'Isha' prayer until Fajr, and from after Fajr until nine in the morning, then he sleeps afterwards. Consequently, he does not pray the Zuhr prayer in congregation; sometimes he prays it at two o'clock, sometimes at three o'clock in the afternoon, and sometimes he combines it with 'Asr by delaying it. As for the other prayers, he prays them in congregation and is never late. This method has had an effect on him, and he has memorized eleven parts of the Qur'an well in six months. He wants to continue like this until he completes the Noble Qur'an. We rebuked him for leaving the Zuhr prayer in congregation and delaying it from its time, so he argued that when he sleeps at night, he cannot memorize during the day because he is very busy. Also, he claims that he relies on standing in night prayer and attending the Fajr prayer in congregation to help him memorize. He tried many times during the day but did not succeed, and he said: "This is in the path of knowledge." And we, O Shaykh, know his good intention and purpose, so what is the ruling of the Shari'ah regarding his action?
A : Memorizing the Qur'an is a great deed and is required of Muslims in general
and of students of knowledge in particular, and it is made easy for whom Allah makes it easy. What the questioner mentioned, that he stays awake all night to memorize the Qur'an and follows it with the early morning, then sleeps and misses the Zuhr prayer in congregation, and sometimes delays it from its time until he prays it with 'Asr, is an action that is not permissible and is a prohibited burden; because of the exhaustion it causes to the self and the abandonment of the obligatory duties, which are performing the prayer in its time in congregation. Memorizing the Qur'an is a recommended practice (sunnah) for which an obligatory duty is not abandoned. It is possible to allocate a time for it from the night or the day that does not conflict with performing the obligatory duty. Staying awake all night is a disliked matter that contradicts the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), where he said (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih Muslim 1401 . It is agreed upon as authentic. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
Q: What is the ruling of the Shari'ah regarding a young man who wants to complete the memorization of the Qur'an, but he was unable to do so except by following this method, where he stays awake from after the 'Isha' prayer until Fajr, and from after Fajr until nine in the morning, then he sleeps afterwards. Consequently, he does not pray the Zuhr prayer in congregation; sometimes he prays it at two o'clock, sometimes at three o'clock in the afternoon, and sometimes he combines it with 'Asr by delaying it. As for the other prayers, he prays them in congregation and is never late. This method has had an effect on him, and he has memorized eleven parts of the Qur'an well in six months. He wants to continue like this until he completes the Noble Qur'an. We rebuked him for leaving the Zuhr prayer in congregation and delaying it from its time, so he argued that when he sleeps at night, he cannot memorize during the day because he is very busy. Also, he claims that he relies on standing in night prayer and attending the Fajr prayer in congregation to help him memorize. He tried many times during the day but did not succeed, and he said: "This is in the path of knowledge." And we, O Shaykh, know his good intention and purpose, so what is the ruling of the Shari'ah regarding his action?
A : Memorizing the Qur'an is a great deed and is required of Muslims in general
and of students of knowledge in particular, and it is made easy for whom Allah makes it easy. What the questioner mentioned, that he stays awake all night to memorize the Qur'an and follows it with the early morning, then sleeps and misses the Zuhr prayer in congregation, and sometimes delays it from its time until he prays it with 'Asr, is an action that is not permissible and is a prohibited burden; because of the exhaustion it causes to the self and the abandonment of the obligatory duties, which are performing the prayer in its time in congregation. Memorizing the Qur'an is a recommended practice (sunnah) for which an obligatory duty is not abandoned. It is possible to allocate a time for it from the night or the day that does not conflict with performing the obligatory duty. Staying awake all night is a disliked matter that contradicts the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), where he said (peace and blessings be upon him):
I observe prayer and sleep too; I observe fast and suspend observing them; I marry women also? And he who turns away from my Sunnah, he has no relation with Me
أما والله إني لأخشاكم لله وأتقاكم له، ولكن أصلي وأنام، وأصوم وأفطر، وأتزوج النساء، فمن رغب عن سنتي فليس مني
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.