I always strive to read the Noble Qur'an and the Sunnah of his Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him)
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The questioner : I always strive to read the Noble Qur'an and the Sunnah of his Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), but I have little memorization. What method do you advise me to follow so that I may memorize the Book of Allah? Guide us, may Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : One of the causes of memorization is first that a person should take the initiative to do so in his youth, because memorization in youth is, as it is said, like engraving on stone. Now, an older person remembers things that passed by him in his youth and does not remember things that passed by him recently. So this is the first cause by which memorization is achieved.
Second: following up, studying, and reviewing what one has memorized. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded the review of the Qur'an, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih al-Bukhari 5033.
Third: that one should always be psychologically connected to what he has memorized, such that it does not leave his mind, and such that he feels that he is obligated by this knowledge he has memorized from the Book of Allah, the Sunnah of his Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and the sayings of the scholars.
Fourth: that one should have a great degree of faith in Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and mindfulness of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), for this is one of the greatest causes of memorization. Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) says:[Muhammad 47:17] And among the transmitted maxims is: "Bind knowledge with action". So acting upon knowledge is one of the causes of its preservation and connection. If a person commits many sins, then sins necessitate forgetfulness. Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Ma'idah 5:13] So sins are a major cause of forgetfulness, just as obedience and faith are a major cause of memorization. It is narrated from al-Shafi'i (may Allah have mercy on him) that he said:
"I complained to Waki' of my poor memory, so he guided me to abandon sins.
And he said: Know that knowledge is light, and the light of Allah is not given to a sinner."
And whoever acts upon what he knows, Allah will bequeath to him knowledge of what he did not know.
The questioner : May Allah reward you and bless you.
The Shaykh : One of the causes of memorization is first that a person should take the initiative to do so in his youth, because memorization in youth is, as it is said, like engraving on stone. Now, an older person remembers things that passed by him in his youth and does not remember things that passed by him recently. So this is the first cause by which memorization is achieved.
Second: following up, studying, and reviewing what one has memorized. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded the review of the Qur'an, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
it is surely more prone to break away than a camel in its bind.
إنه أشد تفصياً من الإبل في عقلهاThird: that one should always be psychologically connected to what he has memorized, such that it does not leave his mind, and such that he feels that he is obligated by this knowledge he has memorized from the Book of Allah, the Sunnah of his Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and the sayings of the scholars.
Fourth: that one should have a great degree of faith in Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and mindfulness of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), for this is one of the greatest causes of memorization. Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) says:
And those who are guided - He increases them in guidance and gives them their righteousness.
وَالَّذِينَ اهْتَدَوْا زَادَهُمْ هُدًى وَآتَاهُمْ تَقْواهُمْSo for their breaking of the covenant We cursed them and made their hearts hard. They distort words from their [proper] usages and have forgotten a portion of that of which they were reminded
فَبِمَا نَقْضِهِمْ مِيثَاقَهُمْ لَعَنَّاهُمْ وَجَعَلْنَا قُلُوبَهُمْ قَاسِيَةً يُحَرِّفُونَ الْكَلِمَ عَنْ مَوَاضِعِهِ وَنَسُوا حَظًّا مِمَّا ذُكِّرُوا بِهِ"I complained to Waki' of my poor memory, so he guided me to abandon sins.
And he said: Know that knowledge is light, and the light of Allah is not given to a sinner."
And whoever acts upon what he knows, Allah will bequeath to him knowledge of what he did not know.
The questioner : May Allah reward you and bless you.