What is the cure for forgetfulness, whether of the Qur'an or other sciences?
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The questioner : What is the cure for forgetfulness, whether it is of the Noble Qur'an or of other Islamic sciences?
The Shaykh : The cure for forgetfulness is to keep reviewing what one has memorized, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded us to review the Qur'an. He said:Sahih Muslim 791 So a person should keep reviewing what he has memorized by reading it constantly so that he does not forget it.
Forgetfulness is an innate trait and has a cause. By "innate trait," I mean that some people are naturally disposed not to forget; they are naturally quick to memorize and slow to forget. Some people are quick to memorize and quick to forget, and some are slow to memorize and quick to forget. Thus, they differ. There are four categories, derived from multiplying two by two, regarding the speed of memorization and forgetting.
Forgetfulness also occurs due to causes other than innate disposition, such as sins. Sins are a cause of forgetfulness. Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Ma'idah 5:13] It is mentioned that al-Shafi'i (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
I complained to Waki' of my poor memory, and he advised me to abandon sins.
He said, "Know that knowledge is light, and the light of Allah is not granted to a sinner."
If this is the cause, namely sins, then the cure is for a person to repent from the sin, to turn to Allah, and to be concerned with the matters that require his attention, whether they are personal or general. As for occupying oneself with what is of no benefit, that is idle talk. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2500Sahih (Darussalam) This preoccupation with what is of no benefit is also a cause of forgetfulness, because information and memories accumulate on a person, and he forgets some of them because of others.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : The cure for forgetfulness is to keep reviewing what one has memorized, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded us to review the Qur'an. He said:
Keep refreshing your knowledge of the Qur'an, for I swear by Him in Whose Hand is the life of Mahammad that it is more liable to escape than camels which are hobbled.
تعاهدوا القرآن، فوالذي نفسي بيده لهو أشد تفلتاً من الإبل في عقلهاForgetfulness is an innate trait and has a cause. By "innate trait," I mean that some people are naturally disposed not to forget; they are naturally quick to memorize and slow to forget. Some people are quick to memorize and quick to forget, and some are slow to memorize and quick to forget. Thus, they differ. There are four categories, derived from multiplying two by two, regarding the speed of memorization and forgetting.
Forgetfulness also occurs due to causes other than innate disposition, such as sins. Sins are a cause of forgetfulness. Allah the Exalted said:
So 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 بِهِI complained to Waki' of my poor memory, and he advised me to abandon sins.
He said, "Know that knowledge is light, and the light of Allah is not granted to a sinner."
If this is the cause, namely sins, then the cure is for a person to repent from the sin, to turn to Allah, and to be concerned with the matters that require his attention, whether they are personal or general. As for occupying oneself with what is of no benefit, that is idle talk. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
And whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, then let him say what is good or remain silent.
من كان يؤمن بالله واليوم الآخر فليقل خيراً أو ليصمتThe questioner : May Allah bless you.