Methods of Memorization in Mauritania

[Ayesha Nicole]

as salaam 'alaikum wa rahmahtu Allahi wa barakatuh,

An interesting research paper, that also compares the Mauritanian method with KSA methods:

Author(s): Muhammad Yaseen Alfi

Affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, College of Education, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Title: An Applied Linguistics Approach to Improving the Memorization of the Holy Quran: Suggestions for Designing Practice Activities for Learning and Teaching

Source: Journal of King Saud University. Educational Sciences & Islamic Studies. Volume 16, No 2. (2004/1424)

Abstract: The memorization of the Holy Quran is as old as the inception of Islam, and memorization has continued to play a vital role in many of its religious practices. In this paper we intend to introduce to the Islamic reader some of the information from research on memorization and some of the methodologies from educational theory that may enhance the already advanced practices of memorization in the Islamic world. Some of the issues that will be discussed are the following: the traditional role of memorization in the study of the Holy Quran; methodology in contemporary Islamic Schools; on the idea of memorization as a methodology of study; motivation and meaning as they pertain to memorization; techniques such as chunking and mnemonics that assist the learner in his/her effort at memorization; a tentative model for repertory memory and possible classroom applications. It is hoped that the discussion of these issues will assist teachers and curriculum designers in confirming the good practices that are already in place, in improving practices that are found to be less useful, and in eliminating some practices that are seen to be counterproductive. To paraphrase the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), we may take wisdom wherever we find it. It is hoped that the information presented in this brief paper will open the door for further research into the topic of memorization for scholars and teachers so that we can continue to build on our great past.

Download Full Text/Image PDF Research Paper

http://digital.library.ksu.edu.sa/paper1251.html

[asad036]

[QUOTE=Ayesha Nicole;651775]as salaam 'alaikum wa rahmahtu Allahi wa barakatuh,

An interesting research paper, that also compares the Mauritanian method with KSA methods:

Author(s): Muhammad Yaseen Alfi

Affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, College of Education, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Title: An Applied Linguistics Approach to Improving the Memorization of the Holy Quran: Suggestions for Designing Practice Activities for Learning and Teaching

Source: Journal of King Saud University. Educational Sciences & Islamic Studies. Volume 16, No 2. (2004/1424)

Abstract: The memorization of the Holy Quran is as old as the inception of Islam, and memorization has continued to play a vital role in many of its religious practices. In this paper we intend to introduce to the Islamic reader some of the information from research on memorization and some of the methodologies from educational theory that may enhance the already advanced practices of memorization in the Islamic world. Some of the issues that will be discussed are the following: the traditional role of memorization in the study of the Holy Quran; methodology in contemporary Islamic Schools; on the idea of memorization as a methodology of study; motivation and meaning as they pertain to memorization; techniques such as chunking and mnemonics that assist the learner in his/her effort at memorization; a tentative model for repertory memory and possible classroom applications. It is hoped that the discussion of these issues will assist teachers and curriculum designers in confirming the good practices that are already in place, in improving practices that are found to be le

[asad036]

[SIZE="2"][SIZE="6"][FONT="Georgia"]as salaam 'alaikum wa rahmahtu Allahi wa barakatuh, sister but as i see it it,s true the quran is the best and whats better than a person who can add the quran in his life and make it a part of him ? well none the easiest way to memorize is first intentions as the basic steps and be alone in place were no one comes at the perfect time maybe before salatu fajir, repeat each line or ayat 10-15 times and keep on concentrating after- words same thing with other ayats until you reach the first 5 then from the first to the fifth keep on repeating so you can connect it together and inshallah by the will of Allah you will know and keep on continuing don,t stop .the this strategy is easy keep on continuing brothers and sisters and don,t stop inshallah it,ll be easy. wasalaamu 'alaikum wa rahmahtu Allahi wa barakatuh

[Ayesha Nicole]

As'Salam Alaikum
Another question is about time requirements
:
As I am seeing it: At rate of a quick 1 minute per page

New lesson = 300 reps = 5 hours
Prev day revision = 150 reps = 2.5 hours
Prev day revision = 75 reps = 1.25 hours
Prev day revision = 15 reps = 0.25 hours

Grand total = 9 hours

Also I doubt that I can keep up the speed of 1 minute per page for 9 hours?

No time will be left for sleeping eating or the rest! What about fitting in memorizing meanings and other learning?

I cant even dare to estimate what moving up from 300 to 500 reps will do.

Any comments? maybe i am misunderstanding something?
Was'Salam

* * *

wa 'alaikum as salaam,

This is the calculation of repetitions that I came up with; using 500 reps for Qur'an; and not 300 that is the example for "other texts", while dividing the reps for "review" in half every following day (which is the calculation used in the example for 300 reps used for other texts):

What is listed in the text:

After one engages in this time consuming program for more than two weeks or so, he will have the following: [for "other texts = 300 reps; for Qur'an = 500 reps]

Day 1: 300 reps
Day 2: 300+150+explanation 15 times
Day 3: 300+150+75+explanations for material of day one and two- totaling 23 times
Day 4: 300+150+75+10+explanations for material of day one, two, and three- totaling 33 times.
Day 5: Continues as day four along with reading everything at once a few times to ensure proper connection etc.

* * *

For Qur'an, it would be, working "with the average quick reading time of one minute for one page of Qur'an", as mentioned in the description, to calculate the time:

Day 1:
New Lesson A (typically one page from mushaaf) @ 500 reps [ 8 hours : 20 minutes]
[ question: is the mushaaf used in Mauritania, the same as Madinah mushaaf, in terms of pages, lines, etc.? and I know they learn to recite with Warsh, and not Hafs first. ]



Day 2:
New Lesson B @ 500 reps [ 8 hours : 20 minutes ]
Review Lesson A @ 250 reps [ 4 hours : 10 minutes ] + explanation or translation 25 times
[ 12 hours : 30 minutes for recitation alone ]

Day 3:
New Lesson C @ 500 reps [ 8 hours : 20 minutes ]
Review Lesson B @ 250 reps [ 4 hours : 10 minutes ] + explanation or translation 25 times
Review Lesson A @ 125 reps [ 2 hours : 5 minutes ] + explanation or translation 12.5 times
[ 14 hours : 35 minutes for recitation alone ]

Day 4:
New Lesson D @ 500 reps [ 8 hours : 20 minutes ]
Review Lesson C @ 250 reps [ 4 hours : 10 minutes ] + explanation or translation 25 times
Review Lesson B @ 125 reps [ 2 hours : 5 minutes ] + explanation or translation 12.5 times
Review LEsson A @ 62.5 reps [ 1 hour : 2 minutes : 30 seconds ] + explanation or translation 6.25 times
[ 15 hours : 37 minutes : 30 seconds for recitation alone ]

Day 5:
New Lesson E @ 500 reps [ 8 hours : 20 minutes ]
Review Lesson D @ 250 reps [ 4 hours : 10 minutes ] + explanation or translation 25 times
Review Lesson C @ 125 reps [ 2 hours : 5 minutes ] + explanation or translation 12.5 times
Review Lesson B @ 62.5 reps [ 1 hour : 2 minutes : 30 seconds ] + explanation or translation 6.25 times
Review Lesson A @ 31.25 reps [ 31 minutes : 15 seconds ] + explanation or translation 3.125 times
[ 16 hours : 8 minutes : 45 seconds for recitation alone ]
Consolidation of Review: "Continues as day four along with reading everything at once a few times to ensure proper connection etc."

Day 6:
New Lesson F @ 500 reps [ 8 hours : 20 minutes ]
Review Lesson E @ 250 reps [ 4 hours : 10 minutes ] + explanation 25 times
Review Lesson D @ 125 reps [ 2 hours : 5 minutes ] + explanation 12.5 times
Review Lesson C @ 62.5 reps [ 1 hour : 2 minutes : 30 seconds ] + explanation 6.25 times
Review Lesson B @ 31.25 reps [ 31 minutes : 15 seconds ] + explanation 3.125 times
[ 16 hours : 8 minutes : 45 seconds for recitation alone ]

Day 7:
New Lesson G @ 500 reps [ 8 hours : 20 minutes ]
Review Lesson F @ 250 reps [ 4 hours : 10 minutes ] + explanation 25 times
Review Lesson E @ 125 reps [ 2 hours : 5 minutes ] + explanation 12.5 times
Review Lesson D @ 62.5 reps [ 1 hour : 2 minutes : 30 seconds ] + explanation 6.25 times
Review Lesson C @ 31.25 reps [ 31 minutes : 15 seconds ] + explanation 3.125 times
[ 16 hours : 8 minutes : 45 seconds for recitation alone ]

Day 8:
New Lesson H @ 500 reps [ 8 hours : 20 minutes ]
Review Lesson G @ 250 reps [ 4 hours : 10 minutes ] + explanation 25 times
Review Lesson F @ 125 reps [ 2 hours : 5 minutes ] + explanation 12.5 times
Review Lesson E @ 62.5 reps [ 1 hour : 2 minutes : 30 seconds ] + explanation 6.25 times
Review Lesson D @ 31.25 reps [ 31 minutes : 15 seconds ] + explanation 3.125 times
[ 16 hours : 8 minutes : 45 seconds for recitation alone ]

Day 8:
New Lesson I @ 500 reps [ 8 hours : 20 minutes ]
Review Lesson H @ 250 reps [ 4 hours : 10 minutes ] + explanation 25 times
Review Lesson G @ 125 reps [ 2 hours : 5 minutes ] + explanation 12.5 times
Review Lesson F @ 62.5 reps [ 1 hour : 2 minutes : 30 seconds ] + explanation 6.25 times
Review Lesson E @ 31.25 reps [ 31 minutes : 15 seconds ] + explanation 3.125 times
[ 16 hours : 8 minutes : 45 seconds for recitation alone ]

Day 9:
New Lesson J @ 500 reps [ 8 hours : 20 minutes ]
Review Lesson I @ 250 reps [ 4 hours : 10 minutes ] + explanation 25 times
Review Lesson H @ 125 reps [ 2 hours : 5 minutes ] + explanation 12.5 times
Review Lesson G @ 62.5 reps [ 1 hour : 2 minutes : 30 seconds ] + explanation 6.25 times
Review Lesson F @ 31.25 reps [ 31 minutes : 15 seconds ] + explanation 3.125 times
[ 16 hours : 8 minutes : 45 seconds for recitation alone ]

Day 10:
New Lesson K @ 500 reps [ 8 hours : 20 minutes ]
Review Lesson J @ 250 reps [ 4 hours : 10 minutes ] + explanation 25 times
Review Lesson I @ 125 reps [ 2 hours : 5 minutes ] + explanation 12.5 times
Review Lesson H @ 62.5 reps [ 1 hour : 2 minutes : 30 seconds ] + explanation 6.25 times
Review Lesson G @ 31.25 reps [ 31 minutes : 15 seconds ] + explanation 3.125 times
[ 16 hours : 8 minutes : 45 seconds for recitation alone ]
Consolidation of Review: "Continues as day (nine) along with reading everything at once a few times to ensure proper connection etc."


Etc.

* * *

Also, I do not believe that they complete the "new lesson and review for Day #" in one day or 24 hours time; rather I think they spread out the "day's schedule" over several days, as long as the repetition number goal is met for both the new lesson and the review; based on this statement in the text:

After one engages in this time consuming program for more than two weeks or so, he will have the following:

Day 1: 300 reps
Day 2: 300+150+explanation 15 times
Day 3: 300+150+75+explanations for material of day one and two- totaling 23 times
Day 4: 300+150+75+10+explanations for material of day one, two, and three- totaling 33 times.
Day 5: Continues as day four along with reading everything at once a few times to ensure proper connection etc.

With this method, you will memorize with strength in sha Allah. One thing to keep in mind also is that you are not bound to the numbers mentioned above. If you don't have the time to sit for hours upon hours, at least repeat your material 50 times on day one and then 25 on day two and 10 on day three and so on and so fourth. A little is better than reading it a few times thinking that you memorized it, only to stumble the next day as if you did nothing at all.

According to Dr. Alfi's research:

The Mauritanian Model

At this point it is appropriate to mention some related characteristics of reading, rehearsing, mastering, overlearning and achieving automaticity in yet another model known as the Mauritanian model. In Mauritania, children as young as 4 to 6 years spend as many as 10 to 12 hours in mahdharahs (a “university” for all ages and all “arts”) engaged in a number of activities related to Quranic memorization and some Islamic and Arabic language disciplines. These children first master the basic skill of reading, albeit often without understanding what they are reading because Arabic is not their mother tongue and because of their young age. Their reading skill is practiced to a high level of automaticity and is often acquired at home before joining mahdharahs. Then they write on their own portable wooden chalkboards of different sizes, read what is written for them by their teacher or what they have written themselves, rehearse it, memorize it and recite it to one another and to their teacher over and over again until they have learned it verbatim. This is what they do every day with every new passage of varied length according to their level.

Then they overlearn these new passages to the point of automaticity by repeating them over and over again, close to a hundred times or beyond. This typically leads to high fluency, accuracy, speed and automaticity with little or no understanding or awareness. Next this "new" passage is scheduled into a gradually spaced review plan incorporating the newly added passages. This tablet is divided into four sections, two sections on each side, so that on the first day section one is filled up with a new passage and memorized. The second day another new passage is written on the second section and memorized. This process is continued until, by the fifth day, the passage written on section one has to be erased to allow for a new passage to be written and memorized. However, by this time the erased passage is on its way to being engraved relatively permanently on the mind. Review practices still go on, although at a further spaced time. This is what they do in essence day in and day out, every school day for 2 hours or more on all previously memorized parts of the Quran. By the time they graduate, that is, have memorized the entire Quran, it will most likely be stored for life for easy retrieval. This process is also enhanced by testing the student on what they have memorized at least twice a week. (There are certain exceptions to this outline of behavior, but generally this is what takes place.)

All of this is done on a truly one to one basis. These children, as is their teacher, are totally devoted to the memorization of the Holy Quran, at least to the extent to which they are able at that stage of mental and emotional development. They do not have other obligations, other subject matters or other time demanding activities that will interfere with this never ceasing effort of memorization. In fact, it could be stated that much of the success of the memorization of the Quran in Mauritania can be attributed to what we might for lack of a better term call “culture,” since the memorization of the Quran is such a deep part of the daily lives of the people who live there. For example, competition is so high among students as to how much, how fast and how well they are able to commit passages of the Quran to memory. Additionally, many competitive techniques are employed to encourage learners to memorize, such as games related to the location and resemblance of a particular verse. For example, a verse might be given to a student and the student then has to remember the verse that comes either after or before it.

These activities are followed rigorously until they graduate two to three years later when they will have memorized the entire Quran.

excerpt from: http://digital.library.ksu.edu.sa/paper1251.html

As for the speed of recitation, I agree with you and don't know how it is possible to recite (with tajweed) " . . . [with the average quick reading time of one minute for one page of Qur'an]." I am in the process of checking with a Scholar I know who studied in Mauritania and used this method to find out the speed of recitation he used.

I also read in another thread:

Reading Qur'an Fast
http://www.sunniforum.com/forum/show...ing-Quran-fast


In my opinion, this warp speed of recitation, in and of itself, goes against the Qur'anic injunction to "recite with tarteel (slowly)". And I found a few other Scholarly opinions on the speed of recitation below:

Q2: I have been taught the speed is divided in three stages, Hadr (fast) Tadweer (medium) and Tarteel (slow) all the obove with observing the rules of tajweed. but others term it: tahqeeq (fast), tadweer or tarteel (medium) and tahdeer (slow) which is the correct, please explain in detail.

A2: The three speeds of recitation were documented by Imam Ibn Al-Jazaree as: Tahqeeq, Tadweer, and Hadr, so those are the terms we prefer. It is always best to rely on the early sources of knowledge in tajweed. A correction though, Tahqeeq is the slowest speed, Tadweer a little faster, and Hadr a quicker speed. Please see the follow previous questions and answers for more information [with soundclips]: http://www.abouttajweed.com/31100101.htm and http://www.abouttajweed.com/021101.htm .

http://www.abouttajweed.com/kb/entry/163/

and

What is the recommended recitation speed when learning a new surah?
http://abouttajweed.com/kb/entry/538/

* * *

So, I am curious about what speed of recitation you use for: learning the surah, memorizing the surah, and reviewing the surah? And please post links to sounclips, so that we can hear the speed of the reciter.

Because the speed of recitation will determine how long the repetitions take.

Jazaakum Allahu khaira.
as salaam 'alaikum

P.S. edit on Monday 09.26.2011 > I did receive confirmation from a brother in California, who has heard advanced students of Sheikh Salek (http://www.sunnipath.com/Library/Art...R00000161.aspx and http://www.mahdara.com/) recite to him.

Here is an actual example of a Mauritanian reciting quickly, " . . . with the average quick reading time of one minute for one page of Qur'an . . . ":
http://thefinalbrick.blogspot.com/20...in-desert.html

and in the background, you can hear a student reciting something fast:
http://thefinalbrick.blogspot.com/20...sisted-to.html

and here a student recites at a medium speed for guests:
http://thefinalbrick.blogspot.com/20...auritania.html

Their memorization and revision speed of recitation makes this seem slow: http://flawlessquran.com/site/?p=184

And I used this Time Calculator for crunching the hours and minutes of recitation:
http://www.scottseverance.us/html/time_calculator.htm

[شعيب‎ محمد]

Sorry I have not read full thread. May I know what does reps means?

[Ayesha Nicole]

Sorry I have not read full thread. May I know what does reps means?

Reps = repetitions

[Ayesha Nicole]

as salaam 'alaikum,

Additional variations on the Mauritanian model.

* * *

Manual of Quran Memorization Techniques and Strategies


Bismillah, alhamdulillah wa salat wa salam ala Rasulullah

When I began my memorization of the Quran I did extensive research into the techniques used for memorizing. In this post, I have compiled together all the techniques for memorizing Quran that I could find. It’s really amazing to see the diversity of strategies employed throughout the Muslim world.

Of course, it is crucial to memorize with a teacher. You can download it here: Manual of Quranic Memorization or read below. Feel free to share more techniques and strategies in the comments.

—


Classical Mauritanian Method:

Day 1

Copy out the page of the Quran that you want to memorize.
Read it until you get a fluent at it and have it memorized a little.
Repeat what you memorized 500 times (yes you read that right). You will occasionally read it while looking at the text. But go easy on yourself and take breaks in between. Use a misbah (rosary beads) to keep track and take breaks between every 100. It will take about 4.5 hours to do this if it is one page of Quran that takes about one minute for once through.

Day 2

Do the exact same as Day 1 for the new material (copy out the text, memorize, repeat 500 times).
Return to Day 1’s material and repeat it 150 times.

Day 3

Do the exact same as Day 1 for the new material (copy out the text, memorize, repeat 500 times).
Return to Day 2’s material and repeat it 150 times.
Return to Day 1’s material and repeat it 50-75 times.

Day 4

Do the exact same as Day 1 for the new material (copy out the text, memorize, repeat 500 times).
Return to Day 3’s material and repeat it 150 times.
Return to Day 2’s material and repeat it 50-75 times.
Return to Day 1’s material and repeat it 10 times.

Day 1: 500 reps
Day 2: 500 reps+150
Day 3: 500 reps+150+75
Day 4: 500 reps+150+75+10
Day 5: Same as Day 4 but read everything together a few times to ensure proper connections are made.

Benefit of this method is that you do not have to review so much. But doing this method means you will hear the verses repeating themselves in your head and even dream of reciting them due to the intensity of it. The merit of this method is it is GUARANTEED in sha Allah!


Alternative Mauritanian Method

Same routine as above but the numbers are changed to reflect the following

Day 1: 50 reps
Day 2: 50 reps+25 reps
Day 3: 50 reps+25 reps+10 reps
Day 4: Same as Day 3 but review it all together for proper connections

This is meant for people who do not have so much time to spend on it. However it should be noted this will still take a great deal of time to do. The problem with this method is that it means one will have to review more often in order to have it stick.

One could make up for this deficiency by implementing the Strategies, that are in the the last section of this book.


Another Mauritanian Method
(via. Shaykh Tawfeeq Chaudry)

Day 1: 100 reps
Day 2: 50 reps
Day 3: 10 reps
Day 4: 5 reps
Day 5: 2 reps

This is all for one section that you are memorizing, you will have to adjust it using the same pattern mentioned in the Classical Mauritanian Method

Singapore Method:

Read until fluent which means at least 10 times
Then recite it 50 times alternating between 5 times looking at the Quran (open book) and not looking at the Quran (closed book)

The Singapore Method has a number of other helpful techniques that are mentioned in the Strategies section of this book.


Circle Method for Review
(African Sub’is)

Get a group of students who have already memorized the part of the Quran
Everyone recites one ayah each
When a person makes 3 mistakes (or however many) they are out of the circle
Repeat until the entire Juz is complete


Strategies

What has been mentioned above are methods that have been proven to be successful in places around the world. The prerequisites for these methods are sincerity, hard work and perseverance.

There are other strategies, tips and tricks that will also help a person in memorizing the Quran. They are important and in a sense, require an awareness of the Book of Allah and the practical points in the believer relating to it. Although you may heard some of these before we’ll go through these carefully to fully appreciate the value of them.

As mentioned earlier having a Quran teacher is important for a number of reasons:
They will correct your mistakes and help you with your weaknesses
They will keep you on track and not allow you to slack off
They will also help with the tajweed and qiraat of the Quran, so that you will not only memorize the ayahs, but how to also recite the ayahs beautifully

Pick a mushaf (Quran text) that you are already comfortable and familiar with. It should have the following:
Easy to read Arabic
Translation of the meaning
Differentiation marks for dividing Ruku, Rub, Nisf, Suls, Juz

Subhana kallhumma wa bihamdika ash-haduna la illaha illa ant astaghfiruka wa atubu ilayk, ameen.

http://muslimology.wordpress.com/201...nd-strategies/

[Ayesha Nicole]

as salaam 'alaikum wa rahmatu Allahi wa barakatuh,

A nice documentary on the lawh as used at Masjid al-Noor, along with Noorani, with 280 students taught by one teacher in Yemen, masha'Allah:

الكتابة على الألواح
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YkuOuteZjA

Enjoy!
as salaam 'alaikum.

[firaswagner]

its beautiful!

[Ayesha Nicole]

wa iyaakum.

Here is another successful Egyptian program for teaching children Qur'an, tafeedh, mutoon, 'irab, etc., called Nour al Bayan:

فيلم طريقة نور البيان لتعليم القرآن (ج1/16)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvG-oXN5It4