Memorizing the Quran: Strategies and Tips?

[Sunni_Student786]

As salaamu alaykum.

This post is addressed to those who are already huffaaz of the Quran, have memorized much of it, or who have intimate knowledge of the methods employed by Ustadhs who have the responsibility of helping people memorize the Quran.

What kind of strategies, tips, routines, etc. would you you guys suggest for one seeking to memorize the whole of the Qur'an? For example, "Should Surah be learned in a particular order? Is there a particular number of times that a particular amount of Qur'an should be repeated before it becomes ingrained in one's head? How often should one review what they already know? When should they move on to new material? What if someone only has about a half hour to an hour a day to devote to this endeavor?", etc.

Any suggestions by those who have already tread, or currently treading, this path would be greatly appreciated.

Jazakallahu Khair.

Wa'salaam.

[Omer123]

I am by no means a hafiz, but I have been memorizing under a hafiz for the past year. For memorizing there are three parts. The new lesson, the lesson for about the past ten days, and the old lesson. The new lesson and the semi-old lesson need to be said everyday. The old lesson also needs to be said everyday, but you don't necessairly need to recite everything you have memorized. For instance, someone who memorized less than 5 paras (juz) only needs to recite 1/2 para of the old lesson. Some with more than 5 paras needs to recite at least a para. My teacher told me that eventually most of the time will be spent reviewing old lessons and only about an hour will be spent on the new lesson. This is because it will become easier to memorize after doing a few paras. I am 24 right now, and inshallah I have the intention to become a hafiz even if it takes 10 or 20 years. When memorizing new material, it just takes a long time. Sometimes I will devote a half hour to learn one line. Young people can do it much faster, but even by doing 3 or 4 lines a day a person can make significant progress especially if someone is consitent with doing it everyday.

[suhayl]

When I used to be in Hifz class my teacher used to have a small note pad sized book in which we had a special chart.

All our recordings were put into this chart - was a wonderful tool to monitor your progress

I will inshallah endeavor to reproduce the chart from memory and post it up

[Mukarram]

I am by no means a hafiz, but I have been memorizing under a hafiz for the past year. For memorizing there are three parts. The new lesson, the lesson for about the past ten days, and the old lesson. The new lesson and the semi-old lesson need to be said everyday. The old lesson also needs to be said everyday, but you don't necessairly need to recite everything you have memorized. For instance, someone who memorized less than 5 paras (juz) only needs to recite 1/2 para of the old lesson. Some with more than 5 paras needs to recite at least a para. My teacher told me that eventually most of the time will be spent reviewing old lessons and only about an hour will be spent on the new lesson. This is because it will become easier to memorize after doing a few paras. I am 24 right now, and inshallah I have the intention to become a hafiz even if it takes 10 or 20 years. When memorizing new material, it just takes a long time. Sometimes I will devote a half hour to learn one line. Young people can do it much faster, but even by doing 3 or 4 lines a day a person can make significant progress especially if someone is consitent with doing it everyday.

This is the method we used as well.
Also try to memorize new lessons before you go to sleep or early after fajr.
These were the two best times for most to memorize. My favorite was before sleeping cause when you'd wake up, it'd still be fresh in your mind.

We also used to have tests on everything whenever we completed a juz.

Wsalaam wr wb

[Abdullah Ibn Adam]

How does one know he has memorised a Surah or a Juz/para?

and what sidi Pahlawaan Khan said:

When should they move on to new material?

[Al-Burhan]

How does one know he has memorised a Surah or a Juz/para?

and what sidi Pahlawaan Khan said:

The best way is to recite it in front of a Hafiz. If you don't have this luxury, then you can close the mushaf and recite the whole para by your self, if you don't stuck somewhere it means you are through. Still if you don't have a hafiz to listen to you, it would be better to listen to a recitation on your pc, and try to find if he makes a mistake or not. Generally he will not make a mistake, so if you u end up catching his mistake then open Quran and correct yourself.

A still better way will be to give Quran to another person (who is not a hafiz) and ask him to listen and check you. Make sure to have mercy on him/her by keeping your pace slow so that he/she is able to follow you, because a hafiz of good memory can recite with electric pace which is not easy for a non hafiz to follow. There may be other methods too, but still the BEST way is the old and traditional one; to recite in front of a hafiz.

[Haroon Ali]

Aslaamalaycum

I agree with Hafiz Zeehans method. I have only done about 1/3 of the Qur'an at the moment but reciting it to a hafiz is by far the best way. The way i learn is idential to brother Omers. Ive been taught the best time to learn new material is just after you wake up, like brother Mukarram has stated. This is the best way because when you wake up your mind is fresh and you are thinking less on other matters, so when you try and memorise you pick it up much quicker.

[Mukarram]

Salaam
Theres also the backup method.
Atleast it works when one prepares for tarawih....
Use a voice recorder. Yes a voice recorder!
Tape yourself and play it back correcting the mistakes as you go along.
Now it may not always work because some mistakes may go by without you knowing they are mistakes, but it works pretty well if there is no huffaz around to listen to your lesson.

Wassalaam wr wb

[Haroon Ali]

Aslaamalaycum

Also i forgot to mention, EVERYTIME you read make sure you read as loud as you can, never memorise in your mind, always say it aloud. By doing it this way it is more easier for you to get the ayat into your head, cuz alot of the time it only goes onto your tounge and when its only on your tounge, the ayat can go outta ur head within a few minutes. So what i do is i memorise about half a side then i take a little break, after this i come back and go over the side and if i have memorised it properly i will remember most of it, jus by looking at it once or twice.

Also by reading this way more people can hear you while you recite the Qur'an so you will bge getting good deeds for people listening to you reciting the Qur'aan and others will get good deeds, listening to you recite the Qur'an

[Abdullah Ibn Adam]

Barakallahu Feekum everyone. These tips are veeery useful. May Allah bless you with all the good in this life and the Hereafter.

Ameen.

Another question: How does one know he's ready to study Hifz? Just by praying Salatul Istikhara or is there more?