Amongst all the blessings Allah (SWT) has showered upon us, the best of all is the Quran. Although we fail to realize its worth in this life, it will be evident in the Hereafter. When those who have memorized the Quran by heart will be given a crown of honor and honorable garments, their glory will be unparalleled!
It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah thWhen those who have memorized the Quran by heart will be given a crown of honor and honorable garments, their glory will be unparalleled!at the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The Quran will come on the Day of Resurrection and will say, ‘O Lord, adorn him.’ So he will be given a crown of honor to wear. Then it will say, ‘O Lord, give him more.’ So he will be given a garment of honor.’ Then it will say, ‘O Lord, be pleased with him.’ So Allah (SWT) will be pleased with him. Then it will be reported to him, ‘Recite and advance in status, and for each verse, you will gain one more hasanah (reward for good deed).” – (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 2915)
With that insight, it is hard to ignore the virtues of memorizing the Quran.
Have you ever been called onto the stage to receive a special prize? The crowd cheering on you and the chief guest handing you the award?
If not, imagine being in such a position. How do you feel? Fantastic, right?
Well, it’s going to be the same scenario. Except, the crowd will be huge! And the presenter would be the Most Supreme Authority. Who wouldn’t like to receive an award from Him?
So if you are capable and eager to learn the Quran by heart, you must not delay the endeavor. Here are eight rules you should follow to make the journey easy:
- The First Gear
For starters, you should do the following:
- Purify your intention – you should only do it for the sake of Allah (SWT)
- Pray – ask Allah (SWT) to honor and reward you for your hard work
- Repent – seek forgiveness for all the sins you have committed in the past
- Find Your Tutor/Reader
Once you are clear on your goals, your next step is to find a reliable tutor. Be it an Online Memorization Tutor or a known scholar at the nearby Islamic Center. Make sure that the teacher is authentic, knowledgeable, and well-versed in Tajweed Rules. He/she should be capable of guiding you and pointing out your flaws.
Even though you can learn the Quran on your own too, having an authority figure makes a significant difference. For one, it keeps you away from skipping the lessons or forgetting the previously learned verses.
- Stick to One Specific Copy
This rule will help you master your Hifdh. Given that you are learning from the same copy, the verses will start appearing in your imagination when you recite. The form of the verses and their placement stamps in your mind. It happens because you keep looking at the copy for learning.
- Understand the Meaning
Allah (SWT) has sent down this Quran for implementation. Blind recitation of The Book becomes highly virtuous if you also understand the meaning. You must know the commands tied up with each verse. It is, therefore, integral to know the Quran in your mother tongue. As you can link the verse with meaning, learning becomes more manageable.
The best method of doing that is to read the meaning of your lesson verses.
- Apportion the Daily Lessons
Every individual varies in his/her caliber. Instead of competing with your fellows, find the pace that works for you. It could be one page, half a page, or several verses. If you are learning the Quran via an Online Hifdh Academy or an Online Memorization Tutor, they will help you find the speed that works for you.
Whatever it is, make sure you are consistent with learning. Do not falter from the fixed lesson amount.
And to ensure that happens, follow the next rule –
- Master Every Lesson
It is useless to move onto the next session if you do not master the last one. If you have started this journey, do not let the enthusiasm die with time. Make it your business to recite it throughout the day. One trick of making it doable is to fix a particular portion in each Salah. Plus, make it a rule not to move on to the next lesson unless the present one is fully memorized.
- Loud Voice
You may feel awkward initially, but reciting in a loud voice really helps. When your voice falls onto your eardrums, you start learning verses in a better way.
Make sure you do not recite so loud that people around you get irritated. Keep your pitch moderate. For instance, if you have joined an online memorization class, your voice should be loud enough for the tutor to hear. And when you are reciting on your own, it should be hearable to your ears.
Reciting silently takes time, but when you read your lesson aloud, you will learn better.
- Devote Time
As mentioned earlier, don’t let the enthusiasm blow away with time. You are treading onto a noble mission. You must allow a considerable amount of time to it. The time after Fajr and Maghrib is the best. Students of knowledge study their lessons at this time, and it brings brilliant results.
Try it out. You will definitely feel the difference.
The Bottom Line
In the end, it is vital to mention that the golden period of memorization is five until twenty-three years. Yet, it certainly does not mean that you cannot stride onto this mission later. As the adage goes, if there is a will, there is a way.
No matter which age bracket you belong to, you can be a Hafidh! All you need is devotion and follow all the rules.
We hope you will win the glorious crown and garments on Resurrection Day, insha’Allah!
