The thing that has the most right to be memorized is the Qur'an, because the Qur'an is the Word of God, the guide to life for Muslims, the source of all sources of law, and the reading that is most often repeated by humans. Therefore, a student of knowledge should put memorizing the Qur'an as his main priority. Imam Nawawi said: "The first thing (which a student of knowledge must pay attention to) is memorizing the Al-Quran, because it is the most important science, even Salaf scholars will not teach hadith and fiqh except for those who have memorized the Al-Quran. If you have memorized the Koran, don't ever busy yourself with hadith and fiqh or other material, because it will cause you to lose some or even all of your memorization of the Koran. “()
( ) Imam Nawawi, Al Majmu’, (Beirut, Dar Al Fikri, 1996) Cet. Pertama, Juz: I, hal: 66
Below are several effective steps for memorizing the Qur'an mentioned by scholars, including the following:
First Step: The first time someone wants to memorize the Al Qur'am, they should commit their intention to Allah alone. With sincere intentions, Allah will help you and keep you from feeling lazy and bored. A job that is sincerely intended will usually continue and not stop. It's different if the intention is just to catch up on exam material or just want to take part in a competition, or for other reasons.
Second Step: After that, he should perform Hajat Prayer by asking God to make it easier in memorizing the Qur'an. The prayer time is not determined and the prayer is left to each person. This is as narrated by Hudzaifah ra, who said:
Whenever the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, was accompanied by an order, he would pray
"That the Messenger of Allah saw a problem, he immediately started praying. “()
The history that mentions certain prayers in prayer is a weak history, even a history that is false and cannot be relied upon. ()
Likewise, the hadith narrated by Ibn Abbas ra explains that Rasulullah saw taught Ali bin Abu Talib a special prayer to memorize the Qur'an which consists of four rekaats, the first rekaat is reading Al Fatihah and Surah Yasin, the second rekaat is reading Surahs Al Fatihah and Ad Dukhan , the third rekaat reads the letters Al Fatihah and Sajdah, and the fourth rekaat reads the letters Al Fatihah and Al Mulk, these are maudhu' hadiths and should not be practiced. Some other scholars say that this hadith is a dhoif hadith. ()
Step Three: Make more prayers to memorize the Qur'an. ()
This prayer is not found in the hadith, but a Muslim can pray according to his or her own abilities and language. Maybe you can pray like this:
Oh God, grant me success in memorizing the Noble Qur’an and grant me the ability to recite it during the night and at the end of the day in a manner that pleases You with us, O Most Merciful of the Merciful.
"O God, give me taufik to be able to memorize the Qur'an, and give me the strength to continue reading it day and night in accordance with Your approval and guidance, O Most Merciful".
Fourth Step: Determine one method for memorizing the Qur'an. Actually, there are many methods that can be used to memorize the Qur'an. Each person will choose a method that suits him. However, here we will only mention two methods that are often used by some groups, and have been proven to be very effective:
First Method: Memorizing one page at a time (using the Medina Mushaf). We read a sheet that we want to memorize three or five times correctly, after that we just start memorizing it. After memorizing one sheet, we then move to the next sheet in the same way. And don't move to the next page unless you have repeated the pages that you have previously memorized. For example: if we have memorized one page and then we continue on to the second page, then before memorizing the third page, we have to repeat the previous two pages. Then before memorizing the fourth page, we have to repeat the three pages that we have memorized. Then before memorizing the fifth page, we have to repeat the four pages that we have memorized. So, every day we repeat five pages: one new, four old. If we want to memorize the sixth page, then we have to repeat the previous four pages, namely pages two, three, four and five. For page one, we'll just leave it alone, because it has been repeated five times. If we want to memorize the seventh page, then we have to repeat the previous four pages, namely pages three, four, five and six. For pages one and two, we'll just leave it first, because it has been repeated five times, and so on.
It should also be noted that every time we memorize one page, we should add one verse to the next page, so that we can connect the memorization between one page and the next.
Second Method: Memorizing verse by verse, that is, reading a verse that we want to memorize three or five times correctly, after that, we just memorize the verse. Once finished, we move to the next verse in the same way, and so on for one page. However, before moving to the next verse we have to repeat what we have memorized from the previous verse. After one page, we repeat it as explained in the first method. ()
To make memorization easier too, we can divide the Qur'an into seven hizb (parts):Surah Al Baqarah to Surah An Nisa'
Surah Al Maidah to Surah At Taubah
Surah Jonah to Surah An Nahl
Surat Al Isra’ sampai Al Furqan
Surah As Syuara' to Surah Yasin
Surah As Shoffat to Surah Al Hujurat
Surah Qaf to Surah An Nas
You can also start from the last part, namely from Surah Qaf to Surah An Nas, then enter the sixth part and so on.
Fifth Step : Improving Reading.
Before starting to memorize, we should correct our reading of the Qur'an so that it is in accordance with recitation. Reading improvement includes several things, including:
a/ Fix Makhroj Letters. Like the letter (dzal) do not read (zal), or the letter (tsa) do not read (sa') as in the example below:
Then —— > cm/who —- > Al-Zain
b/ Improving Letter Movement. As found in the verses below:
1/ And when his Lord tested Abraham with words (Al-Baqarah: 124) —- > )Ibrahim (
2/ And I was a witness over them as long as I was among them, but when you took me to death, you were the watcher over them (Al-Ma’idah: 116)
And I was < ——— > I was
3/ Is he who guides to the truth more deserving of being followed, or he who does not guide unless he is guided? (Wans: 35) —- > Or one who is not guided?
4/ Our Lord, show us those who have led us astray of the jinn and mankind (Fussilat: 29) —– > Whose
5/ So their end will be that they will be in the Fire to abide therein, and that is the recompense of the wrongdoers. (Al-Hashr: 17) —– > They will abide therein forever
Sixth Step: To support good reading, we should pass on what we have memorized to someone else, so that that person can correct us if our reading is wrong. Sometimes, when memorizing by ourselves, mistakes often occur in our reading, because we never pass on our memorization to other people, so that error continues to be carried over into our memorization, and we memorize the reading for years without knowing that it is wrong, until someone Others who were listening finally told him about the error.
Seventh step: Another factor so that our reading is good and not wrong, is to listen more to tapes of murattal readings of the Qur'an from sheikhs who are well established in their reading. If possible, don't just listen while doing other work, but listen seriously and regularly. For your information, recently - thank God - many satellite television stations broadcast live Al-Qur'an murattal lessons from an established sheikh, including the program on Iqra' television. Every week there is a live broadcast of Al Qur'an lessons guided by Sheikh Aiman Ruysdi, an established and famous reciter, we can also submit our readings to this sheikh via telephone. A recording of the event is rebroadcast every morning. Apart from that, there is also the "Al Majd" channel and other television channels. These events help us a lot in improving our reading of the Qur'an.
Eighth Step: To strengthen memorization, we should repeat the pages that we have memorized as often as possible, don't let us feel like we have memorized one page, then we just memorize it for a long time, this will cause the loss of that memorization. It is narrated that Imam Ibnu Abi Hatim, an expert on memorizing hadiths, was very famous for the strength of his memorization. Once upon a time, he memorized a book and repeated it many times, perhaps up to seventy times. Coincidentally, there was an old grandmother in the house. Because he often repeated what he had memorized, until the grandmother got bored of hearing it, then the grandmother called Ibnu Abi Hatim and asked him: O child, what are you doing? "I'm memorizing a book," he answered. The grandmother said: "No need to be like that, I already memorized the book just by listening to your recitation." . "Then, I want to hear your memorization," said Ibnu Abi Hatim, then the grandmother began to memorize it. After the incident had passed for a year, Ibnu Abi Hatim came back to the grandmother and asked the grandmother to repeat the memorization that she had memorized a year ago. It turned out that the grandmother had not memorized the book at all, and vice versa, Ibnu Abi Hatim, none of it. he forgot to memorize. () This story shows that repeating memorization is very important. Maybe if you just memorize it, many people can do it quickly, like the grandmother earlier. In fact, we often hear that someone can memorize the Qur'an in a matter of weeks or months, and it is not too difficult, but what is difficult is maintaining memorization and repeating it continuously.
Step Nine: Another factor that strengthens memorization is using all the five senses that we have. This means that we memorize it not only with our eyes, but also by reading it with our mouths, and if necessary we continue by writing it in a book or blackboard. This really helps someone's memorization. There are several friends from Morocco who said that the way to memorize the Qur'an which is applied in some areas in Morocco is to write the memorization on a small board held by each student, after they can memorize it by heart, then the writing is washed with water.
Tenth Step: Memorize to a teacher.
Memorizing the Qur'an from a teacher who is an expert and established in the Qur'an is very necessary so that someone can memorize it well and correctly. Rasulullah SAW himself memorized the Qur'an with Jibril AS, and repeated it twice in the month of Ramadlan.
Eleventh Step: Use one type of Mushaf of the Qur'an and never switch from one type of Mushaf to another. () Because our eyes will also memorize what we see. If we look at one verse in more than one position, it will obviously cloud our memorization. This problem has been addressed by one of the poets in his writing:
The eye memorizes what it sees before the ear, so choose for yourself the Qur’an for the rest of your life.
"The eye will memorize what it sees- before the ear-, so choose one mushaf for you for the rest of your life. ()
What is meant by type of mushaf here is the style of writing the mushaf. There are several styles of writing Mushaf, including: Medina Mushaf or known as the Al Qur'an corner, one juz of this Mushaf consists of 10 sheets, 20 pages, 8 hizb, and each page starts with a new verse. This Madinah Mushaf (Corner Mushaf) is most widely used by memorizers of the Qur'an, and is widely distributed by the Saudi government to Hajj pilgrims. Prints of the Qur'an now refer to this type of mushaf model. And this form of mushaf is best for memorizing the Qur'an.
There are other models, such as Al-Qur'an manuscripts used by some Egyptians, there are also Mushafs used by some Pakistanis and Indians, there is even a model of Mushaf used by some Al-Qur'an tahfidh Islamic boarding schools in Indonesia which is printed by Manar Qudus, Demak.
Step Twelfth: Choose the right time to memorize, and this depends on each individual. However, in a hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah ra, it is stated that the Messenger of Allah said:
Religion is easy, and no one will struggle with religion except that he will be overcome by it, so pay your way, approach, and give good tidings, and seek help in the morning and in the evening, and a little bit of twilight.
"Indeed, this religion is easy, and no one makes things difficult for themselves in this religion unless they achieve it themselves, so practice this religion properly, slowly, and give good news, and use the morning, afternoon and evening (to do it)" (HR Bukhari)
In the hadith above it is mentioned that morning, afternoon and evening times mean that we can use these times to memorize the Qur'an. For example: in the morning, after the morning prayer until the sun rises, we can use it to memorize the Qur'an or to repeat the memorization, in the afternoon, after the midday prayer, in the afternoon after the Asr prayer, at night after the Isha' prayer or when performing the tahajjud prayer and so on.
Thirteenth Step: One of the most appropriate times to memorize repetition is when you are praying the Sunnah prayers, both at the mosque and at home. This is because during prayer, a person is concentrating on facing Allah, and this concentration is what helps us repeat memorization. It's different when outside of prayer, a person tends to get bored of being in one position, he wants to always move, sometimes his eyes turn to the right or left, or his head will turn when there is something interesting, or even his friends will approach him and invite him to chat. It's different when someone is praying, his friends who have an interest in him are forced to wait for the prayer to finish and don't dare approach him, and so on.
Thirteenth Step: One of the factors that support memorization is paying attention to similar verses (mutasyabih). Usually someone who does not pay attention to similar verses (mutasyabih), his memorization will overlap one with the other. The verse in juz five, for example, will be carried over to juz ten. The verse that should be in Surat Al-Maidah will be brought to Surat Al-Baqarah, and so on. Below are some examples of similar verses (mutasabihah) that people often make mistakes when memorizing:
- “And it has not been dedicated to anyone other than Allah.” Al-Baqarah 173 < ———— > “And it has not been dedicated to anyone other than Allah” (Al-Ma’idah 3, Al-An’am 145, and Al-Nahl 115).
- (That is because they used to disbelieve in the verses of God and kill the prophets unjustly.) Al-Baqarah: 61
(Indeed, those who disbelieve in the verses of God and kill the prophets unjustly) Al Imran: 21
(That is because they used to disbelieve in the verses of God and kill the prophets unjustly) Al Imran: 112
To see the verses of mutasyabihat like this in more detail, you can refer to the following books:Duurat At Tanzil wa Ghurrat At Ta’wil fi Bayan Al Ayat Al Mutasyabihat min Kitabillahi Al Aziz, karya Al Khatib Al Kafi.
Asrar At Tikrar in Al Qur’an, karya: Mahmud bin Hamzah Al Kirmany.
Mutasyabihat Al Qur’an, Abul Husain bin Al Munady
‘Aunu Ar Rahman and the Memorization of the Qur’an, by Abu Dzar Al Qalamuni
Fifteenth Step: After memorizing the Qur'an, don't leave it alone. Many of my friends have finished the Qur'an in one of the Islamic boarding schools, after leaving and being busy with higher studies, or after getting married or busy with a job, they no longer have a program to maintain their memorization again, so Al -The Koran that he had memorized for several years at the Islamic boarding school was finally just a memory. After being left for a long time and busy with his business, he found it difficult to restore his memorization again. This phenomenon happens a lot and it is very unfortunate. It is possible that he received a diploma as someone with the title "hafidh" or "hafidhah", but if asked about memorizing the Qur'an, the answer is nil.
The most important thing in this case is not memorizing, because many people can memorize the Qur'an in a very short time, but the most important thing is how we maintain this memorization so that it remains in our chests. This is where the difference lies between people who are truly istiqamah and people who are only diligent at first. Because, to keep memorizing the Qur'an requires a strong will and high istiqamah. He must spend time every day to repeat his memorization. There are many ways to memorize the Qur'an, each of course chooses what is best for him. Among the ways to maintain memorization of the Qur'an are as follows:Repeat memorization according to the five daily prayer times. A Muslim certainly never misses the five daily prayers, this should be used to repeat his memorization. To make it feel lighter, each prayer should be divided into two parts, before prayer and after. Before prayer, for example: i before the call to prayer, and the time between the call to prayer and iqamah. If he is someone who diligently goes to the mosque, it is better to go to the mosque before the call to prayer so that he has more time to memorize it. Then after prayer, namely after reading the dhikr ba'da prayer or morning dhikr at the morning prayer and after the afternoon dhikr after the Asr prayer. If only he were able to repeat his memorization before praying a quarter of a juz and after praying a quarter of a juz too, then in one day he could repeat his memorization for two and a half juz. If he can be steadfast like this, then he can memorize it every twelve days, without taking up any time at all. If he can complete half a juz every day during evening prayers or other sunnah prayers, it means he can complete three juz every day, and can recite the Qur'an once every ten days. Many scholars in the past memorized it every ten days.
There are some people who repeat their memorization only at night, namely when they perform the tahajjud prayer. Usually he spends his tahajud prayer for two hours. We just don't know how many juz he got during those two hours. According to general standards, if he memorizes fluently, he can usually finish one juz in half an hour. This means that in two hours he can complete two to three juz minus the time for prostration and bowing.
There are also some friends who repeat their memorization by entering the halaqah of memorizing the Qur'an. If the halaqah gathers once every three days, and each participant is required to memorize five juz to their friends, this means that each participant is able to memorize the Qur'an once every fifteen days. This can only be done if each participant repeats their own memorization first.
(Continued with other issues in the series "Successful Learning" volume: 3)
( ) Hadith narrated by Abu Daud (no: 1319), authenticated by Sheikh Al Bani in the Shohih Sunan Abu Daud, volume I, p. 361
( ) To find out more fully about the degree of this hadith, you can refer to: Abu Umar Abdullah bin Muhammad Al Hamadi, Al Asinatu Al Musyri'atu fi At Tahdhir min As Solawat Al Mubtadi'ah, (Cairo, Maktabah At Tabi'in, 2002) First note, p. 97 -120
( ) Ibid, p.21-39
( ) Abu Abdur Rahman Al Baz Taufiq, Ashal Nidham Li Hifdhi Al Qur’an, (Kairo, Maktabah Al Islamiyah, 2002) Set. Ke-Tiga, Hal. 13
( ) Ali bin Umar Badhdah, Kaifa Tahfadu Al Qur’an, hal. 6
( ) Ibid. pg 12
( ) Abu Dzar Al Qalamuni, ‘Aunu Ar Rahman fi Hifdhi Al Qur’an, ( Kairo, Dar Ibnu Al Haitsam, 1998 ) Set Pertama, hal.16
( ) Abu Abdur Rahman Al Baz Taufiq, Op. Cite, Hal. 15
( ) Imam Nawawi, Al Majmu’, (Beirut, Dar Al Fikri, 1996) Cet. Pertama, Juz: I, hal: 66