This is an act of worship through which one seeks the Face of Allaah and reward in the Hereafter.
One of my teachers would say to me that every one of us should have a firm intention and plan to memorise the Qur’an. Because actions are by their intentions. So if you made the serious intention to memorise the whole Qur’an today but Allah(SWT) decides to take your soul this very evening, you will be rewarded for the whole Qur’an by your intention.
And if returned to Allah(SWT) before you have complete, then plead with Allah(SWT) that previous nations had long lives. And if you had been granted the life of Nuh’s nation – more than 950 years, that you would have completed the Qur’an – that’s only 7 aayahs a year which I’m sure all of us can do.
The reward of memorisation
Al-Tirmidhi (2914) and Abu Dawood (1464) narrated from ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Amr that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “It will be said to the companion of the Qur’aan (i.e., the one who memorized and studied it): Recite and rise in status, recite as you used to recite in the world, for your status will be at the last verse that you recite.”
The differentiation in status in Paradise will depend on how much was memorized in this world, not how much one will recite on that day as some people imagine.
Imam al-Bukhaari (4937) recorded from ‘Aa’ishah that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The likeness of the one who reads Qur’aan and memorizes it is that he is with the righteous honourable scribes. The likeness of the one who reads it and tries hard to memorize it even though it is difficult for him, he will have two rewards.”
It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The Qur’aan will come on the Day of Resurrection and will say, ‘O Lord, adorn him.’ So he will be given a crown of honour to wear. Then it will say, ‘O Lord, give him more.’ So he will be given a garment of honour.’ Then it will say, ‘O Lord, be pleased with him.’ So Allaah will be pleased with him. Then it will be said 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)
And the Qur’aan will intercede for him on the Day of Resurrection, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Fasting and the Qur’aan will intercede for a person on the Day of Resurrection. Fasting will say, ‘O Lord, I deprived him of food and desires during the day, so let me intercede for him.’ The Qur’aan will say, ‘O Lord I deprived him of his sleep at night, so let me intercede for him.’ Then they will both intercede for him.” ( Ahmad, al-Tabaraani and al-Haakim)
You are protected by the Qur’an, not its protector
It is narrated from ‘Isma ibn Malik (radhiallahu `anhu) that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘If the Qur’an is gathered into a single vessel (i.e. the heart), Allah will never burn it in the Fire.’ [Reported by al-Bayhaqi, declared Hasan by al-Albani] Abu al-Qasim reported: Abu Umamah, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “Recite the Quran and do not be deceived by depending on the written copies. Verily, Allah will never punish a heart that has memorized the Quran.”(Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah 34044)
It was said to Al-Hassan Al-Basri: “A man has preserved the Quran (to memory)”. He responded by saying: “Rather, it is the Quran that has preserved him (from every evil).”
In fact, the one who doesn’t have any Qur’an will be in ruin. Ibn Abbas reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Verily, one who does not hold anything from the Quran in his heart is like a ruined house.” (kalbait il kharib) [al-Tirmidhī 2913]
Suffering from illness – physical or mental?
O mankind! Surely, there has come to you a (heart penetrating) counsel from your Master, and a cure for all those (diseases) which are (hidden) in the chests. And it is guidance and mercy for those who believe. (Surah Yūnus, 10:57)
Healing is connected to the language of the Qur’ān. It cures from it’s every letter and sound and protects the whole body as the ayah mentions sudoor (chest) not the quloob (heart) alone. ‘Abdullāh Ibn Mas’ud said that he heard the Messenger of Allāh (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) as saying: “There are two cures for you all: Honey and the Qur’ān.” [Hakim, Ibn Abi Shaybah, Tabarani, Bayhaqi] Al-asl shifaa min kulli daa’in wal Qur’an shifaa’un limaa fis sudoor.
Its even a medicine for mental health and dementia. These days, mind-games like sudoku and chess are promoted to prevent loss of memory, problem-solving, improving concentration, reducing anxiety and stress. From my personal experience, there is no better daily challenge than trying to recall what you have memorised of the Qur’an and it feels more rewarding than moving pieces on a board or game.
There is a well-documented case coming from Pakistan where a hospital began experimenting with Surah al-Rahmān in aiding patients (Muslims and non-Muslims alike). They found remarkable results even curing cancer patients. There are research papers from China on the “Effect of Exposure to Quran Recitation on Cell Viability, Cell Migration, and BCL2L12 Gene Expression of Human Prostate Adenocarcinoma Cell Line in Culture” with results showing that Qur’ānic recitation, playing Qari Abdul Baasits Surah al-Fatihah, could alter cell proliferation, premature cell death and migration in human PC-3 cells.
Increase your resolve: Ibn ul Qayyim “A person should spend his hours, rather his very breathing, seeking the highest of things and saving himself from the greatest of losses, and this cannot be attained except by devoting himself to the Qur’an through recitation, reflection etc.” Abandoning the Qur’an makes the person blind to the very reason of his existence, lowers his himmah and makes him forget himself.
Sh. Muhammad al-Mukhtār al-Shinqītī said “How amazing is it that a seeker of knowledge leaves his home in order to recite and memorise the. It is as if his tongue is saying: ‘O my Lord, bear witness! I want to carry the Qur’ān in my chest, thereby seeking Your Face, and desiring that which is with You!’”
Enrich your salaah
For the hafiz who has memorized the Qur’aan, praying qiyaam al-layl is easy.
A syllabus for change
If you feel confused and uncertain what Islam says. Memorise and study their rulings. Abu Abdur Rahman reported: The companions would learn to recite ten verses from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. They would not take another ten verses until they understood the knowledge and deeds they contained. They would say, “We learned sacred knowledge and action together.”[Musnad Aḥmad 22971]
Your companion in the grave and honour for your parents
Buraydah reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Verily, the Quran will meet its companion on the Day of Resurrection, when his grave is cleaved open, as a pale man, saying: Do you recognize me? He will say: I do not recognize you. The pale man will say: I am your companion, the Quran, who made you thirsty in the midday heat and sleepless at night, for every trader is beyond his trade and today you are beyond every transaction. He will be given the dominion in his right hand and eternal life in his left hand.
A crown of dignity will be placed on his head and his parents will be clothed in two garments, which no people from the world could ever afford. They will say: Why have you dressed us with this? It will be said: Your child held to the Quran. Then it will be said to him: Recite and ascend the levels of Paradise and its chambers! He will continue to ascend as long as he recites, whether slowly or quickly.” [Musnad Aḥmad 22950, Hasan (fair) according to Ibn Hajar]
It was narrated that Buraydah said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘Whoever reads the Qur’aan, learns it and acts in accordance with it, on the Day of Resurrection his parents will be given a crown to wear whose light will be like the light of the sun, and his parents will be given garments which far surpass everything to be found in this world. They will say, “Why have we been given this to wear?” It will be said, “Because your child learned the Qur’aan.”’” (al-Haakim, 1/756)
By the way, children do what you do, not what you say. So don’t imagine that your child will want to be a Haafiz if you’re glued to your phone, football or Netflix more than your Qur’an. Even if you don’t memorise it all, start making an effort and your children will follow in your footsteps.
Cant remember what you previously learnt?
Memorise. Start by reviewing what you have previously learnt and introduce that into your salaah. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Be committed to the Quran (ta’aahadul Qur’an). By the One in whose hand is my soul, it can leave you faster than a camel from its reins.” [al-Bukhārī 5033, Muslim 791]
Don’t know tajweed or want to understand Arabic?
Memorise. Through it you will correct the pronunciation of everything you learn in a quicker way than learning theoretical rules. Through memorisation you will learn the Qur’anic language – in fact, this is the most direct way to learn the language.
Can’t read?
Memorise. The Prophet(SAW) never learnt to read throughout his life but he memorised from Jibreel (AS) and recited to him too.
You are all haafiz
The word Haafiz is translated as Memoriser – the one doing an action. Every one of you is on the journey of this action – whether you know only al-Faatihah or some of the end of the Qur’an – you have begun memorising so you are a Haafiz. The question is, why have you stopped?
Don’t know where to start?
Abu Darda reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever memorizes ten verses from the beginning of Surat al-Kahf will be immune to the False Messiah (ad-Dajjal).” In another narration, the Prophet said, “From the last ten verses of Surat al-Kahf.” [Muslim, 809]
