Many of us live far beneath what Allah placed within us. Not because our minds are too small, but because our convictions became too small. Over the years, people collect discouraging messages, failed attempts, and heavy comparisons, until they start believing: “I cannot.”
But the people who achieve what seems impossible are usually not extraordinary. They are ordinary people who kept striving, kept returning, kept trying again, and Allah opened for them doors they did not expect.
- Allah says:
وَالَّذِينَ جَاهَدُوا فِينَا لَنَهْدِيَنَّهُمْ سُبُلَنَا ۚ وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَمَعَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
And those who strive for Us - We will surely guide them to Our ways. And indeed, Allah is with the doers of good. [Al-'Ankabut 29:69]
So do not measure your future by your past. Your past may only prove that you used the wrong method, the wrong schedule, or the wrong support, not that you are incapable.
Your memorisation journey begins here, with renewed conviction that Allah created you with the capacity, and with clear tools and a method to walk the path of striving He guides.
Why Memorise the Book of Allah?
1) The Quran guides to what is most upright
- Allah says:
إِنَّ هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنَ يَهْدِي لِلَّتِي هِيَ أَقْوَمُ وَيُبَشِّرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ الصَّالِحَاتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ أَجْرًا كَبِيرًا
Indeed, this Quran guides to that which is most suitable and gives good tidings to the believers who do righteous deeds that they will have a great reward. [Al-Isra 17:9]
2) The best people are those who learn it and teach it
- The Prophet ﷺ said:
خَيْرُكُمْ مَنْ تَعَلَّمَ الْقُرْآنَ وَعَلَّمَهُ
"The best among you are those who learn the Quran and teach it." [Sahih al-Bukhari 5027]
3) Your rank in Paradise rises with your recitation
- The Prophet ﷺ said:
يُقَالُ لِصَاحِبِ الْقُرْآنِ اقْرَأْ وَارْتَقِ وَرَتِّلْ كَمَا كُنْتَ تُرَتِّلُ فِي الدُّنْيَا فَإِنَّ مَنْزِلَكَ عِنْدَ آخِرِ آيَةٍ تَقْرَؤُهَا
One who was devoted to the Quran will be told to recite, ascend, and recite carefully as he recited carefully when he was in the world, for he will reach his abode when he comes to the last verse he recites. [Sunan Abi Dawud 1464]
The First and Greatest Tool for Quran Hifdh: Sincerity
- Allah says:
وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ
And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion… [Al-Bayyinah 98:5]
Memorising the Quran for reputation, praise, competition, or to “be known” is a hidden poison. Even if you succeed outwardly, it can strip the barakah from your heart.
Renew your intention often:
- Memorise to worship Allah
- Memorise to live by His words
- Memorise so the Quran becomes proof for you, not against you
Taqwa Brings Tawfeeq (Success)
Taqwa is not only about avoiding haram. It is the door to learning and facilitation.
- Allah says:
وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ ۖ وَيُعَلِّمُكُمُ اللَّهُ ۗ وَاللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
And have Taqwa of Allah. And Allah will teach you. And Allah is Knowing of all things. [Al-Baqarah 2:282]
- And Allah reminds us of a terrifying reality:
إِنَّمَا يَتَقَبَّلُ اللَّهُ مِنَ الْمُتَّقِينَ
Indeed, Allah only accepts from the people of Taqwa. [Al-Ma'idah 5:27]
So memorisation is an act of worship whose acceptance depends on Taqwa, and through Taqwa, Allah opens the doors of understanding and learning.
Seek Allah’s Aid Daily
- The Prophet ﷺ said:
احْرِصْ عَلَى مَا يَنْفَعُكَ وَاسْتَعِنْ بِاللَّهِ وَلاَ تَعْجِزْ
Be keen on what benefits you, and seek help from Allah, and do not lose heart. [Sahih Muslim 2664]
- And Allah promised the servants that if they seek His aid, He will aid them:
وَقَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ
And your Lord says, "Call upon Me; I will respond to you."... [Ghafir 40:60]
If you want one simple habit that changes your memorisation life, it is: asking Allah for help consistently.
Beware of Sins: How Disobedience Breaks Memory
Sins are not only a spiritual problem, but they are also a memorisation problem.
- Imam ash-Shafi’i said:
شكوتُ إلى وكيعٍ سُوءَ حِفظي ... فأرشدني إلى ترك المعاصي
وأخبرني بأن العلم نورٌ ... ونورُ الله لا يُهدَى لعاصي
I complained to Wakeeʿ about my poor memory ... so he guided me to abandon sins.
And he informed me that knowledge is light ... and the Light of Allah is not granted to a sinner. [Diwan al-Shafi’i Page 88]
Obedience strengthens the heart, and sin darkens it. And the Quran is نور, light. So part of your “memorisation plan” must be:
- leaving what Allah hates
- guarding the eyes, tongue, and other body parts
- repenting quickly when you fall
Then fill your life with Istighfar. And do not despair.
- Allah says:
قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِن رَّحْمَةِ اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
Say, "O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful." [Az-Zumar 39:53]
Change Your Convictions: A Small Shift That Changes Everything
Many people fail in Quran memorisation long before their minds fail. They fail when they accept the belief: “This is not for me.”
- Return and reflect upon what Allah said:
لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ فِي أَحْسَنِ تَقْوِيمٍ
We have certainly created man in the best of stature. [At-Tin 95:4]
So we begin with a conviction: Allah created me with the capacity, and if I take the means and ask Him, He will open it.
A Model Mindset: Learn the Way the Best People Do It
There is a powerful principle: what is possible for others is possible for you if you take the same means.
So instead of inventing your own methods for Quran memorisation through trial and error, study a method that forces:
- attention
- consistency
- active recall
- repetition
And then be patient until your body and mind get used to it. Every strong method feels awkward at first. Like learning to type properly, or learning to swim. At the beginning, it is an effort, then it becomes easy.
Prepare the Ideal Environment: Place, Time, and Consistency
This matters a lot because the memoriser is not doing a one-time task. He is building a habit. So the environment must serve him.
Place
Choose a memorisation place that is:
- quiet
- free from distractions
- comfortable
- well-lit
- well-ventilated
Time
The best times are the times that support clarity and stillness, especially:
- The last third of the night
- Middle of the night
- After Fajr and early morning
This is not only “productivity talk”. It is worship time. It is barakah time.
Ibn al-Jawzi on concentration and location
- Imam Ibn al-Jawzi said:
يَنْبَغِي لِمَنْ يُرِيدُ الْحِفْظَ أَنْ يَتَشَاغَلَ بِهِ فِي وَقْتِ جَمْعِ الْهَمِّ، وَمَتَى رَأَى نَفْسَهُ مَشْغُولَ الْقَلْبِ تَرَكَ التَّحَفُّظَ، وَيَحْفَظُ قَدْرَ مَا يُمْكِنُ فَإِنَّ الْقَلِيلَ يَثْبُتُ وَالْكَثِيرُ لا يَحُصُلْ. وَقَدْ مُدِحَ الْحِفْظُ فِي السَّحَرِ لِمَوْضِعِ جَمْعِ الْهَمِّ، وَفِي الْبَكَرِ، وَعِنْدَ نِصْفِ اللَّيْلِ، وَلا يَنْبَغِي أَنْ يُحْفَظَ عَلَى شَاطِئِ نَهْرٍ وَلا بِحَضْرَةِ خَضْرٍ لِئَلا يَشْتَغِلَ الْقَلْبُ وَالأَنَاظِرُ الْعَالِيَةُ أحمد مِنَ السَّافِلَةِ. وَيَنْبَغِي أَنْ يُرِيحَ نَفْسَهُ مِنَ الْحِفْظِ يَوْمًا أَوْ يَوْمَيْنِ لِيَكُونَ ذَلِكَ كَالْبِنَاءِ الَّذِي يُرَاحُ لِيَسْتَقِرَّ
Whoever wishes to memorise should occupy himself with it at a time when concern is fully gathered. When he finds his heart distracted, he should leave memorisation and memorise only as much as he is able, for a small amount becomes firmly established, whereas a large amount is not attained. Memorisation has been praised during the pre-dawn hours due to the gathering of concern, and also in the early morning, and around the middle of the night. One should not memorise by a riverbank, nor in the presence of greenery, lest the heart and the eyes become occupied by what is elevated over what is low. And one should give himself rest from memorisation for a day or two, so that it is like a building which is given rest in order to become firm and stable. [Al-Hath ala Hifz al-Ilm wa Dhikr Kibar al-Huffaz Page 45]
One Mushaf
Use one fixed copy of the Quran, and do not keep changing it. Linking the ayah to its location on the page is one of the strongest memory anchors.
Overeating: A Hidden Enemy of Quran Memorisation
Among the most overlooked obstacles to strong memorisation is overeating. While many focus on Quran memorisation tactics, the scholars consistently warned that excess food weakens the mind, dulls focus, and drains spiritual energy.
- The Prophet ﷺ said:
مَا مَلأَ آدَمِيٌّ وِعَاءً شَرًّا مِنْ بَطْنٍ
The human does not fill any container that is worse than his stomach. [Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 2380]
- And Imam ash-Shafi’i Said:
ما شبعت منذ ست عشرة سنة؛ لأن الشبع يثقل البدن, ويقسي القلب, ويزيل الفطنة, ويجلب النوم, ويضعف صاحبه عن العبادة
I have not eaten to fullness for sixteen years, because fullness weighs down the body, hardens the heart, removes sharpness of understanding, brings about sleepiness, and weakens a person in worship. [Jamiʿ al-ʿUlum wa’l-Hikam Page 518]
A full stomach brings heaviness, sleepiness, wandering thoughts, and resistance to sustained effort. Memorisation thrives on alertness and presence, not physical comfort.
This is why the best memorisation sessions often occur when the body is light, the mind is sharp, and the heart is receptive. Moderation in eating is not only a health choice; it is a discipline that directly affects focus, retention, and consistency.
If memorisation feels unusually heavy, slow, or foggy, one of the first things to examine is not the method, but the plate.
A Practical Plan for Strengthening Memorisation
Before memorising: Make the new portion familiar
- Listen repeatedly to your chosen reciter for the portion you will memorise next.
- Read the portion multiple times so the verses become familiar before you “try to memorise”.
After memorising, lock it in with repetition
The core rule is: no firmness without repetition.
Make a habit of:
- Repeating the new portion immediately after memorising it
- Returning to it later the same day
- Revising it again before sleep
- Then revising it over the coming days
Also strengthen memorisation by:
- Understanding the general meaning of what you memorise
- Noticing connections between verses
- Linking similar endings and repeated phrases
Understanding What You Memorise
Many people ask how to memorise Quran quickly, assuming the answer lies only in repetition, schedules, or memorisation techniques. While these matter, one of the greatest accelerators of memorisation is understanding; one must realise this book was revealed to be reflected upon and understood.
- As Allah says:
كِتَابٌ أَنزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ مُبَارَكٌ لِّيَدَّبَّرُوا آيَاتِهِ وَلِيَتَذَكَّرَ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ
[This is] a blessed Book which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded. [Sad 38:29]
When meaning is present, memorisation stops being mechanical. Verses connect, endings make sense, and similar passages become easier to distinguish. The mind holds meaning more firmly than sound alone.
Understanding does not always require deep tafseer for every verse. Rather, it means:
- knowing the general meaning of what you memorise
- recognising why an ayah ends the way it does
- understanding how one verse relates to the next
Even brief reflection dramatically reduces confusion and repetition. This is why those who memorise with understanding often progress faster and retain more securely.
The Companions Did Not Move Forward Until They Acted
After understanding came action.
The Companions رضي الله عنهم did not treat the Quran as information to accumulate, but as guidance to live by.
- Abu ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Sulami said:
مَنْ كَانَ يُقْرِئُنَا مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا يَقْتَرِئُونَ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَشْرَ آيَاتٍ، فَلَا يَأْخُذُونَ فِي الْعَشْرِ الْأُخْرَى حَتَّى يَعْلَمُوا مَا فِي هَذِهِ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ وَالْعَمَلِ، قَالُوا: فَعَلِمْنَا الْعِلْمَ وَالْعَمَلَ.
“Those who taught us the Quran from among the Companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would learn to recite ten verses from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and 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 Ahmad 23482]
This explains why their memorisation was firm, and their hearts were alive. They understood first, then acted, and only then moved forward.
- Muʿadh ibn Jabal رضي الله عنه said:
اعملوا ما شئتم بعد أن تعلموا، فلن يأجركم الله تعالى بالعلم حتى تعملوا
"Act as you wish after you have learned, for Allah will not reward you for knowledge until you act upon it." [Sunan ad-Darimi 266]
The Quran can be proof for us or against us. For it to be proof for us, we must try our best to act by it and not neglect what we know of it.
Reflect, who is better, one who knows a lot and doesn’t benefit from their knowledge, or one who knows little and acts by their knowledge?
Revision Is the Real Battle
Many people think “the hard part is memorising.” Often, the harder part is keeping it.
- The Prophet ﷺ said:
تَعَاهَدُوا الْقُرْآنَ فَوَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَهُوَ أَشَدُّ تَفَصِّيًا مِنَ الإِبِلِ فِي عُقُلِهَا
Commit yourself to the Quran, for by Him in whose Hand is my soul, it is surely more prone to break away than a camel in its bind. [Sahih al-Bukhari 5033]
So make peace with this reality: if you do not revise, you will forget. This is not a sign that you are weak. It is the nature of the Quran in the chest without constant care.
The Best Revision Tool: Use Your Salah
One of the most powerful ways to preserve memorisation is to recite it in prayer, in:
- Your obligatory prayers
- Rawatib
- Duha
- Witr
- Night prayer
Night prayer is especially strong.
- Allah says:
إِنَّ نَاشِئَةَ اللَّيْلِ هِيَ أَشَدُّ وَطْئًا وَأَقْوَمُ قِيلًا
Indeed, the hours of the night are more effective for concurrence [of heart and tongue] and more suitable for words. [Al-Muzzammil 73:6]
- Abdul-Rahman as-Sa’di said regarding this verse:
أقرب إلى تحصيل مقصود القرآن، يتواطأ على القرآن القلب واللسان، وتقل الشواغل، ويفهم ما يقول، ويستقيم له أمره، وهذا بخلاف النهار، فإنه لا يحصل به
It (Reciting during the night) is closer to attaining the intended purpose of the Quran, for the heart and the tongue work together upon the Quran; distractions are reduced, one understands what he is reciting, and his affairs become upright. This is unlike the daytime, in which this objective is not achieved. [Tafseer as-Sa’di Page 892]
If you want retention, make the Quran part of your worship routine, not only your study routine.
What Raises Ambition and Prevents Dropout
Memorising under a skilled, nurturing Sheikh
This is not only about Tajweed. It is about steadfastness.
Benefits of learning under a Sheikh:
- Corrects recitation and mistakes early
- Monitors your consistency
- Encourages you when you progress
- Pushes you when you slow down
- Gives you structure and accountability
- Keeps your motivation alive when it dips
This connection strengthens discipline.
Companionship and Study Circles
A Quran circle gives you:
- Skilled teachers
- Supportive peers
- Healthy competition
- Routine and discipline
And it gives you the greatest atmosphere.
- The Prophet ﷺ said:
مَا اجْتَمَعَ قَوْمٌ فِي بَيْتٍ مِنْ بُيُوتِ اللهِ يَتْلُونَ كِتَابَ اللهِ وَيَتَدَارَسُونَهُ بَيْنَهُمْ إِلَّا نَزَلَتْ عَلَيْهِمِ السَّكِينَةُ، وَغَشِيَتْهُمُ الرَّحْمَةُ، وَحَفَّتْهُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ، وَذَكَرَهُمُ اللهُ فِيمَنْ عِنْدَهُ
No group of people gather in one of the houses of Allah, reciting the Book of Allah and studying it among themselves, except that tranquillity descends upon them, mercy envelops them, the angels surround them, and Allah mentions them to those near Him. [Sahih Muslim 2699]
Revive Yourself Through the Lives of the Great
- Allah says:
أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ هَدَى اللَّهُ ۖ فَبِهُدَاهُمُ اقْتَدِهْ
Those are the ones whom Allah has guided, so from their guidance take an example. [Al-An'am 6:90]
- And Imam Abu Hanifah said:
الحكايات عن العلماء، ومجالستهم أحب الي من كثير من الفقه، لأنها آداب القوم وأخلاقهم
Stories about the scholars and sitting in their company are more beloved to me than much of Fiqh, because they convey the manners and character of the people. [Al-Ilam Bi Hurmat Ahl al-Ilm wal-Islam Page 144]
Reading the biographies of scholars and memorisers does something to the heart:
- It lifts ambition
- Removes laziness
- Renews seriousness
- Makes you feel companionship with the righteous
Short, High Value Advice for Staying Consistent
- Renew your intention and keep returning to sincerity.
- Do not increase new memorisation at the expense of revision. A small amount that stays is better than a large amount that collapses.
- Make the Quran your priority. The Quran will not give you some of itself until you give it your time.
- Never abandon revision. If you lose revision, you lose everything.
- Ask experienced memorisers when you get stuck.
- Begin with what feels easier to build momentum, then grow steadily.
- Rest briefly after a concentrated effort to protect focus.
- Sleep enough. A tired mind forgets.
- Use prayer as revision, especially the night prayer.
- Stay consistent with istighfar, and guard yourself from sins, because the light is not given to a sinner.
- Keep your worship private and avoid showing off what you memorise.
May Allah make you and us from the people of the Quran. Ameen.
