How I Memorized the Quran In Three Stages

Isra Migdad

“Isra Migdad born and raised in Gaza is a blogger who shares her dairy and experiences. Two majors in her life are entrepreneurship and Qur’anic sciences. She spends most of her time researching, understanding and applying both of these fields in her life. The following is her story she shares in her pursuits to completing the memorisation of the Qur’an. We pray she attains success here and hereafter.”

✦ This article has been updated and republished at How To Memorise The Quran — be sure to read it there! ✦

Bismillah.

I went through three stages in my memorization.

I could not have memorized the Qur’an by heart without the help of Allah the Almighty.

To begin, my first steps in this journey started when my parents taught me the short chapters of the Qur’an when I was about four. I completed the last seven parts in my childhood years. My parents were my motivation and inspiration to learn and study the Qur’an. Along with my siblings, I used to memorize because of the gift that I’ll get after finishing the required chapters. Over time, I was inclined to study by my own, so I could learn more about its miraculous nature. Going three times every week to the Masjid to recite the part I memorized before my teacher was a commitment to myself. My parents were full of inspiration trying every way to teach us the Qur’an and the science of Tajweed from a young age. I was only 13 when I learned the advanced Tajweed course, being the youngest with my sister, among all students (women in their forties and teachers in our neighborhood Masajid) back then. It was an outstanding experience for me, where I had the chance to recite the Qur’an in front of them all. Then, I was chosen to teach the Science of Tajweed to children and old women in our local Moasjid when I was 15. Truthfully, I am so full of gratitude and thankfulness for my mom and dad who have paved the way for me in this journey.

The second stage was when I joined the Qur’an camp (where students have to memorize the whole Qur’an in only 2 months) in my teenage years. I finished another seven parts in two weeks, where I had to memorize ten pages each day. I didn’t continue as I felt that I memorized too many verses without having time to look up unclear verses or words that I came across. We had to revise the pages we memorized at home. i.e full day memorizing and revising. Here, I preferred to return back to my normal way of memorizing.

The final stage was the most challenging and the most beautiful, as I decided to complete the remaining parts of the Qur’an at home, by my own. I was busy going to work 6 days a week, having some freelance work, studying my university courses with lots of research to do. Endless social visits and events that I had to take part in, as well as many other personal activities and projects. Despite having everything I want, living a beautiful life, I realized that’s not what’s most important to me. That’s not my priority in life. Though I mostly never stopped reading my everyday Qur’an portion (I used to memorize / revise verses / chapters from time to time too), but I had to make a quantum leap in my life, that is to spend more time to study and learn the Qur’an. So I made a pledge to myself to memorize it all, by sticking to a plan I wrote down. And that was all I needed. A decision! I was done with the remaining 16 parts in about 9 months, Alhamdulillah, and by this I became a Hafiz… And look, you too can be!!

Before I share the tips with you, let’s agree that there is NO ‘one size fits all’ steps/tips for memorizing. So what you can do is pick what fits you and add anything that will help you if you are planning to memorize the Qur’an, In Sha Allah.

I’ll explain in sequence…

Before memorization tips:

Be sincere and renew your intention.
Seek Allah’s help: when you plan, memorize, revise, lose motivation, lack understanding. Turn to him, they are His words and He alone can teach you them. Never underestimate the power of du’aa in sujood.
Write down a list of your friends/ family members/ people who will be part of your project. Be it by encouraging or memorizing with you.
Say NO often: Cancel unnecessary meetings/ activities. Cut back on things you are used to, to find more time to get into the mood and start memorizing.
…

✦ This article has been updated and republished at How To Memorise The Quran — be sure to read it there! ✦

May Allah bless you with this great bounty and may the light of the Qur’an illuminate your path always.

Ameen.

Wassalamu ‘alaykum.