Gift from 2007 Orientation Week

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Just a few days ago,I was sorting all my stuff inside the drawer.Actually it was a 'body part'of my desk.Phew...!(don't know what to say..).Then,I found a CD...huh?I'd labelled there "Tips~Al-Quran,Minggu Orientasi Tahun 2007"...em,yes I remember it was a gift from one of the penceramah..(lost the word).At past,I've just opened up one file from the CD.,actually it contains a lot!..so,I decided to put (copy-paste) the file here to the blog's space.Very useful though!Enjoy it...as I'm still travelling the CD...wait till I finish it,insyaAllah..so,I can give more copy-paste wordS here..hehe...~nothing serious~

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A Guide for Memorising the Noble Qur'aan English Translation and Compilation by Amjad ibn Muhammad Rafiq Edited and Supplemented by Muhammad al-Jibali

Copyright 1996 by AIM - University of Essex Islamic Society

Practical Steps for Memorising

1. Correcting Pronunciation and Recitation

The next step in memorising the Qur'aan is to correct the pronunciation. This cannot be fulfilled unless one listens to a good and precise reciter or memoriser of the Qur'aan. The Qur'aan cannot be learned without a teacher.

The Messenger (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) was the most eloquent of all the Arabs. Yet, he (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) learned the Qur'aan from Jibreel orally. Also the Messenger (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) used to recite the Qur'aan to Jibreel once in every year - in Ramadan. And in the year that he dies, he recited it to him twice.

Likewise, the Messenger (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) taught the Qur'aan to his Companions orally; and he heard it from them, after they had learned it from him, time and again.

Therefore, one is required to learn the Qur'aan from a good reciter, to correct ones recitation on a first occurrence basis. Also, one should not rely solely on oneself in learning the recitation of the Qur'aan, even if one is knowledgeable on the Arabic language and its principles. This is so because in the Qur'aan there are many ayaat that occur in a way uncommon in the rules of the Arabic language.

2. Adhering to a daily Limit for Memorisation

One must set a daily limit for the amount of Qur'aan that one wishes to memorise. This limit should be reasonable and possible to fulfil. It varies in its amount from one person to another; it can be a number of ayaat, a page, two pages, an eighth of a juz, etc. One should resist the temptation to move to move to a new portion of the Qur'aan before perfecting the memorisation of the current portion that agrees with the set limit. This is a disciplinary measure that helps one concentrate on one thing at a time, reducing interruption, and enabling one to firmly establish one's current portion in one's mind.

3. Continual Recitation and Review
Once one has corrected his recitation and set his daily limit, one should begin his memorisation process by continual recitation and repetition of his daily portion. The memorizer must occupy himself with this through the hours of the day and night. He should recite it:

• * In the fard (obligatory) as well the nafl (optional) prayers,
• * While sitting in the Masjid (mosque) awaiting the jama'ah (congregational) prayer,
• * For a few minutes after the jama'ah prayer,
• * Before going to sleep.
• * While waiting for anything (bus, dentist, etc.),
• * While riding a bus, car, etc.

In this way, it is possible for a person to practice his memorisation even when occupied with other matters, because he is not restricted to just one specific time for memorising the Qur'aan. And with approach of night one will find that his set limit is memorised and firmly established in his mind. And if something unusual happens to occupy the memorzer during the day, preventing him from completing his set limit, he should not move onto his next portion of the Qur'aan on the following day. Rather, he should continue with what he had started the day before, until his memorisation is perfected.

4. Reciting in a Melodic Tone
During memorisation, one should recite the Qur'aan in a melodic tone, beautifying his reading as much as possible. It is important the one reads melodically. This is important for the following reasons:

• 1) Melodic recitation conforms with the Sunnah of the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) who used to recite the Qur'aan in a melodious and tranquil manner.

  2) It conforms with Prophet's command who said; "Whoever does not chant the Qur'aan (recite it melodiously) is not of us."15 (from me:really don't know this hadith)
  

  3) It is pleasing to one's ears, providing incentive to continue with the memorisation.
  

  4) It helps make one's memorisation firm and strong.
  

  The tongue will always return to a specific tone of voice, and would thus detect a mistake whenever the balance or harmony in one's recitation becomes disordered. The reciter's tongue will not comply with him in making a mistake when he is unmindful.

5. Using the Same Copy of the Qur'aan (Mushaf)

A memoriser of Qur'aan should have a specific mushaf (copy of the Qur'aan) from which he reads all the time. A person memorises using vision as he does using hearing. The script and form of the ayaat, and their places in the mushaf leave an imprint in the mind when they are recited and looked at frequently. The positions of the ayaat would be different in different types of mushafs, and the script may be different also. This confuses the memory and makes memorising more difficult.

6. Understanding Is the Way to Memorising

An important thing that greatly aids the process of memorising Qur'aan is to understand the meaning of the ayaat one is memorising, and know how they are linked to each other. Thus the memoriser should read the tafsir (explanation) of the ayaat that he desires to memorise, and should bring their meanings to mind while he is reciting them. This makes it easy easier for him to remember them. Knowing the meaning of the ayaat is extremely important for memorisation, and to increase the rewards of reciting Qur'aan.

However, one should not merely rely on this for memorisation. Rather, as explained earlier, the repetition of these ayaat should be the foundation. He should repeat them many times, until the tongue can recite them easily - even if the mind drifts away from the meaning. As for the one who relies upon the meaning alone, he will forget often, and his recitation will be disrupted as soon as his mind wanders, which is a common occurrence with lengthy readings.

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I just give you'll 6 steps out of 12..so giving a time for you (also me)to practice it slowly.

Istiqomah and practice with this...and hit me back if you want the 6 more steps ..

Ma'at Taufiq!

and..remind me if I forget this

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
103: 1. By (the Token of) Time (through the ages), 103: 2. Verily Man is
in loss, 103: 3. Except such as have Faith, and do righteous deeds, and (join together) in the mutual teaching of Truth, and of Patience and Constancy.

Yusuf Ali's Quran Translation

Wassalam~