How Can One Utilize Free Time to Review and Memorize the Quran?

Answered by Shaykh Anas al-Musa

Question

How can one utilize free time for reviewing and memorizing the Quran?

Answer

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all worlds. Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger sent as a mercy to the worlds, our Master and Prophet, Muhammad, and his Family and Companions.

There is no doubt that utilizing free time for reviewing and memorizing the Quran has a profound impact on a Muslim’s life and helps in achieving the pleasure of Allah (Most High). Here are some tips that may help you in this regard:

Tips

• Set a specific time daily for memorization and review, such as after Fajr prayer or before sleeping. Remember, consistency is the key to success.
• Make use of audio recordings of the Quran for memorization and review by listening to what you wish to memorize or revise. This aids in better retention and reinforcement of what you’ve learned.
• Study tafsir (Quranic exegesis) before memorizing any portion of the Quran. Understanding the meanings strengthens memory and helps embed the verses in the mind.
• Recite what you have memorized during your prayers, especially in voluntary prayers and during the night prayer (qiyam al-layl). This greatly helps in reinforcing memorization and improving concentration.
• Find a teacher who can listen to your recitation. This helps maintain consistency and provides accountability.
• Join a group of friends or companions who also memorize and review the Quran. This will foster a sense of healthy competition and encourage progress.

Great Blessing

Finally, it is a great blessing from Allah that one is occupied with memorizing and reviewing the Quran. As the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:

“The best of you are those who learn the Quran and teach it to others.” [Bukhari]

May Allah bless the Prophet Muhammad and give him peace, and his Family and Companions.

[Shaykh] Anas al-Musa

Shaykh Anas al-Musa, born in Hama, Syria, in 1974, is an erudite scholar of notable repute. He graduated from the Engineering Institute in Damascus, where he specialized in General Construction, and Al-Azhar University, Faculty of Usul al-Din, where he specialized in Hadith.

He studied under prominent scholars in Damascus, including Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Shaghouri and Shaykh Adib al-Kallas, among others. Shaykh Anas has memorized the Quran and is proficient in the ten Mutawatir recitations, having studied under Shaykh Bakri al-Tarabishi and Shaykh Mowfaq ‘Ayun. He also graduated from the Iraqi Hadith School.

He has taught numerous Islamic subjects at Shari‘a institutes in Syria and Turkey. Shaykh Anas has served as an Imam and preacher for over 15 years and is a teacher of the Quran in its various readings and narrations.

Currently, he works as a teacher at SeekersGuidance and is responsible for academic guidance there. He has completed his Master’s degree in Hadith and is now pursuing his Ph.D. in the same field. Shaykh Anas al-Musa is married and resides in Istanbul.