Die trying

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“A woman can’t memorize the Qurān”.

This is what someone told me when I wanted to memorize the Qurān.

That my brain wouldn’t be capable of remembering the words of Allah just because I was a woman. I was already doubting my abilities but hearing that- hurt.

That night, I made a lot of Dua to Allah to remove the fear in my heart regarding my incapability. I asked Allah to facilitate ease for me in this matter and make it enjoyable for me.

I didn’t know that night would become a major turning point in my life.

I was knee-deep in assignments and exams during midterms and I decided to memorize the Qurān.

Sounds counter-intuitive to add more when you’re already busy right?

But it wasn’t. At all.

Making the intention to memorize completely opened up the barakah (blessings) of time for me.

Committing myself to doing this by Allah’s favor alone has turned my life around.

I’ve learned things and lessons I would’ve never learned.

I’ve learned habits that I would’ve never implemented.

I’ve even gotten grades in my secular studies that I didn’t think possible.

All through the Book of Allah. Through His Favour alone.

My dream is to see everyone who thinks they’re too busy to seek knowledge, seek it, and watch their time work for them. In’sha’Allah Khair.

Worshipping Allah in your current circumstances will ease all your circumstances-

-to work around your worship.

If you have ever struggled with implementing consistency, know that the Qurān will teach you that.

It will guide you if you are conscious of Allah.

Because the Qurān is light and peace.

There has certainly come to you from Allah a light and a clear book through which Allah guides those who seek His pleasure to the ways of peace, brings them out of darkness and into the light by His Will, and guides them to the Straight Path. 5:15-16

I seriously don’t know how I got to writing a newsletter about this. SubhanAllah.

But may Allah make it beneficial. 

The purpose of all this is to not just convince you why you should strengthen your relationship with the Qurān but also give you actionable steps to take.

So come along for the dream :).

Excuses

“Focus on school first.”

“I don’t have time.”

“I can’t do it.”

“I’m too old.”

“It’s too hard.”

These are all things I said to myself and heard from others while starting my journey. I was a grade-A procrastinator and excuse-maker.

It was all from shaytaan .

Imagine thinking you’re too dirty to take a shower. Sounds stupid.

And like that, it is stupid to think you’re too sinful to do it.

The Qurān is the guidance that leads to the cleansing of our hearts and souls from sins.

O humanity! Indeed, there has come to you a warning from your Lord, a cure for what is in the hearts, a guide, and a mercy for the believers. 10:57

And I swear that it is a cure- for everything.

Sadness, envy, anger, heedlessness, etc.

It will solve every problem for you in this life and the next (with Allahs Will).

It purifies the heart-tazkiya. And it accompanies the knowledge that you seek-taleem.

And I know it seems like an impossible task.

“How can I memorize the Qurān?”

The reason it seems so difficult is because you’re not breaking the journey down.

Conceptualize memorizing one surah → one Juz → and the rest will follow بإذن الله.

So to my reader, don’t miss out on the beautiful journey that awaits you.

And to the seeker of knowledge at the beginning of this journey, remember that every book is there to explain the Qurān (in a way).

Every Fiqh, Hadith, Aqidah, and Arabic book came after the Qurān.

Let the Qurān be the first book you pursue in your journey of knowledge.

The Mission:

It will be said to the companion of the Quran: Recite and ascend as you recited in the world! Verily, your rank is determined by the last verse you recite. Sunan al-Tirmidhi 2914

This is the mission.

To become a companion of the Qurān.

To never abandon it.

To recite, reflect, memorize, act, etc.

It is a book that’s meant to be acted upon.

Think about the identity of a person whos Qurān is ever apparent in their character.

Think about the habits of this person.

Start implementing those habits and you’ll get ahead in life.

But there are multitudes of Muslims who think it’s a far-fetched goal for them.

I was also stuck there- in the realm of procrastination -unable to act.

I will not leave you in the dark on how to start like I was.

Firstly, realize that you will not be memorizing/building a relationship with the Qurān.

You need to humble yourself and believe in the Lord of Majesty and Bounty.

Because “Surely Allah is Most Capable of everything.” 24:45

So you don’t need to believe in yourself —believe and trust in the Most High—

and you’ll find yourself doing what you thought impossible.

“I don’t have time.”

Who is the Owner of time?

Who created time?

Who are we answerable to - for our time?

Allah عزوجل.

Discard this thought then.

And whoever puts their trust in Allah, then He is sufficient for them. 65:3

Whenever the thought of, “I can’t do this?” comes -remind yourself of your mission and trust Allah that He will make the circumstances ease for you because you are doing this- seeking His pleasure.

The Qurān and the remembrance of Allah should never be last on your list of priorities-

-when that is what you will be questioned about foremost.

Not your job, degree, or other commitments.

But your deeds.

You will never regret beginning your journey with the Qurān.

When you stand on the Day of Judgement-

-your regret will be,

“Why didn’t I do more?”

So do not be intimidated by this beautiful speech of Allah.

We have not revealed the Quran to you ‘O Prophet’ to cause you distress, but as a reminder to those in awe ‘of Allah’. 20:3-4

It is a guide.

It is a mercy for you and me.

So ask the Most Merciful to teach you the Qurān.

And you will find the sweetness of Imāan contained in this book of guidance.

Unlocking Time

We all have the same 24 hours.

Why are some people able to do triple of what you do?

Because they have barakah in their time.

The Prophet ﷺ made the dua, O Allah, bless my nation in their early mornings. Sunan ibn Majah 2236

Your mind has tricked you that staying up late will harness more productivity.

It is the opposite.

Your hormones are optimized for maximum physical and mental productivity in the morning.

Your first task will set the tone for the day.

Your mind is at its peak productivity at this point.

The best time to memorize the Qurān is after Fajr salah.

It’ll sharpen your mind and set the tone for the day.

Even if you only have 10 minutes before starting your day, it’ll add to your blessings.

Nobody said you have to memorize 5 pages in a sitting.

Even one line.

If it’s consistent, it adds up.

The most beloved of deeds to Allah are those that are most consistent, even if it is small. Bukhari 6464

Don’t compare yourselves to others during this journey.

Your only comparison is you.

Do you know more Qurān than last year?

Have you acted upon more than last year?

If the answer is yes, say Alhamdulillah.

If not, start today.

One day,

or

Day one?

The AVR² Framework

How does one exactly start?

“Which method should I follow?”

I’m not gonna tell you to repeat each page 50x (although that would make your Hifdh very strong).

If you’re a parent, student, or have a job -you’re probably not gonna have time for that.

Do what you have time for.

Repeat the verse for how long it takes to stick for you.

Your method is what works for you.

Which is why I’ve created a general framework to get you started.

AVR² = (Audio + Visual + Repeat)²

(squared because you will do this again and again and again)

Audio: Listening to the Qurān is one of the best ways to become familiar with the words.

I’ve heard so many stories about people who memorized a lot of the Qurān through just listening. SubhanAllah.

Visual: Visualize the page. Follow the recitation whilst looking in your mushaf.

This will help you if you get stuck while reciting. Knowing where the words are on the page will ease the process.

Repeat: This is the most important step. Repeat the words until you remember them.

And you will repeat these three steps for the rest of your life.

The common Arabic word for repetition is د -و -ر. Which means to rotate/move in a circle. This framework is repetition for life.

And even if you don’t think you’ll finish,

Make the intention to start.

Trust Allah.

and

die trying. 

He who intends to do a good deed but he does not do it, then Allah records it for him as a full good deed, but if he carries out his intention, then Allah the Exalted, writes it down for him as from ten to seven hundred folds, and even more. Bukhari 6491

And remember that no one will do your good deeds for you.

Do not become lazy.

If you do. Seek refuge in Allah from laziness and inability.

And say to yourself that, “In a little while, you will be thankful that you did this”.

This will refresh your intention and renew your determination (with Allahs Will).

Resources

Here is exactly what you will do to start.

1. Make sincere Dua

2. Make the intention

3. Find a teacher (one that you respect and fear)

4. Download Tarteel AI (until you find a teacher)

Tips: Follow Hifdh Status on their platforms. Hearing people’s Hifdh journeys is exactly what we need sometimes to push us.

If you can, learn Arabic (fusha- classical Arabic) alongside the Qurān.

Because they are a feedback loop.

Learning the beauty of the Qurān by understanding it, will make you want to memorize it and vice versa.

The English translations do not do justice.

I’m very excited to share future resources as well بإذن الله.

I have also created a free template for you to document your progress. There is also a Notion template tracker linked.

May Allah عزوجل make this journey easy for us and accept from us.

May Allah عزوجل make us from Ahlul Qurān (people of the Qurān).

May He make the Qurān the spring of our hearts, the light of our chests, and the reliever of all our distress and worries.

Ameen.

Until next time,

في أمان الله (I leave you in the care of Allah)

-bintabbas