Answered by Shaykh Abu Usamah
I work from 9 to 5, and when I come home, I try to put aside some time for me to memorise the common duas and ayats, but I find that it takes me a long time to master even the shortest ones.
Is there an easy method for memorising duas or Qur’anic ayats that one needs to memorise for wudu, salaah, qunoot, eating, going to the toilet, etc? What is suitable method that a working adult can employ to memorise duas and ayats?
Someone told me that in Fadail Amal by Sh. Zakariyya (RA) there is a method where you wake late at night and make salaat, and that while making salaat you recite various surahs such as Surah Yasin. This must continue for 3-7 consecutive Friday nights and a person will be able to remember Qur’anic ayats. This method was supposedly employed by Hadrat Ali (RA) on the advice of our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
If I do follow this method can I hold the Qur’an or kitab in my hand and recite though the Hanafi madhab dislikes holding of the Qur’an while making salaah?
It is not permissible to recite whilst holding and looking into the Qur’an in prayer. This applies to both Nafl and Fard prayer. Hence it will not be permissible for you to recite from the Qur’an in this manner.
Keep trying to learn as much as you can by taking the first few words of the sura/du`a at a time and repeating them until you have memorized them thoroughly. Thereafter proceed to take a few more words and do the same. Then join the two sets of words and repeat the combination. Keep doing this and join a third set of words and master the sura from the beginning upto that point. Continue in this manner until the sura is complete. May Allah Ta`ala make it easy for you.
Remember also to avoid all types of sin and disobedience of Allah Ta`ala. Imam al-Shafi`i said: I complained to my teacher of Waki` regarding my weak memory. He advised me to abandon sin for verily knowledge is a nur from Allah and the nur of Allah is not given to a sinner.
There are various other ways of improving memory that have proven effective through experience.
Shaykh Ashraf Ali Thanwi writes in A`mal Qur’ani that if a person recites 20 times daily after Fajr the following du`a of Hadrat Musa (Allah bless him & give him peace) then he will gain a sharp mind and excellent memory:
Besides this there are also other proven methods.
Check the recent post `Alternative Spiritual Medicine’ where it is mentioned:
4. To have a strong memory the following should be recited as much as possible on the specified days mentioned.
Saturday (Surah Taha: 114), Sunday (Surah Taha: 116), Monday (Surah A’laa: 7), Tuesday (Surah A’laa: 6), Wednesday (Surah Qiyamah: 16), Thursday (Surah Qiyamah: 17), Friday (Surah Qiyamah: 18)
And Allah Ta`ala Knows Best