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Hifdh Tips

BEFORE HIFDH

Actions are but by intentions and there is for every person only that which he intended…” (Bukhari and Muslim)

Since our deeds are judged upon our intentions, we must always check our heart, and make sure we have the proper intentions in all our endeavors. If our intention is proper, the result of our action will likewise be fruitful; however if our intention is not proper, we will be deprived from the fruits that would result from our action. What is the proper intention for doing hifdh? It is what the intention in any good act should be: for the sake of Allah, for His pleasure alone.

To follow Rasulullah ’s command to seek  knowledge, to help enhance your daily ‘ibadah, for it to be a door to other knowledge, to teach others… etc, are all very acceptable intentions as well, but in the end they should all tie to the purpose of seeking Allah’s pleasure. Otherwise, the fruit of our action could be very bitter…

"Do not acquire knowledge in order to compete with the scholars, nor to argue with the ignorant, nor to gain mastery over the gathering. Since whoever does that then: The Fire! The Fire!" (Abu Dawood)

"Whoever seeks knowledge from that by which Allah’s Face (pleasure) is sought but does not learn it except for some worldly goal, then he will not smell the fragrance of Paradise on the Day of Resurrection"(Abu Dawood)

Once we have the proper intention, we must seek the proper means to complete this action. As so, to memorize the Qur’an properly, one must first learn to read it properly. Knowledge of the specific pronunciation of the Arabic letters (makhraj & sifat), and the grammatical rules (tajweed) are essential to fulfill this need. One might learn these from those who know, from teachers, from cassettes…etc., and should try their best to act upon this knowledge. Memorizing should be started only after one has mastered reading the Qur’an. Why memorize the Qur’an imperfectly, when there is a better way? Moreover, why not read the best of books, to the best of one’s ability? Perfection is key, and our resolve should be strong to master the recitation of the beautiful words that belong to Allah.
After learning to read the Qur’an properly, it is important to practice this knowledge. This can be done by continual recitation of the Qur’an till one is fluent with the reading, and can easily read any page of the Qur’an. This also means that the reader is familiar with the words and conventions of the language of the Qur’an; which makes memorizing the Qur’an much easier.
Once we have the proper intention, we must seek the proper means to complete this action. As so, to memorize the Qur’an properly, one must first learn to read it properly. Knowledge of the specific pronunciation of the Arabic letters (makhraj & sifat), and the grammatical rules (tajweed) are essential to fulfill this need. One might learn these from those who know, from teachers, from cassettes…etc., and should try their best to act upon this knowledge. Memorizing should be started only after one has mastered reading the Qur’an. Why memorize the Qur’an imperfectly, when there is a better way? Moreover, why not read the best of books, to the best of one’s ability? Perfection is key, and our resolve should be strong to master the recitation of the beautiful words that belong to Allah.

During the first trials of hifdh, one should verify their ability to memorize. Allah has created us all different in character, mind, form, color, traits…etc. and likewise has given everybody a different capacity to memorize. By determining your pace, you will be able to set reasonable goals for yourself. Though in the end, it won’t matter if you had more trouble than others when memorizing (you’ll actually earn more thawaab/reward for the extra effort), or that you were quick; what will really matter is the result.

The ability to memorize is a skill that can be developed, though this might take some patience and time. Starting to practice developing your memorizing skills by easy, short Surahs, and gradually progressing would be best. Many consider hifdh as something that develops on the way; you get better at it the more you do it, inshaAllah.

MORE TIPS

Since everything is in Allah’s hands, we can only turn to Him and ask Him to help us. A person who is doing hifdh should continually ask Allah to make the Qur’an easy for him/her to memorize, retain, and apply to one’s life. As Allah says:

“…When My servants ask you concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them): I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calls on Me: Let them also, with a will, Listen to My call, and believe in Me: That they may walk in the right way…” (Surat-ul Baqarah, Verse 186).

You must have the proper conviction (yaqeen) that your success is up to Allah alone.

- It’s best to use one/same copy of the Qur’an and always handle with wudhu, respect and love.

The act of memorization takes place with the combination of many elements, such as hearing and seeing. The letters become familiar to a person by their position on the page, by it’s relative position to other words, and by many other ways, though we may not be very conscious of them. The particular print/script, colors, font size, grammatical punctuation, stops within verses… etc. may differ from one Qur’an to another, as well. To avoid confusion in this matter, it is advised to stick to the one same Qur’an while doing hifdh. This is also good for keeping track/recording of mistakes made (to mark them lightly with a pencil) because if you don’t know your mistakes, you won’t be able to correct them.

In addition, your Qur’an should be your companion (especially during hifdh), as you will also be spending your day with it more than any other person or object. Thus, one must always handle it with care, love, and respect (i.e. adab & wudhu). As such, one must constantly remind themselves that this book is not any ordinary book, but is a book from Allah that contains His words, which is a blessing and guidance for us all.

To make the best use of time, one must keep track of it; technically speaking for hifdh, there should be a balance in the distribution of time for each page. Therefore, you must not spend unnecessary time on one page, then not have enough time for the other pages. While studying one usually forgets about the time, though having a clock in the place of study can prevent such a case. Your hifdh is dependent on how well you make use of your time. Using a clock is also helpful in setting goals for your speed; where you tell yourself you’re aiming at 30 minutes for a page, and by time, you will be able to lower your time per page, inshaAllah.

When we memorize a new page, we must memorize it in a way that when we read it from memory we are “confident” of what we read – we shouldn’t excessively stop  here and there, mix/jump the verses, add/delete words…etc. which usually shows that we haven’t memorized our page as strong as we should have. When memorizing a new page one must try to do it to perfection, at least to the best of their ability. If it isn’t strong, it will be very hard to revise the page later on when you return to it. Especially if we have mistakes, because it is harder to fix what one has memorized, where in some cases fixing mistakes is even harder than it was to memorize the page in the first place. Finally, if we memorize the pages/verses/words of the Qur’an as best as we can, it will be easy for us to retain it, and harder to forget, inshaAllah.

The act of memorization takes place with the combination of many elements, such as hearing  and seeing. We can especially see this to be true when it comes to songs – we all can probably still sing songs we heard in our childhood. The Qur’an has its own “rhythm” that appeals to the ear (and heart...), which makes it easier to ‘pick up’ and memorize. Though, of course, we need to hear ourselves for this to occur, so we should read in a volume at least enough for ourselves to hear (make sure not to bother others if you’re memorizing in the same room!). This will most definitely speed-up the memorization process, inshaAllah.

With the rhythmic tone of the Qur’an one is tempted to physically keep up with this tone i.e. to sway back and forth. Some take this to the extra step, where entering upon a room full of huffaz (plural of ‘hafiz’) studying can  actually be scary for the first time visitor! Some claim this to help them memorize and/or see this as a sign of ikhlaas (sincerity), because it seems as if one is deeply engrossed in the Qur’an, though the sunnah suggests otherwise.

While memorizing one might find it easy to read through the verses quickly; though this shouldn’t be too quick:

“…and recite the Qur'an in slow, measured rhythmic tones.” (Surat-ul Muzzammil, Verse 4) 

One should be able to understand what you are reading, and actually be able to follow it. It is also commonly known that when one recites very quickly, they have trouble reading in a slow pace, because they often jump words, or don’t emphasize them; but to read slowly one has to really know the letters, and the specific vowel sounds of the letters. Thus if one memorizes in the style of tarteel recitation, their hifdh will be stronger, and they won’t have to rush through the verses (because they really aren’t too sure about them).

Our initial mindset while starting  something new will always affect the outcome of this new activity, and can be a mirror to the results of this activity. If we start something with the mindset that “it is hard”, we will be biased in feeling it to be hard, but if we start it with the approach that “it is easy”, it really does become easy. This applies to hifdh as well; if you start a new page by thinking that it is hard (even if the page is really easy) you won’t be able to help but believe yourself.

More often, this negative opinion usually comes from a swift glance onto the page (“Oh noo… look at those long words… the font size seems to have drastically shrunk!”) or from the opinions of other’s who have already memorized that page (“Sis, that was the hardest page ever!”). It is best to stay away from judging pages by a glance and/or the opinions of others. That’s why one should always start a new page with much du`a, and the thought that “it is easy; Allah has made it easy, and will inshaAllah make it easier for me to memorize.”

The initial memorizing process should always start with the continuous recitation of the lesson/lines for sabak or page from the mushaf (by reading from the Qur’an, not from memory). This can be repeated till one can swiftly read through the words and is familiar with them; some advise the page to be read at least 15 times, some say 11, some say 20…etc, though it should be done at least till one is comfortable with the sabak or page. This will drastically reduce the chances of making mistakes/memorizing incorrectly, and will speed up the memorization process, inshaAllah. Break down longer ayahs by memorizing them in small parts, repeating all parts through memory before starting a new part. Before memorizing a new ayah, ALWAYS recite the lesson/sabak from the beginning through memory. Meaning: Do Not start memorizing ayah # 3 unless you can fluently recite ayahs 1 and 2 of your lesson/sabak; Do Not start memorizing ayah # 4 unless you can fluently recite ayahs 1, 2, and 3 of your lesson/sabak; Do Not start memorizing ayah # 5 unless you can fluently recite ayahs 1, 2, 3, and 4 of your lesson/sabak …….

Generally, after continually  reading the-page-to-be-memorized from the mushaf (via looking at the page from the Qur’an), it is very useful to get hold of a translation and go over the meanings of the specific verses one by one before starting to memorize. This helps in keeping one concentrated on the verses, helps to realize the subtle differences between similar verses, and greatly helps to organize the sequence of the verses. Though after testing this, one might find this confusing, and not of much help; then that person should refrain from doing this before memorizing, but should do this after memorizing, to at least know what they have memorized (especially if one doesn’t know Arabic well). If you have a teacher, consult him/her first!

Most huffaz  memorize a new page of the Qur’an in different ways -- that is just like the analogy with the fingers, where each finger is connected to the palm of the hand: though the methods (fingers) are different they all end up at the same place (the palm). One person’s method may suit you better than another person’s method, thus inquiring about how people memorize will aid you in developing your own method. This step will most likely give you a head start in your hifdh, inshaAllah; just as it is easier to grow plants on a field that has already been plowed, and prepared for growing, than it is to start from scratch.

By practice, as well as from inquiry, one will be able to tell which memorization method suits themselves better. Sometimes it will be a combination of others’ methods, or a totally new method; it is best to follow a method that works best for you, though this may take some time and practice to develop.
When you memorize something you are most likely not going to see your own mistakes (if you do make any) more less even realize that you’re making a mistake, even though your Qur’an might be right in front of you and your mistake right ‘under your nose’. Thus, it is highly recommended to have someone listen to your page while you recite it to that person from memory, and they follow along from your Qur’an. Some teachers will assign ‘buddies’ to ensure students do this, so they fix any mistakes before it comes to them, where a couple of mistakes may make you ‘fail’ and you have to re-do your lesson (and ‘waste’ a day due to mistakes that could’ve been avoided). So to avoid such a thing and to avoid simple/silly mistakes, one should always ask someone (preferably who is a hafiz) to listen to them before the teacher listens to them, or before going on to other pages.
An alternative to reading the page continuously, some listen to the page a multiple number of times, and read along with the reciter. Those who learn better from listening can find this very helpful, as it will familiarize the verses and will prevent any possible errors you may have made prior to listening to the reciter. Though for this to be true, one must pick the reciter they will listen to carefully, because you will in general read just like him; you’ll pick up any of his mistakes, and in most cases, his style of recitation also.
For some the time of day is a great factor in memorizing. Some prefer memorizing new pages early in the morning, or during the tahajjud/sahar (the last 1/3 of the night, before dawn) time, stating that their mind is ‘fresh and clear’, and ready to memorize. Some say the opposite: that they feel sleepy at that time and prefer the night-time, especially at midnight. And for some the time of day does not matter at all. We all are unique, thus we will differ in our preference of time. However, one should be consistent, and should be able to maneuver their program to fit into one day. Therefore, they may separate a specific time to memorize a new page, but they should also separate adequate time to revise their other page/s. Developing a schedule (and following it) would be best to ensure the equal distribution and good use of time.
Just as your ability can be developed before hifdh, it can be further enhanced while doing hifdh. You generally memorize quicker/better by each chapter of the Qur’an, but this progress most recognizably occurs when one has reached the mid-line of their hifdh (memorized half of the Qur'an). Then, especially toward the end, your tongue seems to read on it’s own accord, and with quite ease (you don’t even have to concentrate as hard). At last, even though it took some time or you didn’t notice in the beginning, you truly start to feel that Allah has made the Qur’an easy to remember

DURING HIFDH

As one diligently starts their first page, and finishes, then does the same thing the next day, and the next, and the next, and the next, and the next… for a year, or (usually) more, you might find yourself asking: “Is this ever going to end?” or, even worse, sometimes “What was I thinking?!” 

“…O ye who believe! Seek help with patient perseverance and prayer; for God is with those who patiently persevere…” (Surat-ul Baqarah, Verse 153)

The memorization does end, though with a continuous effort on your part. The continuous character of your effort depends a lot on patience, which in turn proves how much you really want to do hifdh. Just like any other type of education, hifdh requires time; though unlike many other types of education, hifdh deserves the time spent on it.

Another way to find patience in one’s self is to think of all the huffaz before you; they are proof to the fact that hifdh really does end (if you really start doubting!). Each day passed while doing hifdh is a ‘plus’, since each day passed is another day spent with the Qur’an, and another step closer to finishing your hifdh, inshaAllah.

“…Am I going to remember all these verses? Am I going to mess up? Am I going to fail again?” Are all typical questions that boggle the mind of a hafiz while/before/after memorizing. Sometimes just thinking about these types of questions will distract you to the point of making you ‘mess up’. Though, one must remember, even down to the last page, that Allah alone gives success. No matter how hard you try, or how little, it will be up to Allah to decide the outcome of your hifdh, how well you read your pages, and everything else in between. Therefore, we must put our trust in Him, for He is the best to be trusted.

“…If God helps you, none can overcome you: If He forsakes you, who is there, after that, that can help you? In God, then, let believers put their trust…” (Surat-u Aali `Imraan, Verse 160)

Following the sunnah of Rasulullah should be done by every Muslim, though in hifdh it plays an essential role in developing a daily schedule that will give the best results. The sunan hold a special meaning for huffaz during their hifdh: Waking up for tahajjud means revising pages (and making those hardcore supplications!), noon fiesta means refreshing mind, not eating too much guarantees not falling asleep while studying, sleeping right after Isha prayer ensures a wake mind to the following day of memorization, using a miswaak or toothbrush means showing mercy on your teacher (or who ever is going to listen to you)…etc. One should incorporate as many sunnahs as they can into their life (and especially schedule while doing hifdh), for they will see results blessed with barakah, as well as extra deeds inshaAllah. Following the sunnah during hifdh also aids in applying the sunnah to our daily lives after hifdh, where we have practiced it for so long, that the sunnah starts to become habit inshaAllah.

If we want to do a good deed, our means to achieve this good should be equally good as well. Considering hifdh as a good thing, what we eat, what we drink, what we use in order to attain hifdh should all be good a.k.a. halal. In order for our deeds to be accepted, it is very important to follow the ‘rules’. If we worship Allah and ask from his mercy with a stomach full of haram and haram thoughts in mind, it is more likely that we would earn Allah’s anger (rather than His mercy). If that doesn’t scare us already, it is also very well known that doing/eating haram is stated as a cause to forgetfulness:

A famous anecdote is reported from Imam Shafi'i (), where he relates his conversation with his teacher Wak'i saying:

I complained to Waki' about my bad memory
'Abandon sins', he instructed me
For memory is a bounty from Allah
and a bounty of Allah is not bestowed upon the sinner.

Thus, we should always turn away from haram means, and turn to halal means, so as to anticipate Allah’s mercy & bounty upon us. 

Concentration plays a vital role while memorizing, where it can determine how fast and well you memorize. It is best to study in an environment that is suited for you to be able to be focused on your hifdh, and has the least distractions. Noise/sound, presence of others, events, people, neighbors, parents, light/dark, ideas, plans for future…etc. can all be distractive to some and not to others. If your home does not provide such an environment where you can concentrate, then seeking other places (if you are able) for your hifdh would be best.

For one who is doing hifdh, their first priority should be their hifdh (of course after all faraaidh/obligatory deeds). While considering doing something besides their studies, they should approach this with concern over their hifdh; how will it affect your hifdh; will it be beneficial or be detrimental? This can be thought in terms of daily things (i.e. visiting a friend), or in general terms (i.e. starting college). The best for one who is doing hifdh is to ‘worry’ about their hifdh first; all other things should follow after it and be planned according to it, if one truly desires the optimum success possible.

The  importance of dua cannot be overly emphasized. Though we may make dua for ourselves while doing hifdh, we should ask for others (especially parents!) to make dua for us as well; for each du`a is a blessing for the one who makes it as well:

"Verily your Lord is the One modest and Generous, and when His servant raises his hands to Him in supplication, He is diffident (in some wordings, shy or hesitant) from returning them empty." (Ahmad, Abu Dawood, and Tirmidhi
vital role while memorizing, where it can determine how fast and well you memorize. It is best to study in an environment that is suited for you to be able to be focused on your hifdh, and has the least distractions. Noise/sound, presence of others, events, people, neighbors, parents, light/dark, ideas, plans for future…etc. can all be distractive to some and not to others. If your home does not provide such an environment where you can concentrate, then seeking other places (if you are able) for your hifdh would be best.

From giving emphasis to the care of relatives and neighbors, to praying shoulder to shoulder in congregation, we are constantly reminded that Islam calls for us to leave our narcissistic natures. We are to think for others as we think about ourselves, and to wish for them as we do for our own. This should principally be the way in hifdh as well. A  simple example: When struggling with a page one should remind ourselves of our Muslim brethren and think of others who might also be on that very same page and are facing the same difficulty. At such an instant, we should pray to Allah to help them as well as our selves, for Allah’s Messenger informs us that:

"The dua of a Muslim for his brother in his absence (i.e. the person is not present and is not aware that you are making dua for him) is answered. An angel is appointed to be at his side. Every time that he prays for some good for his brother, the angel says: "Ameen. And may the same be granted to you." (Muslim)

Whether you are doing hifdh at home, or at an institution, you must be careful when making friends with others. The people we choose to associate with will in any circumstance (this be hifdh or not) have an affect on us: either a positive effect, or a negative one. Our friendships may preoccupy our thoughts, they may determine how we spend our time, they may determine our emotional states, they may…etc. and how much they affect us will depend on our approach and acceptance. When doing something as important as hifdh one should choose to associate with those who will be beneficial to their studies, and not those who will only be a distraction. The preferred way is to make friendships where you both benefit from each other during hifdh, especially if this person is doing hifdh as well.

They say that  Shaitaan sits at the beginning, at the  middle, and at the end of the path of one who does hifdh, which really means that he’s constantly searching for moments/ways to sneak up on you and make you ‘slip’. Someone doing hifdh is a perfect ‘target’, and there are so many ways to ‘get at them’, because the process of hifdh takes a longer period of time, and depends on many factors. Why would Shaitaan go to someone who already has slipped? Of course, he’s going to seek others.

When the smallest things start to distract you (“why won’t that fly go away?!”), you start to develop acute senses (“…falammaa fasala… hey… why does the fan make so much noise?” or you notice dust on the shelves, and start searching for a cloth to dust…*), you start to think of things you normally never consider (“hmm… I wonder what the neighbors are up to?”), you miss doing things you really never do (“ufff… I wish I could just sleep all day”)…etc. remember that these are mostly waswasa (whisperings) from Shaitaan. In such cases one should remember that Shaitaan is an avowed enemy, and should seek refuge in Allah from him.

We must remember that we are not machines; our mind and body need breaks so we may be ‘recharged’ and refreshed. Sleeping at night, giving adequate breaks between pages and certain times, eating set courses without skipping a meal, taking a walk…etc. are more beneficial than pressuring ourselves to study when we really do need a break. Some students will avoid these necessities saying that it takes up their time, when in reality it will make the process easier, though it is hard to realize it at the moment. We must fulfill such needs of our body so we can make the best use of it, for our body is our ‘ship’ that will carry us in the ‘sea’ of hifdh.

Though we  may not be involved in other activities besides our studies during hifdh, watching TV/listening to music may create an environment where one feels mentally involved – our mind is usually preoccupied with what we have watched/listened, sometimes to the point where we have trouble concentrating and remaining focused (apart from the great probability that we might be watching/listening to not-so-halal things). The safest step is to avoid TV/music, as to minimize any possible distractions, especially during hifdh (for those who don’t do so anyway *thumbsup*).

In the case where what we watch and what we listen to is haram, this will most definitely assure Allah’s anger, where we can be sure to face difficulty in our life (and afterlife), as well as studies. How can one let their ears hear haram, their eyes see haram, their hearts desiring the haram...while at the same time listening and gazing upon the Qur’an?...

Finding a  balance in what we eat (and it’s quantity) will also be essential to our studies; if we eat too much we will feel sleepy, and if we eat too little we might not supply ourselves with sufficient energy needed for our studies. Our intention while eating should be to properly serve Allah, where then eating would become `ibadah inshaAllah.

The eating  of a certain number of nuts like walnuts and almonds, dried grapes, and honey are advised to strengthen one's ability to memorize, small quantity of sweets may be eaten to provide a ‘quick burst of energy’, while fruits are advised due to their nature; where they make you feel full, are ‘light’, and do not make you sleepy in contrast to eating ‘heavy’ foods such as meat, greasy foods and the like. The goal is to eat those which make you feel re-energized, not overwhelmed.

Judging  your progress should not be made by using others as your ‘meter’: if another person who is doing hifdh falls short on their studies, this doesn’t necessarily mean you have progressed, or when that person excels in their studies this doesn’t mean that you have necessarily fallen behind. It may be the case where you really are just going at the same pace. Thus using others as a meter is usually misleading; only you can be your own meter.

In some cases, you may hear of people completing hifdh in a few months, or someone finishing in as long as 10 years. One should not feel depressed or impressed at their own pace in such circumstances, but should be thankful to Allah for what they have been blessed with so far, and should avoid comparing themselves with others. `Ali is not `Umar, as `Aisha is not Fatima; we are who Allah has chosen us to be, and we should know ourselves and do our best to our own ability that He has blessed us with.

Informing others of our doings/progress in hifdh is a very delicate matter. We are informed that the Beloved of Allah seeked refuge in  Allah against nazar, commonly known as the ‘evil eye’. hifdh, especially to those who know anything about it, can be a very trying deed, though it is Allah who gives it only to whom He wills. Thus, a Muslim should attribute the deed of ‘hifdh’ first and foremost to Allah.

This being said one must include that the safest step is to avoid nazar, as well as riya (showing off) whenever possible. One should only talk about their doings in hifdh if there is a clear benefit in doing so (asking their advice, seeking their help, encouraging others…etc.), and to the right person. Though we should remember that a Muslim is encouraged to say “mashaAllah” when they see/hear something that pleases them.

Finding/developing/setting up the perfect  environment for hifdh can be very difficult. However, to go to an institution that has been specifically made to suite the study of hifdh is much more convenient and reliable. Trying to transform your house into a school is not only difficult but usually impossible when there are others that live with you as well. One cannot over-look the rights of other family members, and oblige them to comply with your ways. This could even be a sort of oppression for them, which should not be the case they associate with hifdh.

In an institution (in most cases), everything is set up so that your only worry is your hifdh, which is usually more than enough for one who is doing hifdh to be concerned about. It has a set and tested program, which will give you more of a sense of order and importance that is much needed to suite the continuous nature of hifdh. A place that ensures discipline is best, where each day is made use of to its full extent, and so is your ability, inshaAllah. Just as a farmer and a certain piece of land can determine the crops to come, the institution we go to can be a factor in determining the “quality” of our hifdh as well.

It is best to have your memorized pages  listened to by a former hafiz, if available. If not then someone who is well versed with the Qur’an should be seeked. Your contact with this teacher/listener should be well scheduled and orderly if you are not in an institution. However, if one is in an institution there will be teachers that will always be available at the set class time, and in some institutions these teachers are available at all times. This is another ‘plus’ to attending an institution.

How well you obey your teacher is synonymous with how well you do in your hifdh. The person who listens to your memorized pages knows your pages (and its quality) better than you do, thus knows what is best for your hifdh. The pace they advise you to follow, and any other thing they tell you to do will always be for your benefit; whether you follow what they say or shoot yourself in the foot is up to you. One should be thankful to Allah for their hifdh teacher, and should do their best to benefit from them and their experience.

It’s very  important to be persistent during hifdh; one should avoid ‘empty days’ in which they do not do their daily work/memorize their page(s). The more ‘slack time’ in between hifdh, is the more time you will spend later on trying to revise and strengthen your hifdh. In cases when the ‘going gets tough’ one should try the best they can, and at least progress in some degree; if they needed to prepare 5 pages, they should at least do 3, if they were supposed to do 10, they should at least try to do 6…etc. A little dars/class done is better than none. Thus, one should never give up on their studies, but should aim to complete at least a part of it. This type of determination usually helps in the end of the day when you realize that you really can do the left over 3-4 pages. Though, either way your priority is to never be at the same level a day -- each day should bring some form of progress in your hifdh; just as the Beloved cautioned us that one day should not be equal to the other in a Muslim’s life.

MISCONCEPTIONS

Just because you may not understand the Qur’an without a translation, doesn’t mean you can’t read it or memorize it. It would be a great bonus if one knew Arabic while doing hifdh,  though many non-Arabic speakers start studying Arabic after memorizing the Qur’an.

Age is not a determining factor in hifdh, but naseeb, determination, and effort are stronger factors.

Many turn away from hifdh with the thought that  they will never be able to fulfill their responsibility of living the Qur’an to it’s full extent, which they’ll have to do when ‘they memorize the Qur’an’. The fact is that every Muslim must live by the Qur’an; it’s just that a hafiz is doing a bonus by memorizing it.

No one but you (and your teacher if you have one) can truly  determine your capacity; and the gravest error that is done in this respect is done by comparing yourself to others. You will almost always have different capabilities than others, and this will be true in hifdh as well. So just because you can’t memorize as fast as another person doesn’t mean you can or cannot do hifdh.

Saying that the Qur’an is hard would be a grave mistake, because Allah (54:17) says: 

“…And We have indeed made the Qur'an easy to understand and remember: then is there any that will receive admonition?” (Surat-ul Qamar, Verses 17, 22, 32, & 40)

Doing something for the first time, like starting to memorize, might seem hard at the beginning, but by time, inshaAllah, it will become easy to you and you will eventually get used to it -- and be left amazed (and ever so thankful) to experience Allah’s blessing stated in this verse come to life.

Allah,  undoubtedly, is the One who has given us everything, and is the Owner of all things. Thus, our mind, tongue, eyes, fingers, hands, voice, heart…etc. all come from Him, and we are able to use them only by His will. If He doesn’t allow us to use them for hifdh, we won’t be able to do anything about it, thus saying/thinking that it is us who is doing hifdh (and being ‘full’ of ourselves), would be wrong, but to say/think that Allah is allowing us to do it, and that we are able to do it only by His will, would be the true case. Thus, one must always be thankful to Allah, as all praises are due to Him

BEFORE HIFDH

Actions are but by intentions and there is for every person only that which he intended…” (Bukhari and Muslim)

Since our deeds are judged upon our intentions, we must always check our heart, and make sure we have the proper intentions in all our endeavors. If our intention is proper, the result of our action will likewise be fruitful; however if our intention is not proper, we will be deprived from the fruits that would result from our action. What is the proper intention for doing hifdh? It is what the intention in any good act should be: for the sake of Allah, for His pleasure alone.

To follow Rasulullah ’s command to seek  knowledge, to help enhance your daily ‘ibadah, for it to be a door to other knowledge, to teach others… etc, are all very acceptable intentions as well, but in the end they should all tie to the purpose of seeking Allah’s pleasure. Otherwise, the fruit of our action could be very bitter…

"Do not acquire knowledge in order to compete with the scholars, nor to argue with the ignorant, nor to gain mastery over the gathering. Since whoever does that then: The Fire! The Fire!" (Abu Dawood)

"Whoever seeks knowledge from that by which Allah’s Face (pleasure) is sought but does not learn it except for some worldly goal, then he will not smell the fragrance of Paradise on the Day of Resurrection"(Abu Dawood)

Once we have the proper intention, we must seek the proper means to complete this action. As so, to memorize the Qur’an properly, one must first learn to read it properly. Knowledge of the specific pronunciation of the Arabic letters (makhraj & sifat), and the grammatical rules (tajweed) are essential to fulfill this need. One might learn these from those who know, from teachers, from cassettes…etc., and should try their best to act upon this knowledge. Memorizing should be started only after one has mastered reading the Qur’an. Why memorize the Qur’an imperfectly, when there is a better way? Moreover, why not read the best of books, to the best of one’s ability? Perfection is key, and our resolve should be strong to master the recitation of the beautiful words that belong to Allah.
After learning to read the Qur’an properly, it is important to practice this knowledge. This can be done by continual recitation of the Qur’an till one is fluent with the reading, and can easily read any page of the Qur’an. This also means that the reader is familiar with the words and conventions of the language of the Qur’an; which makes memorizing the Qur’an much easier.
Once we have the proper intention, we must seek the proper means to complete this action. As so, to memorize the Qur’an properly, one must first learn to read it properly. Knowledge of the specific pronunciation of the Arabic letters (makhraj & sifat), and the grammatical rules (tajweed) are essential to fulfill this need. One might learn these from those who know, from teachers, from cassettes…etc., and should try their best to act upon this knowledge. Memorizing should be started only after one has mastered reading the Qur’an. Why memorize the Qur’an imperfectly, when there is a better way? Moreover, why not read the best of books, to the best of one’s ability? Perfection is key, and our resolve should be strong to master the recitation of the beautiful words that belong to Allah.

During the first trials of hifdh, one should verify their ability to memorize. Allah has created us all different in character, mind, form, color, traits…etc. and likewise has given everybody a different capacity to memorize. By determining your pace, you will be able to set reasonable goals for yourself. Though in the end, it won’t matter if you had more trouble than others when memorizing (you’ll actually earn more thawaab/reward for the extra effort), or that you were quick; what will really matter is the result.

The ability to memorize is a skill that can be developed, though this might take some patience and time. Starting to practice developing your memorizing skills by easy, short Surahs, and gradually progressing would be best. Many consider hifdh as something that develops on the way; you get better at it the more you do it, inshaAllah.

DURING HIFDH

As one diligently starts their first page, and finishes, then does the same thing the next day, and the next, and the next, and the next, and the next… for a year, or (usually) more, you might find yourself asking: “Is this ever going to end?” or, even worse, sometimes “What was I thinking?!” 

“…O ye who believe! Seek help with patient perseverance and prayer; for God is with those who patiently persevere…” (Surat-ul Baqarah, Verse 153)

The memorization does end, though with a continuous effort on your part. The continuous character of your effort depends a lot on patience, which in turn proves how much you really want to do hifdh. Just like any other type of education, hifdh requires time; though unlike many other types of education, hifdh deserves the time spent on it.

Another way to find patience in one’s self is to think of all the huffaz before you; they are proof to the fact that hifdh really does end (if you really start doubting!). Each day passed while doing hifdh is a ‘plus’, since each day passed is another day spent with the Qur’an, and another step closer to finishing your hifdh, inshaAllah.

“…Am I going to remember all these verses? Am I going to mess up? Am I going to fail again?” Are all typical questions that boggle the mind of a hafiz while/before/after memorizing. Sometimes just thinking about these types of questions will distract you to the point of making you ‘mess up’. Though, one must remember, even down to the last page, that Allah alone gives success. No matter how hard you try, or how little, it will be up to Allah to decide the outcome of your hifdh, how well you read your pages, and everything else in between. Therefore, we must put our trust in Him, for He is the best to be trusted.

“…If God helps you, none can overcome you: If He forsakes you, who is there, after that, that can help you? In God, then, let believers put their trust…” (Surat-u Aali `Imraan, Verse 160)

Following the sunnah of Rasulullah should be done by every Muslim, though in hifdh it plays an essential role in developing a daily schedule that will give the best results. The sunan hold a special meaning for huffaz during their hifdh: Waking up for tahajjud means revising pages (and making those hardcore supplications!), noon fiesta means refreshing mind, not eating too much guarantees not falling asleep while studying, sleeping right after Isha prayer ensures a wake mind to the following day of memorization, using a miswaak or toothbrush means showing mercy on your teacher (or who ever is going to listen to you)…etc. One should incorporate as many sunnahs as they can into their life (and especially schedule while doing hifdh), for they will see results blessed with barakah, as well as extra deeds inshaAllah. Following the sunnah during hifdh also aids in applying the sunnah to our daily lives after hifdh, where we have practiced it for so long, that the sunnah starts to become habit inshaAllah.

If we want to do a good deed, our means to achieve this good should be equally good as well. Considering hifdh as a good thing, what we eat, what we drink, what we use in order to attain hifdh should all be good a.k.a. halal. In order for our deeds to be accepted, it is very important to follow the ‘rules’. If we worship Allah and ask from his mercy with a stomach full of haram and haram thoughts in mind, it is more likely that we would earn Allah’s anger (rather than His mercy). If that doesn’t scare us already, it is also very well known that doing/eating haram is stated as a cause to forgetfulness:

A famous anecdote is reported from Imam Shafi'i (), where he relates his conversation with his teacher Wak'i saying:

I complained to Waki' about my bad memory
'Abandon sins', he instructed me
For memory is a bounty from Allah
and a bounty of Allah is not bestowed upon the sinner.

Thus, we should always turn away from haram means, and turn to halal means, so as to anticipate Allah’s mercy & bounty upon us. 

Concentration plays a vital role while memorizing, where it can determine how fast and well you memorize. It is best to study in an environment that is suited for you to be able to be focused on your hifdh, and has the least distractions. Noise/sound, presence of others, events, people, neighbors, parents, light/dark, ideas, plans for future…etc. can all be distractive to some and not to others. If your home does not provide such an environment where you can concentrate, then seeking other places (if you are able) for your hifdh would be best.

For one who is doing hifdh, their first priority should be their hifdh (of course after all faraaidh/obligatory deeds). While considering doing something besides their studies, they should approach this with concern over their hifdh; how will it affect your hifdh; will it be beneficial or be detrimental? This can be thought in terms of daily things (i.e. visiting a friend), or in general terms (i.e. starting college). The best for one who is doing hifdh is to ‘worry’ about their hifdh first; all other things should follow after it and be planned according to it, if one truly desires the optimum success possible.

The  importance of dua cannot be overly emphasized. Though we may make dua for ourselves while doing hifdh, we should ask for others (especially parents!) to make dua for us as well; for each du`a is a blessing for the one who makes it as well:

"Verily your Lord is the One modest and Generous, and when His servant raises his hands to Him in supplication, He is diffident (in some wordings, shy or hesitant) from returning them empty." (Ahmad, Abu Dawood, and Tirmidhi
vital role while memorizing, where it can determine how fast and well you memorize. It is best to study in an environment that is suited for you to be able to be focused on your hifdh, and has the least distractions. Noise/sound, presence of others, events, people, neighbors, parents, light/dark, ideas, plans for future…etc. can all be distractive to some and not to others. If your home does not provide such an environment where you can concentrate, then seeking other places (if you are able) for your hifdh would be best.

From giving emphasis to the care of relatives and neighbors, to praying shoulder to shoulder in congregation, we are constantly reminded that Islam calls for us to leave our narcissistic natures. We are to think for others as we think about ourselves, and to wish for them as we do for our own. This should principally be the way in hifdh as well. A  simple example: When struggling with a page one should remind ourselves of our Muslim brethren and think of others who might also be on that very same page and are facing the same difficulty. At such an instant, we should pray to Allah to help them as well as our selves, for Allah’s Messenger informs us that:

"The dua of a Muslim for his brother in his absence (i.e. the person is not present and is not aware that you are making dua for him) is answered. An angel is appointed to be at his side. Every time that he prays for some good for his brother, the angel says: "Ameen. And may the same be granted to you." (Muslim)

Whether you are doing hifdh at home, or at an institution, you must be careful when making friends with others. The people we choose to associate with will in any circumstance (this be hifdh or not) have an affect on us: either a positive effect, or a negative one. Our friendships may preoccupy our thoughts, they may determine how we spend our time, they may determine our emotional states, they may…etc. and how much they affect us will depend on our approach and acceptance. When doing something as important as hifdh one should choose to associate with those who will be beneficial to their studies, and not those who will only be a distraction. The preferred way is to make friendships where you both benefit from each other during hifdh, especially if this person is doing hifdh as well.

They say that  Shaitaan sits at the beginning, at the  middle, and at the end of the path of one who does hifdh, which really means that he’s constantly searching for moments/ways to sneak up on you and make you ‘slip’. Someone doing hifdh is a perfect ‘target’, and there are so many ways to ‘get at them’, because the process of hifdh takes a longer period of time, and depends on many factors. Why would Shaitaan go to someone who already has slipped? Of course, he’s going to seek others.

When the smallest things start to distract you (“why won’t that fly go away?!”), you start to develop acute senses (“…falammaa fasala… hey… why does the fan make so much noise?” or you notice dust on the shelves, and start searching for a cloth to dust…*), you start to think of things you normally never consider (“hmm… I wonder what the neighbors are up to?”), you miss doing things you really never do (“ufff… I wish I could just sleep all day”)…etc. remember that these are mostly waswasa (whisperings) from Shaitaan. In such cases one should remember that Shaitaan is an avowed enemy, and should seek refuge in Allah from him.

We must remember that we are not machines; our mind and body need breaks so we may be ‘recharged’ and refreshed. Sleeping at night, giving adequate breaks between pages and certain times, eating set courses without skipping a meal, taking a walk…etc. are more beneficial than pressuring ourselves to study when we really do need a break. Some students will avoid these necessities saying that it takes up their time, when in reality it will make the process easier, though it is hard to realize it at the moment. We must fulfill such needs of our body so we can make the best use of it, for our body is our ‘ship’ that will carry us in the ‘sea’ of hifdh.

Though we  may not be involved in other activities besides our studies during hifdh, watching TV/listening to music may create an environment where one feels mentally involved – our mind is usually preoccupied with what we have watched/listened, sometimes to the point where we have trouble concentrating and remaining focused (apart from the great probability that we might be watching/listening to not-so-halal things). The safest step is to avoid TV/music, as to minimize any possible distractions, especially during hifdh (for those who don’t do so anyway *thumbsup*).

In the case where what we watch and what we listen to is haram, this will most definitely assure Allah’s anger, where we can be sure to face difficulty in our life (and afterlife), as well as studies. How can one let their ears hear haram, their eyes see haram, their hearts desiring the haram...while at the same time listening and gazing upon the Qur’an?...

Finding a  balance in what we eat (and it’s quantity) will also be essential to our studies; if we eat too much we will feel sleepy, and if we eat too little we might not supply ourselves with sufficient energy needed for our studies. Our intention while eating should be to properly serve Allah, where then eating would become `ibadah inshaAllah.

The eating  of a certain number of nuts like walnuts and almonds, dried grapes, and honey are advised to strengthen one's ability to memorize, small quantity of sweets may be eaten to provide a ‘quick burst of energy’, while fruits are advised due to their nature; where they make you feel full, are ‘light’, and do not make you sleepy in contrast to eating ‘heavy’ foods such as meat, greasy foods and the like. The goal is to eat those which make you feel re-energized, not overwhelmed.

Judging  your progress should not be made by using others as your ‘meter’: if another person who is doing hifdh falls short on their studies, this doesn’t necessarily mean you have progressed, or when that person excels in their studies this doesn’t mean that you have necessarily fallen behind. It may be the case where you really are just going at the same pace. Thus using others as a meter is usually misleading; only you can be your own meter.

In some cases, you may hear of people completing hifdh in a few months, or someone finishing in as long as 10 years. One should not feel depressed or impressed at their own pace in such circumstances, but should be thankful to Allah for what they have been blessed with so far, and should avoid comparing themselves with others. `Ali is not `Umar, as `Aisha is not Fatima; we are who Allah has chosen us to be, and we should know ourselves and do our best to our own ability that He has blessed us with.

Informing others of our doings/progress in hifdh is a very delicate matter. We are informed that the Beloved of Allah seeked refuge in  Allah against nazar, commonly known as the ‘evil eye’. hifdh, especially to those who know anything about it, can be a very trying deed, though it is Allah who gives it only to whom He wills. Thus, a Muslim should attribute the deed of ‘hifdh’ first and foremost to Allah.

This being said one must include that the safest step is to avoid nazar, as well as riya (showing off) whenever possible. One should only talk about their doings in hifdh if there is a clear benefit in doing so (asking their advice, seeking their help, encouraging others…etc.), and to the right person. Though we should remember that a Muslim is encouraged to say “mashaAllah” when they see/hear something that pleases them.

Finding/developing/setting up the perfect  environment for hifdh can be very difficult. However, to go to an institution that has been specifically made to suite the study of hifdh is much more convenient and reliable. Trying to transform your house into a school is not only difficult but usually impossible when there are others that live with you as well. One cannot over-look the rights of other family members, and oblige them to comply with your ways. This could even be a sort of oppression for them, which should not be the case they associate with hifdh.

In an institution (in most cases), everything is set up so that your only worry is your hifdh, which is usually more than enough for one who is doing hifdh to be concerned about. It has a set and tested program, which will give you more of a sense of order and importance that is much needed to suite the continuous nature of hifdh. A place that ensures discipline is best, where each day is made use of to its full extent, and so is your ability, inshaAllah. Just as a farmer and a certain piece of land can determine the crops to come, the institution we go to can be a factor in determining the “quality” of our hifdh as well.

It is best to have your memorized pages  listened to by a former hafiz, if available. If not then someone who is well versed with the Qur’an should be seeked. Your contact with this teacher/listener should be well scheduled and orderly if you are not in an institution. However, if one is in an institution there will be teachers that will always be available at the set class time, and in some institutions these teachers are available at all times. This is another ‘plus’ to attending an institution.

How well you obey your teacher is synonymous with how well you do in your hifdh. The person who listens to your memorized pages knows your pages (and its quality) better than you do, thus knows what is best for your hifdh. The pace they advise you to follow, and any other thing they tell you to do will always be for your benefit; whether you follow what they say or shoot yourself in the foot is up to you. One should be thankful to Allah for their hifdh teacher, and should do their best to benefit from them and their experience.

It’s very  important to be persistent during hifdh; one should avoid ‘empty days’ in which they do not do their daily work/memorize their page(s). The more ‘slack time’ in between hifdh, is the more time you will spend later on trying to revise and strengthen your hifdh. In cases when the ‘going gets tough’ one should try the best they can, and at least progress in some degree; if they needed to prepare 5 pages, they should at least do 3, if they were supposed to do 10, they should at least try to do 6…etc. A little dars/class done is better than none. Thus, one should never give up on their studies, but should aim to complete at least a part of it. This type of determination usually helps in the end of the day when you realize that you really can do the left over 3-4 pages. Though, either way your priority is to never be at the same level a day -- each day should bring some form of progress in your hifdh; just as the Beloved cautioned us that one day should not be equal to the other in a Muslim’s life.

MORE TIPS

Since everything is in Allah’s hands, we can only turn to Him and ask Him to help us. A person who is doing hifdh should continually ask Allah to make the Qur’an easy for him/her to memorize, retain, and apply to one’s life. As Allah says:

“…When My servants ask you concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them): I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calls on Me: Let them also, with a will, Listen to My call, and believe in Me: That they may walk in the right way…” (Surat-ul Baqarah, Verse 186).

You must have the proper conviction (yaqeen) that your success is up to Allah alone.

- It’s best to use one/same copy of the Qur’an and always handle with wudhu, respect and love.

The act of memorization takes place with the combination of many elements, such as hearing and seeing. The letters become familiar to a person by their position on the page, by it’s relative position to other words, and by many other ways, though we may not be very conscious of them. The particular print/script, colors, font size, grammatical punctuation, stops within verses… etc. may differ from one Qur’an to another, as well. To avoid confusion in this matter, it is advised to stick to the one same Qur’an while doing hifdh. This is also good for keeping track/recording of mistakes made (to mark them lightly with a pencil) because if you don’t know your mistakes, you won’t be able to correct them.

In addition, your Qur’an should be your companion (especially during hifdh), as you will also be spending your day with it more than any other person or object. Thus, one must always handle it with care, love, and respect (i.e. adab & wudhu). As such, one must constantly remind themselves that this book is not any ordinary book, but is a book from Allah that contains His words, which is a blessing and guidance for us all.

To make the best use of time, one must keep track of it; technically speaking for hifdh, there should be a balance in the distribution of time for each page. Therefore, you must not spend unnecessary time on one page, then not have enough time for the other pages. While studying one usually forgets about the time, though having a clock in the place of study can prevent such a case. Your hifdh is dependent on how well you make use of your time. Using a clock is also helpful in setting goals for your speed; where you tell yourself you’re aiming at 30 minutes for a page, and by time, you will be able to lower your time per page, inshaAllah.

When we memorize a new page, we must memorize it in a way that when we read it from memory we are “confident” of what we read – we shouldn’t excessively stop  here and there, mix/jump the verses, add/delete words…etc. which usually shows that we haven’t memorized our page as strong as we should have. When memorizing a new page one must try to do it to perfection, at least to the best of their ability. If it isn’t strong, it will be very hard to revise the page later on when you return to it. Especially if we have mistakes, because it is harder to fix what one has memorized, where in some cases fixing mistakes is even harder than it was to memorize the page in the first place. Finally, if we memorize the pages/verses/words of the Qur’an as best as we can, it will be easy for us to retain it, and harder to forget, inshaAllah.

The act of memorization takes place with the combination of many elements, such as hearing  and seeing. We can especially see this to be true when it comes to songs – we all can probably still sing songs we heard in our childhood. The Qur’an has its own “rhythm” that appeals to the ear (and heart...), which makes it easier to ‘pick up’ and memorize. Though, of course, we need to hear ourselves for this to occur, so we should read in a volume at least enough for ourselves to hear (make sure not to bother others if you’re memorizing in the same room!). This will most definitely speed-up the memorization process, inshaAllah.

With the rhythmic tone of the Qur’an one is tempted to physically keep up with this tone i.e. to sway back and forth. Some take this to the extra step, where entering upon a room full of huffaz (plural of ‘hafiz’) studying can  actually be scary for the first time visitor! Some claim this to help them memorize and/or see this as a sign of ikhlaas (sincerity), because it seems as if one is deeply engrossed in the Qur’an, though the sunnah suggests otherwise.

While memorizing one might find it easy to read through the verses quickly; though this shouldn’t be too quick:

“…and recite the Qur'an in slow, measured rhythmic tones.” (Surat-ul Muzzammil, Verse 4) 

One should be able to understand what you are reading, and actually be able to follow it. It is also commonly known that when one recites very quickly, they have trouble reading in a slow pace, because they often jump words, or don’t emphasize them; but to read slowly one has to really know the letters, and the specific vowel sounds of the letters. Thus if one memorizes in the style of tarteel recitation, their hifdh will be stronger, and they won’t have to rush through the verses (because they really aren’t too sure about them).

Our initial mindset while starting  something new will always affect the outcome of this new activity, and can be a mirror to the results of this activity. If we start something with the mindset that “it is hard”, we will be biased in feeling it to be hard, but if we start it with the approach that “it is easy”, it really does become easy. This applies to hifdh as well; if you start a new page by thinking that it is hard (even if the page is really easy) you won’t be able to help but believe yourself.

More often, this negative opinion usually comes from a swift glance onto the page (“Oh noo… look at those long words… the font size seems to have drastically shrunk!”) or from the opinions of other’s who have already memorized that page (“Sis, that was the hardest page ever!”). It is best to stay away from judging pages by a glance and/or the opinions of others. That’s why one should always start a new page with much du`a, and the thought that “it is easy; Allah has made it easy, and will inshaAllah make it easier for me to memorize.”

The initial memorizing process should always start with the continuous recitation of the lesson/lines for sabak or page from the mushaf (by reading from the Qur’an, not from memory). This can be repeated till one can swiftly read through the words and is familiar with them; some advise the page to be read at least 15 times, some say 11, some say 20…etc, though it should be done at least till one is comfortable with the sabak or page. This will drastically reduce the chances of making mistakes/memorizing incorrectly, and will speed up the memorization process, inshaAllah. Break down longer ayahs by memorizing them in small parts, repeating all parts through memory before starting a new part. Before memorizing a new ayah, ALWAYS recite the lesson/sabak from the beginning through memory. Meaning: Do Not start memorizing ayah # 3 unless you can fluently recite ayahs 1 and 2 of your lesson/sabak; Do Not start memorizing ayah # 4 unless you can fluently recite ayahs 1, 2, and 3 of your lesson/sabak; Do Not start memorizing ayah # 5 unless you can fluently recite ayahs 1, 2, 3, and 4 of your lesson/sabak …….

Generally, after continually  reading the-page-to-be-memorized from the mushaf (via looking at the page from the Qur’an), it is very useful to get hold of a translation and go over the meanings of the specific verses one by one before starting to memorize. This helps in keeping one concentrated on the verses, helps to realize the subtle differences between similar verses, and greatly helps to organize the sequence of the verses. Though after testing this, one might find this confusing, and not of much help; then that person should refrain from doing this before memorizing, but should do this after memorizing, to at least know what they have memorized (especially if one doesn’t know Arabic well). If you have a teacher, consult him/her first!

Most huffaz  memorize a new page of the Qur’an in different ways -- that is just like the analogy with the fingers, where each finger is connected to the palm of the hand: though the methods (fingers) are different they all end up at the same place (the palm). One person’s method may suit you better than another person’s method, thus inquiring about how people memorize will aid you in developing your own method. This step will most likely give you a head start in your hifdh, inshaAllah; just as it is easier to grow plants on a field that has already been plowed, and prepared for growing, than it is to start from scratch.

By practice, as well as from inquiry, one will be able to tell which memorization method suits themselves better. Sometimes it will be a combination of others’ methods, or a totally new method; it is best to follow a method that works best for you, though this may take some time and practice to develop.
When you memorize something you are most likely not going to see your own mistakes (if you do make any) more less even realize that you’re making a mistake, even though your Qur’an might be right in front of you and your mistake right ‘under your nose’. Thus, it is highly recommended to have someone listen to your page while you recite it to that person from memory, and they follow along from your Qur’an. Some teachers will assign ‘buddies’ to ensure students do this, so they fix any mistakes before it comes to them, where a couple of mistakes may make you ‘fail’ and you have to re-do your lesson (and ‘waste’ a day due to mistakes that could’ve been avoided). So to avoid such a thing and to avoid simple/silly mistakes, one should always ask someone (preferably who is a hafiz) to listen to them before the teacher listens to them, or before going on to other pages.
An alternative to reading the page continuously, some listen to the page a multiple number of times, and read along with the reciter. Those who learn better from listening can find this very helpful, as it will familiarize the verses and will prevent any possible errors you may have made prior to listening to the reciter. Though for this to be true, one must pick the reciter they will listen to carefully, because you will in general read just like him; you’ll pick up any of his mistakes, and in most cases, his style of recitation also.
For some the time of day is a great factor in memorizing. Some prefer memorizing new pages early in the morning, or during the tahajjud/sahar (the last 1/3 of the night, before dawn) time, stating that their mind is ‘fresh and clear’, and ready to memorize. Some say the opposite: that they feel sleepy at that time and prefer the night-time, especially at midnight. And for some the time of day does not matter at all. We all are unique, thus we will differ in our preference of time. However, one should be consistent, and should be able to maneuver their program to fit into one day. Therefore, they may separate a specific time to memorize a new page, but they should also separate adequate time to revise their other page/s. Developing a schedule (and following it) would be best to ensure the equal distribution and good use of time.
Just as your ability can be developed before hifdh, it can be further enhanced while doing hifdh. You generally memorize quicker/better by each chapter of the Qur’an, but this progress most recognizably occurs when one has reached the mid-line of their hifdh (memorized half of the Qur'an). Then, especially toward the end, your tongue seems to read on it’s own accord, and with quite ease (you don’t even have to concentrate as hard). At last, even though it took some time or you didn’t notice in the beginning, you truly start to feel that Allah has made the Qur’an easy to remember

MISCONCEPTIONS

Just because you may not understand the Qur’an without a translation, doesn’t mean you can’t read it or memorize it. It would be a great bonus if one knew Arabic while doing hifdh,  though many non-Arabic speakers start studying Arabic after memorizing the Qur’an.

Age is not a determining factor in hifdh, but naseeb, determination, and effort are stronger factors.

Many turn away from hifdh with the thought that  they will never be able to fulfill their responsibility of living the Qur’an to it’s full extent, which they’ll have to do when ‘they memorize the Qur’an’. The fact is that every Muslim must live by the Qur’an; it’s just that a hafiz is doing a bonus by memorizing it.

No one but you (and your teacher if you have one) can truly  determine your capacity; and the gravest error that is done in this respect is done by comparing yourself to others. You will almost always have different capabilities than others, and this will be true in hifdh as well. So just because you can’t memorize as fast as another person doesn’t mean you can or cannot do hifdh.

Saying that the Qur’an is hard would be a grave mistake, because Allah (54:17) says: 

“…And We have indeed made the Qur'an easy to understand and remember: then is there any that will receive admonition?” (Surat-ul Qamar, Verses 17, 22, 32, & 40)

Doing something for the first time, like starting to memorize, might seem hard at the beginning, but by time, inshaAllah, it will become easy to you and you will eventually get used to it -- and be left amazed (and ever so thankful) to experience Allah’s blessing stated in this verse come to life.

Allah,  undoubtedly, is the One who has given us everything, and is the Owner of all things. Thus, our mind, tongue, eyes, fingers, hands, voice, heart…etc. all come from Him, and we are able to use them only by His will. If He doesn’t allow us to use them for hifdh, we won’t be able to do anything about it, thus saying/thinking that it is us who is doing hifdh (and being ‘full’ of ourselves), would be wrong, but to say/think that Allah is allowing us to do it, and that we are able to do it only by His will, would be the true case. Thus, one must always be thankful to Allah, as all praises are due to Him

Practical Guide To Memorizing The Qur’an

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