How can you memorize a Juz' of Qur'ān every ten days perfectly and bypass the problem of forgetfulness? Not everyone can! But there is a method that you can try.
Our brains focus on the present and gradually forget previously stored or memorised information unless it is reviewed or recalled on a regular basis. The tongue begins to automatically utter what's memorized the most and recalled the most, and it errs in what it does not.
The following method focuses on overcoming the problem of forgetting memorization, which is primarily caused by a focus solely on memorising without a review of the old. This is also a cause of mixing things up, confusion over the similarities, and forgetting the following verses from the next page.
Memorize the Qur'ān in 1 year (10-12 months)
You should be aware that my advice is to always focus on quality rather than speed or quantity. To focus on your own strengths and capabilities. Memorizing in a year is not realistic for the majority of us. So proceed with caution. This is for those that want to memorise the Qur'ān by doing:
- a Juz' every 10 days
- 3 Juz' every month
- memorising the entire Qur'ān in 10 months
- 2 months of review and consolidation
- can spare an estimated 3-4 hours a day (via 3 sittings in a day)
The method is a unique system that uses 3 different levels.
Level 1: Reciting a Juz' by looking (days 1 to 3)
This is priming a Juz' for 3 days.
For 3 days, you first focus on reciting a complete Juz' once in the morning, once in the afternoon, and once at night. So the same Juz' throughout the day by looking. This would mean that you will have recited the same Juz' 9 times in total across the 3 days.
Level 2: Memorisation (days 4 to 7)
On day 4, you will begin the memorisation of the Juz' you recited during the last 3 days (9 times) for the next 4 days (days 4 to 7). This means you will memorise a quarter daily!
What do you do on day 4?
Begin recitation by looking at the first 5 pages of the Juz' 3 times in the morning. Then do the same 5 pages, again by looking 3 times, a number of hours later and in the night. This means you will have recited the same 5 pages in total 9 times throughout the day.
When you are reciting the final and 9th time, don't stop at the end of the 5th page, recite the entire Juz'. This ensures you are reviewing the remaining quarters. You can begin to recall from memory throughout the process as well.
What do you do on day 5?
In the morning, you will need to first revise the first 5 pages that you did yesterday. Then just like yesterday, recite by looking at the second set of 5 pages of the Juz' 3 times in the morning. Then do the same 5 pages, again by looking 3 times, a number of hours later and in the night. This means you will have recited the same 5 pages in total 9 times throughout the day.
When you are reciting the final and 9th time, don't stop at the end of the 5th page, recite the entire Juz'. This ensures you are reviewing the remaining quarters.
What do you do on day 6?
In the morning, you will need to first revise the first 10 pages (two quarters). Then just like before, recite by looking at the third 5 pages of the Juz' 3 times in the morning. Then do the same 5 pages, again by looking 3 times, a number of hours later and in the night. This means you will have recited the same 5 pages in total 9 times throughout the day.
When you are reciting the final and 9th time, don't stop at the end of the 5th page, recite the entire Juz'. This ensures you are reviewing the remaining quarters.
What do you do on day 7?
In the morning, you will need to first revise the first 15 pages (three quarters). Then just like before, recite by looking at the final 5 pages of the Juz' 3 times in the morning. Then do the same 5 pages, again by looking 3 times, a number of hours later and in the night. This means you will have recited the same 5 pages in total 9 times throughout the day.
Level 3: Consolidating the memorisation (days 8 to 10)
For the final level, you can't look at the Mus'haf for your repetition any longer. This final stage is working on your memory and recall.
You will return to do what you had done in level one, where you focus on reciting a complete Juz' once in the morning, once in the afternoon, and once at night. This means in these 2 days, you will need to revise the Juz' 6 times.
On day 10, recite the Juz' in the morning by looking and the rest without looking.
This means that you will repeat a Juz' at least 30 times in 10 days.
Can you use this method to memorise other amounts?
Yes, you can use this method to memorise a quarter or half a Juz' in 10 days instead of a Juz'. You would only need to make adjustments to wherever you need to recite a Juz', instead recite the amount you are targetting for the 10 days. So for example, if it's half a Juz':
- Days 1-3: Recite half the Juz' once morning, after, and at night.
- Days 4-7: Recite 2.5 pages each day instead of 5, and then half the Juz' on the 7th day.
- Days 8-10: Recite the entire half again just like days 1-3 but over the two days.
How do you revise a Juz' after memorising it?
An important principle in revision is the idea of balance between revising by looking and without looking. When revising without looking, you need the means to check your recitation for any mistakes. The best way is to have a teacher or someone that can listen to you and who has the required levels to find mistakes. Likewise, revising by looking doesn't test your memorisation.
Using the above method, after you have memorised a Juz', you will need to revise the Juz' twice every 10 days. Once on day 15 and once on day 20.
So after you have memorised the Juz' by day 10, begin to memorise the next Juz' on day 11. When you reach day 15, revise the first Juz' and when you reach the 20th day, you will revise the first Juz' again. When you move onto the 3rd the Juz', likewise, you'll revise Juz' once on day 25. Revision should be done without looking, to the extent possible.
What happens after you have memorised 3 ajzā'? Assign a day for revision. Revise the first Juz' once in the 10 days and the second Juz' and third Juz' twice in the 10 days.
Using the method for revision
If you don't use this method for memorisation, you could use it for revision. Not only would it be quicker (when compared to memorisation) but it would strengthen your Hifz. Remember, this method primarily aims at dealing with the issues of forgetting your memorisation. You've already learnt that the core basis of this method is to take a set of 10 days which you use to memorise the amount you seek to complete.
This method can be useful solely for revision itself. If you're struggling with weak portions or weak Juz', or if you've forgotten large portions of your Hifz, you can use the 10-day system to revise in the same way.
May Allāh purify our intentions and make our memorisation easier for us!
