The first ingredient to memorise the Qur'ān is to be patient and determined. Sticking to your memorisation capacity is essential. It could be anything and at any level.
Reciting and repeating until it is solid is the foundation of the Badrānī method. What makes this system unusual is the system of repetition it uses over a weeks period (unlike other methods).
People ask how many times should I repeat something. This method provides you with a basic template.
How does the Badrānī method work
Where does the name come from? It's named after the person that used this to memorise the Qur'ān. Here's how it works:
On day one, you will make hifz of your determined quantity through repetition (looking and without).
On day two, you will repeat yesterday’s 5x (without looking, but if you struggle to, look then to review and try more) and memorise today’s portion.
On day three, you will repeat day one 10x, day two 5x, add new hifz for the day.
On day four, you will repeat day one 3x, day two 10x, day three 5x and add new hifz.
On day five, you can continue or review the week. If you continue repeat day one 1x, day two 3x, day three 10x, day four 5x and add new hifz.
On day six, you repeat day one 1x, day two 1x, day three 3x, day four 10x, day five 5x and add new.
On day seven, you review the entire week. You can repeat this 7 times. You can do looking and the rest without, use your salah times, or other different periods of the day to review.
This is the system!
How could you apply it?
Let’s suggest a 10-year plan to memorise the Qur'ān.
For example.
You take a 15-lined mus’haf,
Do 3 lines a day,
1 page a week,
4-5 pages a month,
60 pages a year,
Meaning 3 juz’ a year.
You would complete memorisation of the Qur’an within 10-11 years.
How could long-term review be done?
For the first ten weeks, continue to memorise a page a week and repeat each page as you go along.
For the second ten weeks as you reach your first juz’, then repeat the ten pages alongside the new pages.
For the third set of ten weeks, repeat the 1.5 juz’ alongside the new pages.
For the fourth set of ten weeks, start to alternate between the 2 juz’ with one a day alongside the new pages.
In this way, you can continue.
There are many ways to go about doing this in accordance with your context. The key to this method is in its repetition system of 5, 10, 3, 1, 7.
This is an interesting approach especially for what we call recent memorisation (sabki). I often get asked how many times you need to repeat sabki or manzil/dhor. There's not a single answer. This method of repetition gives some form of structure to it.
It may prompt in you some ideas or thoughts. Hope it brings benefit to at least one of you, bi-idhnillāh. Wa min Allāhi'tawfīq
Allāh grant blessing!
