6. Committing to Memory:
If the Qur’an is to be recited as it
was recited by the Holy Prophet (SAW), we have to learn by heart as much of the
Holy Book as
possible. Unfortunately, the
practice of memorizing portions
of the Qur’an for long recitations in the night prayer has almost died out.
However, the custom of memorizing the whole Qur’an still exists.
Naturally, for this a start has to be made in childhood when the question of understanding the Qur’an does not arise, but even this custom is losing ground. Memorizing the whole Qur’an has unluckily been left to a class of poor and down-trodden people in our society who adopt it as a profession. This was not the case till recent years. In the pre-partition days, the custom of memorizing the entire Qur’an was quite common even among respectable, well-to-do families, and in some cities in undivided India almost every Muslim family had at least one hafiz (i.e., one who has learned the whole Qur’an by heart). In those days, it was considered to be discreditable on the part of a family not to have a hafiz among its members.
Naturally, for this a start has to be made in childhood when the question of understanding the Qur’an does not arise, but even this custom is losing ground. Memorizing the whole Qur’an has unluckily been left to a class of poor and down-trodden people in our society who adopt it as a profession. This was not the case till recent years. In the pre-partition days, the custom of memorizing the entire Qur’an was quite common even among respectable, well-to-do families, and in some cities in undivided India almost every Muslim family had at least one hafiz (i.e., one who has learned the whole Qur’an by heart). In those days, it was considered to be discreditable on the part of a family not to have a hafiz among its members.
No doubt, memorizing the Qur’an is a
noble tradition. It is a part of the Divine dispensation for the preservation
of the Qur’an and should be maintained with renewed vigor and enthusiasm.
However, committing the whole Qur’an to memory is not within the reach of every
person. What I wish to stress here is that every one of us should try his
utmost to learn maximum portion of the Qur’an by heart so that he may be able
to recite it to his Lord, standing before Him in prayer. This is the essential
pre-requisite for reciting the Book of Allah (SWT) as it ought to be recited
and as it was recited by the Holy Prophet (SAW) himself, but it is a pity that
we have lost eagerness and fervor
for memorizing the
Qur’an.
Even men of religious learning among us have grown quite negligent in this matter. The condition of even those who lead the congregational prayers in mosques is no better. Most of them seem to have become contented with a few short Surahs they have once committed to memory and go on repeating them in prayers. Surely, it is a sad state of affairs which must be corrected. All of us must develop in our hearts a deep love for the Qur’an, look upon the part of the Holy Book we have memorized as our real and most valuable asset in life and make a continuous effort at increasing and enhancing it. Thus shall we be able to experience the blissful joy to tarteel and provide for our souls greater and greater amount of sustenance in the best possible form.
Even men of religious learning among us have grown quite negligent in this matter. The condition of even those who lead the congregational prayers in mosques is no better. Most of them seem to have become contented with a few short Surahs they have once committed to memory and go on repeating them in prayers. Surely, it is a sad state of affairs which must be corrected. All of us must develop in our hearts a deep love for the Qur’an, look upon the part of the Holy Book we have memorized as our real and most valuable asset in life and make a continuous effort at increasing and enhancing it. Thus shall we be able to experience the blissful joy to tarteel and provide for our souls greater and greater amount of sustenance in the best possible form.
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