I Want to Memorize the Quran: Where Do I Start?
Interest in memorizing the Noble Quran has grown noticeably in recent years, both in person and online. That is something we are glad to see, because memorizing the Quran is an honor beyond compare. It is the speech of our Lord, glorified and exalted, and its reward is well known to Muslims. We have already written about the virtues of memorizing the Quran, so feel free to go back and read it:
The Virtue of Memorizing the Quran, and Is It Obligatory for Every Muslim?
Now to the question at hand.
Where should I begin?
Should you start with Al-Fatihah and move forward through Al-Baqarah, or start from Surat An-Nas and work backwards? The answer really depends on you.
If you already know some of Al-Baqarah and Al Imran and only need a light review, or if you simply memorize quickly, it is best to start with Al-Baqarah, for two reasons.
First, this is the natural order of the Mushaf. It opens with Al-Fatihah, followed by the Seven Long Surahs, then the Mi'un, the Mufassal and the Mathani, and finally the short surahs.
Second, there is the great virtue of memorizing Al-Baqarah and Al Imran. Abu Umamah al-Bahili (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
اقرَؤوا القُرآنَ؛ فإنَّه يَأتي شَفيعًا يومَ القيامةِ لصاحبِه، اقرَؤوا الزَّهراوَينِ: البَقرةَ وآلَ عِمرانَ؛ فإنَّهما يَأتِيانِ يومَ القيامةِ كأنَّهما غَيايتانِ، أو كأنَّهما غَمامتانِ، أو كأنَّهما فِرقانِ مِن طَيرٍ صَوافَّ يُحاجَّانِ عن أصحابِهما، اقرَؤوا سورةَ البَقرةِ؛ فإنَّ أخذَها بَركةٌ، وتَركَها حَسرةٌ، ولا تَستطيعُها البَطَلةُ.
The Quran will also intercede for the one who memorized it, with these two surahs going ahead of it. An-Nawwas ibn Sam'an (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
يُؤتى بالقُرآنِ يَومَ القيامةِ وأهلِه الذينَ كانوا يَعمَلونَ به، تَقدُمُه سورةُ البَقَرةِ وآلُ عِمرانَ، وضَرَبَ لهما رَسولُ اللهِ صلَّى اللهُ عليه وسلَّم ثَلاثةَ أمثالٍ ما نَسيتُهنَّ بَعدُ؛ قال: كَأنَّهما غَمامَتانِ، أو ظُلَّتانِ سَوداوانِ، بينَهما شَرقٌ، أو كَأنَّهما حِزقانِ مِن طَيرٍ صَوافَّ، تُحاجَّانِ عن صاحِبِهما.
Starting with what is easiest
If you would rather begin with what is easiest, you are in good company. Many students, both men and women, prefer to start from Surat An-Nas and work backwards. Most teachers, and especially those who teach young boys and girls, begin with An-Nas, then Al-Falaq, then Al-Ikhlas, because these surahs are so easy to memorize. There is goodness in that approach too, God willing.
How do we memorize the Quran?
Many young people who want to memorize the Quran also ask this question. We have answered it before, but in short:
Repeat each verse several times while listening to reciters you love.
Choose reciters approved by Egyptian Quran Radio, such as Sheikh Mahmoud Khalil Al-Hussary, Abdul Basit Abdus-Samad, Al-Banna, Al-Minshawi and Mustafa Ismail. By Allah's grace, their recitation teaches you the rules of tajweed and trains you to recite correctly.
Link each verse to the one before it. Every time you memorize a new verse, recite everything you have memorized from the beginning.
Be consistent. Memorize a fixed portion every day without missing a single day, and you will memorize and catch up on what you have missed, God willing.
Memorizing from home ?
If you want to memorize the Quran and are asking yourself, "How can I do it from home?", we will help you, God willing. At Dar Ibn Abbas for Online Quran Memorization, we have experience and an unbroken chain of transmission (sanad) going back to the Prophet (peace be upon him).
