how to memorise the

1. The Meaning of the Word ‘Ahruf’

The word ahruf is the plural of harf. Linguistically, ‘harf’ has a number of meanings, including:

1) ‘A letter or a word.’ Al-huruf al-abjadiyya, for example, means the letters of the alphabet.

2) ‘The border, the edge of something, the brink.’ For example, Allaah says,

“And among mankind is he who worships Allaah (as it were) upon a harf (i.e., upon the very edge, or in doubt)” [22:11]

3) ‘To swerve from the truth, to distort.’ Allaah says concerning the Jews,

“…they have displaced (lit., yaharifuna) words from their right places…” [4:46]

Its exact definition in Qur’aanic sciencs is the subject matter of this chapter, and therefore cannot be defined at this point. However, a temporary definition maybe given as follows: The ahruf are the various ways that the verses of the Qur’aan are read. Imaam al-Qurtubee (d. 671 A.H.) said, “Every variation of a word in the Qur’aan is said to be a harf. So, for example, when we say the harf of Ibn Mas’ood, it means the way that Ibn Mas’ood used to recite that verse or word.” (1)

Most English authors translate ahruf as ‘modes’ or ‘dialects.’ However, in this book the word will be left in Arabic since the meaning is broader than these translated words.

II. The Number of Ahruf of the Qur’aan

The Qur’aan was revealed in seven ahruf. The proof for this is found in many narrations from the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam), so much so that it reaches the level of mutawaatir. (2) Jalaal ad-Deen as-Suyootee lists twenty-one Companions who narrated that the Qur’aan was revealed in seven ahruf. (3) Some of these narrations are as follows:

1) Ibn ‘Abbaas reported that the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said, “Jibreel recited the Qur’aan to me in one harf, and I recited it back to him, but I requested him to increase (the number of harf) and he continued to increase it for me, until we stopped at seven ahruf.” Ibn Shihaab az-Zuhree (d. 124 A.H.), one of the narrators of the hadeeth, said, “It has reached me that these seven ahruf are essentially one (in meaning), they do not differ about what is permitted or forbidden.” (4)

2) ‘Ubay ibn Ka’ab reported that the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) was once on the outskirts of Madeenah (near the tribe of Banoo Ghifaar) when Jibreel came to him and said, “Allaah has commanded that you recite the Qur’aan to your people in one harf.” The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) replied, “I ask Allaah’s pardon and forgiveness! My people are not capable of doing this!” Jibreel then came again and said, “Allaah has commanded you to recite the Qur’aan to your people in two ahruf.” The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) again replied, “I ask Allaah’s pardon and forgiveness! My people are not capable of doing this!” Jibreel then came a third time and said, “Allaah has commanded you to recite the Qur’aan to your people in three ahruf.” The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) replied for a third time, “I ask Allaah’s pardon and forgiveness! My people are not capable of doing this!” At last, Jibreel came for the fourth time, and said, “Allaah has commanded you to recite the Qur’aan to your people in seven ahruf, and in whichever harf they recite, they would be right. (5)″

3) ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab narrated, “I was sitting in the masjid when I heard Hishaam ibn Hakeem recite Soorah al-Furqaan. I was almost about the jump on him in his prayer, but I waited until he finished, and then grabbed him by his garment and asked him, ‘Who taught you to recite in such a manner?’” He replied, ‘It was the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) himself!’ I responded, ‘You are mistaken, for indeed I learnt this soorah from the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) and it was different from your recitation!’ Therefore, I dragged him to the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) and complained to him that Hishaam had recited Soorah al-Furqaan in a manner different from what he (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) had taught me. At this, the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) told me to let go of Hishaam, and asked him to recite Soorah al-Furqaan. Hishaam recited the Soorah in the same way I had heard him before. When he finished, the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said, ‘It was revealed this way.’ He then asked me to recite the same soorah. When I had finished, he (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said, ‘It was (also) revealed this way. Indeed, the Qur’aan has been revealed in seven different ahruf, so recite whichever one is easy for you.’” (6)

4) In a story similar to ‘Umar’s, ‘Ubay ibn Ka’ab also heard two people reciting the Qur’aan in a manner different from what he had learnt. After some discussion, both parties went to the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) and recited the same portion to him. He (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) approved of both parties’ recitations. At this point, Ubay narrates, “…there occurred in my mind a sort of denial and doubt that did not exist even in the time of Jaahilliyah (before Islaam)! When the Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) saw how I was affected, he struck my chest, whereupon I started sweating, and felt as though I were looking at Allaah in fear! Then the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said, ‘O Ubay! A message was sent to me to recite the Qur’aan in one harf, but I requested (Allaah) to make things easy on my nation. A second message came that I should recite the Qur’aan in two ahruf, but I again made the same request. I was then ordered to recite the Qur’aan in seven ahruf.’” (7)

5) Ubay ibn Ka’ab narrates that once the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) met Jibreel, and sais, “O Jibreel! I have been sent to an illiterate nation. Among them are old and young men and women, and those who have never read any writing!” Jibreel answered him, “O Muhammad, the Qur’aan has been revealed in seven ahruf!” (8)

There are many other hadeeth that confirm that the Qur’aan was revealed in seven ahruf, but these narrations will suffice for the present discussion.

Footnotes:

1. Ubaydaat, p. 153.

2. A mutawaatir hadeeth is one that is reported by a large number of narrators in every stage of the chain, so much so that they could not all be mistaken or agree upon a lie.

3. as-Suyootee, vol. 1, p. 45.

4. Narrated by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim

5. Narrated by Muslim.

6. Narrated by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim.

7. Narrated by Muslim

8. Narrated by at-Tirmidhee

Extracted from ‘An Introduction to the Sciences of the Qur’aan’

The science of Tajweed can be divided into three main areas;

1. Knowledge and correct application of the articulation points of the Arabic letters (known as makhaarij)
2. Knowledge and correct application of the characteristics of the letters (known as sifaat)
3. And knowledge of the rules to be applied to each letter when reciting based on the letter/s that precede it or come after it.

Therefore we can see that two thirds of Tajweed is based on perfecting the pronunciation of the letters of the Arabic alphabet. Even if someone doesn’t know the rules of recitation, understanding the knowledge of makhaarij and sifaat goes a long way towards improving your recitation and dramatically changes it. The only way to really acquire and master this knowledge is to study it under someone who is qualified (i.e. has an ijaazah in tajweed) as you can hear from them exactly how it should sound and they can listen to you and pinpoint the exact errors you are making on an individual basis and can direct you to how to rectify your mistakes. Native Arab speakers who have not studied Tajweed still make many mistakes in articulating the letters.

Perfecting makhaarij can take longer for some than others and most people find themselves struggling repeatedly with certain letters such as the letter ض which is without a doubt the most trouble-some letter for the majority of Qur’aan students. The key is to not give up and to practice as often as possible. Listen attentively to the qualified recitors we mentioned in a previous post, and pay attention to the sound of the letters. With time, hard work and du’aa, it will become easy for you InshaaAllaah.

We are currently working on a project to produce a poster in the English language that demonstrates visually the articulation points of the letters. We’re also working on translating a series of videos by the Eminent Shaykh Ayman Rushdi Swayd in which he discusses extensively the topic of makhaarij. We hope to make these available for all the readers of this blog InshaaAllaah very soon.

In the meantime, we have found some good material online that can help start you off. The first is a set of visual images similar to the ones we are working on for the poster.

Secondly, there is an excellent series of podcasts online by Khaled Bouchafaa on the makhaarij of the letters in English. These can all be downloaded and viewed from his website at the following link:

http://tajweedinenglish.com/watch-the-video/watch-the-video/watch-makharij-videos.html

There is also a good video on youtube that you can listen to and hear what the Arabic letters should sound like. Please note the order in which the letters have been recited in the video is not what you normally see and has been deliberately ordered in this way to group togethers of similar articulation points together.

Finally, here is a useful flash application designed by a brother. Please note though that the illustrations are incorrect for the following letters;  ج , ح , د , ر , ش , ص , ض , ط , ظ , ع , ك

One of the most powerful tools to aid your memorisation is du’aa (supplicating to Allaah). You should make du’aa to Allaah and ask him to make this task easy for you, to help you to grasp the Qur’aan in your heart, to enable you to ponder upon its verses, understand and implement them and to purify your soul and adorn you with the character of the Qur’aan.

Allaah, Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa, says in the Qur’aan:

وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُواْ لِي وَلْيُؤْمِنُواْ بِي لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ

And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad) concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor). So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led aright. (Al-Baqarah 2:186)

He also said in Soorah Ghaafir,

وَقَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِي سَيَدْخُلُونَ جَهَنَّمَ دَاخِرِينَ

And your Lord said: “Invoke Me, [i.e. believe in My Oneness] (and ask Me for anything) I will respond to your (invocation). Verily! Those who scorn My worship [i.e. do not invoke Me, and do not believe in My Oneness] they will surely enter Hell in humiliation!” (Ghaafir 40:60)

Indeed the promise of Allaah is True and unlike the creation, He will never let you down. So here is your creator, calling out to you to ask Him of His bounties and favours and condemns those who do not ask of Him. Contemplate on these verses and realise the extent of His Mercy to His Creation.

In an authentic narration, the Messenger of Allaah informs us that anyone who raises his/her hands up in supplication, Allaah is shy to return His slaves empty-handed [Aboo Daawood (2/78), at-Tirmidhee (5/557), Ibn Maajah (2/1271) and Ibn Hajar said its chain was good].

From the beauty of our religion and the perfect example set by the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, is that we have at our disposal hundreds of supplications that can be used for every situation and action in our daily lives so that our hearts are always connected to Allaah and His Rememberance is always on our tongues. Memorising the Qur’aan is no different. We have compiled for you a list of supplications to use in your prayers.

It is beyond the scope of this post to discuss the etiquettes of du’aa in detail but we would like to briefly mention that there are certain blessed times when one’s supplications are more likely to be answered. Of these blessed times are:

• The last third of the night
• Whilst in sujood (prostration)
• Between the adhaan and Iqaamah
• During rainfall
• An hour on Friday (the strongest opinion being that it is the last hour of Salaatul-‘Asr)
• Whilst drinking Zamzam water
• On laylatul-Qadr (the Night of Power)
• On the Day of ‘Arafah (in ‘Arafah)
• During the month of Ramadhaan
• When one is travelling
• Whilst one is fasting

Etc…and there are many many more but these are just a few.

The supplications….

اللهم علمني ما ينفعني، وانفعني بما علمتني، وزدني علماً

Allaahumma ‘allimnee maa yanfa’unee wa yanfa’unee bi maa ‘allamtanee wa zidnee ‘ilma

O Allaah! Teach me that which will benefit me and benefit me with that which you have taught me and Increase me in knowledge!

اللهم : اني عبدك, وابن عبدك, ابن أمتك, ناصيتي بيدك, ماضى فيّ حكمك, عدل فيّ قضاؤك, أسألك بكل اسم هم لك سمّت به نفسك, أو أنزلته في كتابك أو علّمته أحدا من خلقك, أن تجعل القرآن ربيع قلبي, ونور صدري, وجلاء حزني, وذهاب همّي وغمّي اللهم امين يارب العالمين اللهم امين يارب العالمين

Allaahumma Innee ‘abduka wabnu ‘abdik ibnu amatik naasiyatee biyadik maadhin fiyya hukmuk ‘adlun fiyya qadhaa-uk, As-aluka bikulli-s-min huwa lak sammayta bihee nafsak aw anzaltahoo fee kitaabik aw ‘allamtahoo ahadan min khalqik, an taj’ala-l-qur’aana-l-‘atheema rabee’a qalbee wa noora sadree wa jalaa-a huznee wa dhahaaba hammee wa ghammee. Allaahumma Aameen yaa rabba-l-‘aalameen

O Allaah! I am Your servant, son of Your servant, son of Your maidservant, my forelock is in Your hand, Your command over me is forever executed and Your decree over me is just. I ask You by every name belonging to You which You name Yourself with, or revealed in Your Book, or You taught to any of Your creation, or You have preserved in the knowledge of the unseen with You, that You make the Qur’aan the life of my heart and the light of my breast, and a departure for my sorrow and a release for my anxiety.

اللهم ارحمني بالقرآن و اجعله لي إماما و نورا و هدى و رحمة

اللهم ذكرني منه ما نسيت و علمني منه ما جهلت و ارزقني تلاوته آناء الليل و أطراف النهار واجعله لي حجة يارب العالمين

Allaahumma-r-hamnee bil-qur’aan wa-j-‘alhu lee imaaman wa nooran wa hudaan wa rahma. Allaahumma dhakirnee minhu maa naseet wa ‘allimnee minhu maa jahilt war-zuqnee tilaawatahoo aanaa-al-laylee wa atraafa-n-nahaar waj-‘alhu lee hujjatan yaa rabbal-‘aalameen

O Allaah! Have Mercy upon me by the Qur’aan and make it for me a criterion, a light, a guidance and mercy. O Allaah! Remind me from it that which I have forgotten and become heedless of and teach me form it that which I am ignorant of. And grant me its recitation throughout the night and day and make it a proof for me O Lord of the Worlds!

اللهم إني أسألك خير المسألة و خير الدعاء و خير النجاح و خير العلم و خير العمل و خير الثواب و خير الحياة و خير الممات و ثبتني و ثقل موازيني و حقق إيماني و ارفع درجتي و تقبل صلاتي و
اغفر خطيئاتي و أسألك العلا من الجنة

Allaahumma innee asaluka khayral mas-ala wa khayra-d-du’aa wa khayra-n-najaah wa khayra-l-‘ilmi wa khayral-‘amal wa khayra-th-thawaab wa khayral-hayaa wa khayral-mamaat wa thabbitnee wa thaqqil mawaazeenee wa haqqiq eemaanee warfa’ darajatee wa taqabbal salaatee waghfir khatee-atee wa asaluka-l-‘ulaa minal-jannah

O Allaah! I ask you for the best of matters, the best supplication, the best success, the best knowledge, the best deed, the best reward, the best life and the best death. Make me firm and make my scales (of good deeds) heavy. Make my faith true, and elevate my status. Accept my prayer and forgive my sins. And I ask you for the loftiest place in Paradise.

اللهم اهدني إلى أحسن الأخلاق، لا يهدي لأحسنها إلا أنت، واصرف عني سيئها، لا يصرف عني سيئها إلا أنت

Allaahumma-h-dinee ilaa ahsanil-akhlaaq, laa yahdee li-ahsanihaa illaa anta, wasrif ‘annee sayyiahaa, laa yasrifu ‘annee sayyiahaa illaa anta

O Allaah! Guide me to the best of character, for verily, none guides to the best of character except You. And keep me away from the bad character, for verily, none can keep me away from the bad character except You.

اللهم لاتشمت أعدائى بدائى وأجعل القرأن العظيم دوائى وشفائى أنت ثقتىورجائى
وأجعل حسن ظنى بك شفائى ، اللهم ثبت علي عقلى ودينى ،وبك يارب ثبت لي يقينى وأرزقنى رزقا حلالا يكفينى وأبعد عنى شر من يؤذينى ، اللهم أسترنى على وجه الأرض ، اللهم أرحمنى فى بطن الأرض ، اللهم أغفر لى يوم العرض

Allaahumma laa tushmit a’daaee bidaaee waj’alil-qur’aanal-‘adheema dawaaee wa shifaaee anta thiqatee wa rajaaee waj’al husna dhannee bika shifaaee. Allaahumma thabbit ‘alayya ‘aqlee wa deenee wa bika yaa rabbi thabbit lee yaqeenee warzuqnee rizqan halaalan yakfeenee wa ab’id ‘annee sharra man yu-dheenee. Allaahumma-s-turnee ‘alaa wajhil-ardh. Allaahumma-r-hamnee fee batnil-ardh. Allaahumma-ghfirlee yawma-l-‘ardh

O Allaah! Do not let my enemies take malicious pleasure in my illness, and make the great Qur’aan my cure and treatment. I am the ill and you are the Curer. You are my trust and hope. Fulfil my hope of cure. O Allaah, protect my intelligence and my religion for me, and make my trust in You firm, O my Lord. Provide me with sufficient permissible provision; keep away from me the evil of the one who hurts me. O Allaah, provide me with cover on the face of the earth. O Allaah show mercy to me under the ground. O Allaah forgive me on the day of presentation.

اللهم آتني الحكمة التي من أوتيها فقد أوتي خيراً كثيراً

Allaahumma aatinee-l-hikmah al-latee man ooteehaa faqad ootiya khayran katheeran

O Allaah! Grant me wisdom, that which to whom you have granted it to, has indeed been granted abundant good.

A final word….

There is a du’aa that is found in some books about ‘Ali, may Allaah be pleased with him, seeking advice from the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam, about memorising the Qur’aan and not forgetting it. The text of the narration is as follows:

Ibn `Abbaas (May Allaah be pleased with him) related the following:

We were with the Messenger of Allaah (Peace and blessings be upon him) when `Ali (May Allaah be pleased with him) and said, “Bi abi anta wa ummi, O Messenger of Allah: this Qur’aan has slipped from my breast, and I do not find myself capable of it!”

So the Messenger of Allaah (Peace and blessings be upon him) said, “O Aba al-Hasan! Should I not teach you words that Allaah will benefit you with, and that He will benefit with them anyone whom you taught them to, and firmly fix what you learnt in your breast?”

He said, “Of course, O Messenger of Allaah! Teach me.”

He said, “When it is Friday night and you are able to get up in the last third of the night – since it is an observed time and during it supplication is answered, and my brother Ya`qoob said to his sons “I will seek forgiveness for you from my Lord” until Friday night comes, and if you are not able then rise in the middle, and if you are not able then rise in the beginning, and pray four raka’at. Recite al-Faatihah and Yaa Seen in the first raka`ah, al-Faatihah and ad-Dukhaan in the second raka`ah, al-Faatihah and as-Sajdah in the third, and al-Faatihah and Tabaarak in the fourth. When you finish the tashahud praise and completely extol Allaah, make prayers upon me and the other prophets, seek forgiveness for the male and female believers and for your brothers preceding you in belief, and then at the end of this say:

“O Allaah, have mercy on me so that I stay away from sinning for as long as I live! Have O Allaah, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, the Glorious and Honorable and Almighty, I beg you, the most Merciful, calling upon Your Glory and the Light of Your Face, to oblige my heart to remember Your Book the way You taught me. Bless me to read it the way that will please You! My Lord, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, You Who are absolute in Your might, I implore You the most Merciful, calling upon Your Glory and Light of Your Face, to illuminate with you Qur’aan my sight, to move with it my tongue and make it easy on my heart. With it make my chest wide and clean my body. Truly, on the path of Truth only You can help me and only You are able to give me the Truth. There is no might no power except with Allaah, the most High, and the most Glorious!”

O, Aba al-Hasan! Do this three, five, or seven Fridays and you will be answered by Allaah’s leave. [I swear] by the One who sent me: It will never err a believer.”

To which Ibn `Abbaas (May Allaah be pleased with him) adds:

[I swear] by Allaah: `Ali (May Allaah be pleased with him) did not wait save five or seven [times] until he came to the Messenger of Allaah (Peace and blessings be upon him) in a similar assembly and said, “O, Messenger of Allaah (Peace and blessings be upon him)! In the past I would only take something like four verses and if I read them to myself they would depart me, while today I learn something like forty verses and when I recite them to myself it is as if the Book of Allah is in front of my eyes; and I used to hear Ahadeeth and when I repeated it, it would depart me, while today I hear Ahaadeeth and when I recount them I do not drop a single letter from it.”

So the Messenger of Allaah (Peace and blessings be upon him) at that point said, “A believer [I swear] by the Lord of the Ka`bah O, Aba al-Hasan!”

This was narrated by at-Tirmidhee and al-Haakim. We wanted to bring this to your attention because most scholars say it is not an authentic hadeeth and should not be implemented.