There are a lot of ways to review the Qur’aan and everyone has their own set of techniques that work for them. We’re going to go through the main techniques you should use for reviewing. You should keep in mind that it is very important that you incorporate all these techniques into your reviewing program because each method helps to highlighting different areas of weakness in your memorisation.
- Reciting with the Mushaf
When reviewing with the mushaf, you should alternate in two ways. Firstly, by reciting from the mushaf and secondly, by reciting without looking at the mushaf. The former shouldn’t be done as often as the second as its main purpose is to refresh the ‘blueprint’ of the mushaf in your mind. The latter should be done by reciting and opening the mushaf to check any areas you get stuck on. Alternatively, you can have the mushaf open and cover the page you are reciting with piece of paper and as you complete reciting each line, move the paper so it reveals that sentence only and check that you have recited it correctly. Make sure you recite in an audible voice and not under your own breath or by whispering as hearing your own voice helps your brain to remember and lock in what you have memorised more firmly.
- Reciting in Salaah (Prayer)
Reciting in prayer is from one of the greatest ways of reviewing your memorisation and ensuring it is strong in your memory. What we both do is start from the uppermost section that we have memorised and in each salaah, read either a page or two depending on how much you set yourself, and then once you have read all the way to soorah an-Naas, start the process all over again. So for example, the one who has memorised the whole Qur’aan would start at al-Baqarah and in ever prayer (obligatory and optional) he/she would recite the amount they want and when they have done this all the way to the end of the Qur’aan, the process would be repeated again.
It is also important for the memoriser of the Qur’aan to strive with his own nafs to wake up during the night and pray Tahajjud as there are so many blessings and this is why ‘Abdullaah Ibn Mas’ood, radhiyallaahu ‘anhu, said:
“It is desired that the reciter of the Qur’aan (i.e. one who has memorized it) knows his nights (i.e. gets up for Tahajjud) when the people are sleeping, and his days when people are awake, and by his crying when people laugh and by his silence when people are in vain discourse.”
And Allaah has praised those who wake up to offer the night prayer in several places in the Qur’aan such as:
أَقِمِ الصَّلاَةَ لِدُلُوكِ الشَّمْسِ إِلَى غَسَقِ اللَّيْلِ وَقُرْآنَ الْفَجْرِ إِنَّ قُرْآنَ الْفَجْرِ كَانَ مَشْهُودًا
وَمِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَتَهَجَّدْ بِهِ نَافِلَةً لَّكَ عَسَى أَن يَبْعَثَكَ رَبُّكَ مَقَامًا مَّحْمُودًا
Perform the prayer from mid-day till the darkness of the night (i.e. the Zuhr, ‘Asr, Maghrib, and ‘Ishâ’ prayers), and recite the Qur’aan in the early dawn (i.e. the morning prayer). Verily, the recitation of the Qur’aan in the early dawn is ever witnessed (attended by the angels in charge of mankind of the day and the night). And in some parts of the night (also) offer the Salaah (prayer) with it (i.e. recite the Qur’aan in the prayer), as an additional prayer (Tahajjud optional prayer Nawaafil) for you (O Muhammad SAW). It may be that your Lord will raise you to Maqaaman Mahmooda (a station of praise and glory, i.e. the highest degree in Paradise!). (Soorah Al-Israa 17:78-79)
إِنَّ نَاشِئَةَ اللَّيْلِ هِيَ أَشَدُّ وَطْءًا وَأَقْوَمُ قِيلًا
Verily, the rising by night (for Tahajjud prayer) is very hard and most potent and good for governing (the soul), and most suitable for (understanding) the Word (of Allaah). (Soorah al-Muzzammil 73:6)
إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ تَقُومُ أَدْنَى مِن ثُلُثَيِاللَّيْلِ وَنِصْفَهُ وَثُلُثَهُ
ُفَاقْرَؤُوا مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ…
Verily, your Lord knows that you do stand (to pray at night) a little less than two-thirds of the night, or half the night, or a third of the night …. So, recite you of the Qur’aan as much as may be easy for you. (Soorah al-Muzzammil 73:20)
وَمِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَاسْجُدْ لَهُ وَسَبِّحْهُ لَيْلًا طَوِيلًا
And during night, prostrate yourself to Him (i.e. the offering of Maghrib and ‘Ishaa’ prayers), and glorify Him a long night through (i.e. Tahajjud prayer). (Soorah Al-Insaan 76:26)
- Reciting to someone else
It would be ideal if you could find yourself a memorisation partner or at least someone who can read Arabic well and is willing to spare some time every week or fortnightly to listen to you recite and point out your mistakes. It doesn’t have to be someone who has an ijaazah or knows tajweed because the main purpose is to have them point out your mistakes in memorisation and not for them to correct your tajweed.
This sound easy but in reality, unfortunately a lot of people complain of not being able to find someone dedicated enough to spare some of their time to listen to and test them. The Companions of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam, used to be very eager to sit together and listen to the Qur’aan being recited as there is reward in it for both the listener and the recitor. Even the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam, used to ask the Companions to recite the Qur’aan to him even though he was the one it was revealed to and the one who was most proficient in it.
The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam, has said in an authentic hadeeth narrated by Aboo Hurayrah, radhiyallaahu ‘anhu;
“…No people gather together in one of the houses of Allah, reciting the Book of Allah and studying it among themselves, except that tranquillity descends upon them, mercy covers them, the angels surround them, and Allah makes mention of them amongst those who are in His presence….” [Saheeh Muslim, #2699]
وَإِذَا قُرِئَ الْقُرْآنُ فَاسْتَمِعُواْ لَهُ وَأَنصِتُواْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ
So, when the Qur’ân is recited, listen to it, and be silent that you may receive mercy. (Soorah Al-A’raaf 7:204)
- Reciting along with an audio
Another way you can review the Qur’aan is by listening to another recitor and reading along with him. Using audios helps to make your memorisation stronger as it utilises another of your senses so you memorise from hearing as well as sight. Again make sure when you recite along with an audio, it is a good quality audio and that you recite loudly enough for you to hear yourself.
Audios are also very effective for passive reviewing such as when you are out and about travelling from one place to the other, have your headphones in your ears and utilise that time. Most of us in the west spend a lot of time on public transport travelling to work, university or school. You can make the most of this time by reviewing your memorisation by way of using audios. Also, when you’re at home cooking or cleaning, you can switch on the audio in the background and recite along. Try to identify any moments during your day-to-day activities where you can incorporate your reviewing into it so that you utilise every second you can to help you on this journey.
There are other ways people review the Qur’aan. When teaching a group of hifdh students, a good way of doing it is to have all the students sit in a circle and have each one recite a set number of Aayaat and for the next person in the circle to follow on from where the one before left off. Whatever techniques you choose to use, its important that your reviewing is done continually and regularly. It helps if you set an amount to do every day. If you have memorised less than five Juz, you should be reviewing all of it every day. As you memorise more, set some sort of timetable for yourself so that you review everything you have memorised at least once a week at the minimum.