Hifdh Help: Beginner’s Guide [Do’s & Dont’s]

11 Aug Hifdh Help: Beginner’s Guide [Do’s & Dont’s]

Assalaamu ‘alaykum wa Rahmatullah

Beloved Quran Hearts,

This week’s post – Hifdh Help – is all about answering and addressing your hifdh-related concerns.

• For more on our recently updated blogging schedule: https://feeqalbee.wordpress.com/2017/08/08/posting-schedule/
• Have a hifdh question? Need some advise? Email: rayhaanah@gmail.com with ‘Hifdh help Q & A’ in the subject line, or leave a comment at the end of this post.

Q: As-Salamu-Alaikum, I literally just started hifdh a week ago and I wanted to know what is the most important Do’s and Don’ts. And any advice in general for one who is new to this?

A:   Wa ‘alaykumus salaam wa Rahmatullah dear sister.  Congratulations on beginning your hifdh journey! May Allah Ta’ala be pleased with you and grant you barakah in and through your memorization – aameen.  I know that commencing with hifdh leaves one feeling euphoric and grateful, but also a tad bit anxious and concerned. And that’s natural; we all want to do our best, do what’s right, and make this gift a means of earning His Pleasure.

Whilst there are many pieces of advice we could share with you, I thought it best to keep it sweet and simple, so as not to overwhelm you. After all, Hifdh should be a journey we approach and experience with joy and not undue trepidation J   And while the hifdh experience and challenges cannot be generalized (everyone’s journey is different and unique), I’ve tried to include some key points that you may want to factor in to your learning process.

Do’s:   

• Review your intention: why am I doing hifdh and for whom? Remain sincere.
• Frequent Du’aa: Allah Ta’ala knows your heart’s aspirations and struggles, too.
• Consistently work at improving your lifestyle, in accordance with Qur’an and Sunnah, in line with becoming that ‘walking Quran’.
• Revise daily – especially BEFORE memorizing new verses.
• After assessing your personal hifdh goals, set up a realistic schedule outlining your daily revision, learning cycle, and the optimum time for learning. Ensure that you complete a cycle of revision (of older hifdh), every few days – at least in the early stages of hifdh.
• Revise out aloud: reciting out aloud is known to help increase fluency, improve confidence, and serves as an effective pointer of your strengths and weaknesses that may need attention
• Qur’an buddies: stay in the company of other sisters who are also on the same path as you. Motivation and a strong support network has been that vital anchor for so many before you.

Don’t:

• Memorize WITHOUT the understanding and application of the basic rules of Tajweed.
• Change your Mushaf (print copy of the Noble Qur’an) – stick to one copy, your personal copy.
• Memorize WITHOUT a teacher: the sacred journey of hifdh, for many reasons, requires that you best have a teacher to test, review, supervise, and mentor your journey.
• Give up: when you feel a certain verse is difficult to memorize, or you feel afraid that you may forget your hifdh, turn to Allah: in dhikr, istighfaar, and du’aa at Tahajjud. Keep asking of Him, from His treasures. Your hifdh too, is a powerful way to draw closer to Him. There are times when you may be memorizing huge portions, and other times when it is challenging just to keep up with revision. Please don’t stop because of the hurdles along the path. Keep going. Take each day as it comes. This gift is so worth it!
• Move forward with new hifdh: The golden rule is to keep revising your hifdh if it is weak, BEFORE moving onto new hifdh.

Wishing you success at every stage of your hifdh journey!

Rayhaanah

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