Mental And Spiritual Benefits Of Memorizing The Quran

Benefits For Mental And Physical Health

Memorizing the Quran can bring many health benefits from mental health to physical health. Here’s a list of five health benefits you can experience, In sha’ Allah, on your Quran memorization journey.

#1: Memorizing can help increase your memory space.

Memorizing is like mental gymnastics. The more you repeat the thing you want to learn, the stronger the connection between neurons and the brain become. In turn, your brain increases its memory capacity, taking it beyond its previous capacity and duration to remember. Think of it like upgrading your memory chip from 16GB to 128GB just by memorizing the Quran.

So as you memorize the Quran, you’re actually increasing your brain’s capacity to memorize even more! Try these simple Quran memorization tips to help you. Regular memorization will also strengthens your memory muscle in general, so maybe next time you won’t forget where you left your keys.

#2: Memorizing can make you smarter.

A lot of people mistakenly think that memorizing is not ‘real learning’ as they believe learning should encompass more than just what you can remember and regurgitate. While it is true that learning should also include understanding and context, it does not mean that memorizing doesn’t have a place in the learning process.

Neurobiologists believe remembering facts or texts can make your brain more quick and agile. This helps us to build the foundations of higher thought because we more quickly able to recall facts required for complex thought or problem solving.

#3: Building a working memory helps us learn new things and stimulates creativity.

Memorizing builds a ‘working memory’ that helps us hold enough information in our mind to make sense of new information coming in. A research by Weber State University found that students with underdeveloped short-term memory struggled to master concepts in math and reading.

A working memory is important for creativity. Dutch researchers found people with a higher working memory capacity could perform more creatively. However, under cognitive load that decreases working memory, they performed worse on a creative insight task.

#4: Memory training can help slow down mental deterioration.

Progressive mental deterioration such as Alzheimer’s or disorders of mental processes such as dementia can occur in middle or old age. In early stages, memory loss is mild. As memory declines further, it can impact thinking skills with the effects ranging from losing the ability to hold a conversation or responding to the environment.

Memorizing the Quran and regularly revising it can be a form of memory training as a healthy lifelong habit. Researchers from the National Institute on Health and Aging have found that practicing memorization allows the elderly adults to delay typical cognitive decline by seven to 14 years and potentially prevent cognitive diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia. Youths who start practicing memory training now can stay sharp in years to come.

#5: Memorizing can reduce stress and improve health.

A lack of memory and organization can create a hectic life, whether in your studies, at work or at home. Since memorizing trains your brain to increase your memory capacity, this can help you become better organized in your life and lower stress levels.

As we know, stress is related to many health afflictions such as heart disease, obesity, anxiety and depression. Lowering our stress can thus lead to improving our health. Concurrently, simply lowering your stress levels actually improves your memory further and accelerates the positive benefits with a cascading effect.

Benefits For Spirituality

There’s no Doubt, reciting Quran and perfecting your tajweed are extremely noble goals, and the rewards for them are great and unique. However, the haafiz (memorizer) of the Quran enjoys a special status above all. Below are 7 reasons why you should bury the excuses and start memorizing Quran today.

#1: An immense reward awaits you.

Allaah, the Most High, says in His Glorious book,

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَتۡلُونَ كِتَـٰبَ ٱللَّهِ وَأَقَامُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَأَنفَقُواْ مِمَّا رَزَقۡنَـٰهُمۡ سِرًّ۬ا وَعَلَانِيَةً۬ يَرۡجُونَ تِجَـٰرَةً۬ لَّن تَبُورَ

Verily, those who recite the Book of Allah, and perform As-Salat, and spend (in charity) out of what We have provided for them, secretly and openly, hope for a (sure) trade-gain that will never perish. (35:29)

In this ayah, Allah mentions reciting the Quran along side the most important act of worship, Salah, and with a promise of an everlasting, imperishable reward. Now, imagine you had access to the Quran at all times without having to depend on a mushaf.  The opportunity to accumulate rewards would be immense. You could recite while driving, cooking, walking, or while waiting in a line. You wouldn’t be restricted to isolated time slots dedicated to reading as you could recite on the go.

#2: You only have control of today.

Abdullah ibn Umar (radiyallahu anhuma) said it best when he said, “If you survive till the evening, do not expect to be alive in the morning, and if you survive till the morning, do not expect to be alive in the evening, and take from your health for your sickness, and (take) from your life for your death.” [Al-Bukhari]

When it comes to memorizing the Quran, don’t procrastinate or depend on the future as you don’t know what circumstances you’ll find yourself in tomorrow. You only have control of the present, and that extra ayah you memorize today will move you up a level in Jannah. See point 7.

#3: It’s easy.

One of the miracles of the Quran is that Allaah made it easy for us to memorize, as He, subhaanahu wa ta’aala, said:

وَلَقَدۡ يَسَّرۡنَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ لِلذِّكۡرِ فَهَلۡ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍ۬

And We have indeed made the Qur’an easy to understand and remember, then is there any that will remember? [Al-Qamar: 17, 22, 32, 40]

This verse repeats four times in the same chapter. The fact that the verses of the Quran are so articulate and can never be reproduced by the most eloquent of poets and writers, but yet can be memorized from cover to cover is proof that Allah has indeed made it easy.

Nonetheless, there are instances when memorization can be difficult, such as being exposed to Quran and Arabic for the first time after childhood, or having a memory problem, or dealing life circumstances that make commitment difficult. Although, these may seem like obstacles, they are actually sources of motivation, because the Prophet of Allah  said, “The likeness of the one who reads it and tries hard to memorize it even though it is difficult for him, he will have a double reward”. [Al-Bukhari]

#4: You’re the best of people.

The Messenger of Allaah  said, “The best amongst you is the one who learns the Qur’an and teaches it” [Al-Bukhari]. What you have is so valuable that you are the only one in this universe, along with one other type of person, worthy of being envied.

Ibn ‘Amr reported that the Prophet  said, “There is no cause to be envious except in two cases: (the first is of a) person whom Allah has taught the Qur’aan, and he recites it in the day and night, and one of his neighbours hears him and says, ‘Woe to me! I wish I had been given what he has been given, then I would do what he is doing! (The second is of a) person whom Allah has blessed with wealth, and he spends it in good causes, so a person (who sees him) says, ‘Woe to me! I wish I had been given what he has been given, then I would do what he is doing!” [Al-Bukhari]

#5: VIP status in this life, death, and beyond.

The haafiz is a true VIP. He automatically qualifies for some roles of leadership by virtue of being a haafizah. For example, in a prayer congregation, the one who knows more Quran leads the prayer. In the seerah we find a number of cases when the Prophet  appointed the companion who had memorized the most Quran to be the leader of a group of people.

Even at the time of death you’re honoured. The haafiz is placed ahead of the everyone else in a mass burial. At the battle of Uhud, the Prophet  buried the martyrs who had memorized the Quran in front of those who hadn’t, to highlight their superiority.

And in the hereafter, “the one who recites the Qur’aan and learns it by heart, will be with the noble righteous scribes”(Al-Bukhari). Also, you will have a special intercession, a day when we are in desperate need of all the help possible to intercede for us with Allah.

It was narrated that Abu Umaamah al-Baahili said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say, ‘Recite the Qur’aan, for it will come on the Day of Resurrection to intercede for its companions’.” [Muslim and Al-Bukhari]

But it doesn’t end there…

#6: You will be in the highest level in Jannah.

Perhaps the greatest motivation to memorize is that you have control over which level of Jannah you end up in. The level of paradise you attain is directly linked to how many verses of the Quran you memorize.

Abdullah ibn Amr narrated that the Prophet said, “It will be said to the companion of the Qur’aan after he has entered Paradise, ‘Recite, and rise!’ For every verse he recites he will rise one level (in Paradise), until he recites the last verse with him (i.e., in his memory).” (Abu Dawood)

Some scholars use this hadith to argue that the number of levels in Jannah are equivalent to the number of verses in the Quran, while others limit it to seven levels. Whatever the case is, you’ll be admitted to the highest level possible if you memorize the entire Quran. Firdaws is the limit!

#7: Role Model. 

It goes without saying that you’ll be a model for your children to follow as you’ve achieved or are working on what you’ve been encouraging them to do.  Think of the example you’d be setting for your children, especially your daughters, particularly in a society that invests more in boys when it comes to Quran.

You’ll also be a true role model for other Muslim women, single and married alike. Allaah and His messenger made you superior to others, singled you out as the best person, and crowned you as the epitome of envy. Why wouldn’t anyone want to be like you?!

Whether you are single or married, a mom of one child or eight, memorizing Quran IS for you and IS achievable. With dua, sincerity, and a positive attitude, you will be successful because Allah’s promise is true.

وَٱلَّذِينَ جَـٰهَدُواْ فِينَا لَنَہۡدِيَنَّہُمۡ سُبُلَنَا‌ۚ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَمَعَ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ

As for those who strive hard in Us (Our Cause), We will surely guide them to Our Paths. And verily, Allah is with the Muhsinun (good doers). [Al-Ankabut: 69]