Guidelines for Hifz Students

Introduction

All praise belongs to Allâh Ta'âla the creator of the universe and may His choicest blessings be upon His Final Prophet, Muhammad Sallallahu alaihi wa Sallam.

After taking a general survey of those students involved in the momentous task of memorising the Holy Qur'ân, I was quite stunned to find that many a student was perplexed when it came to the memorising of his lessons. This spurred me on to writing this booklet which I named 'Perfume of perfumes for the Huffaz Al Kirâm' by the inspiration of my companion Hafiz Ziyâd Jogee. (May Allâh grant him a long life filled with piety and good health).

The Qur'ân is my light.
Obedience to the commands of Allâh is my right
The way of Nabi Sallallahu alaihi wa Sallam is my life day and night.
May Allâh make every hafiz one who is upright.

May Allâh accept this booklet and make it one of benefit to all the huffaz al kirâm.

Servant of Allâh
Arshad Cassim
Dar-al-Qur'ân, South Africa

Verses from the Qur'ân

Verily We revealed the reminder (Qur'ân) and We are its guardian. (Al Hijr, ayâh no.9)

Alif Lâm Meem. This is the book whereof there is no doubt, guidance unto those who ward off evil. (Al Baqarah, ayâh no.1&2)

Falsehood cannot come to it from before nor from behind it. (It is) a revelation from the All-Wise, the owner of All-Praise. (Fussilat, ayâh no. 42)

If we had caused this Qur'ân to descend upon a mountain, you would have seen it humbled, bent asunder by the fear of Allâh.

Such similitudes we give mankind so that he may ponder. (Al Hashr, ayâh no. 21)

Traditions of the Holy Prophet Sallallahu alaihi wa Sallam

Uthman Radiallahu anhu narrates that Rasulullah Sallallahu alaihi wa Sallam said: "The best amongst you is he who learns the Qur'ân and teaches it." (Bukhari)

Abu Saeed Khudri Radiallahu anhu narrates that the prophet of Allâh Sallallahu alaihi wa Sallam said: "Allâh says: "If anybody finds no time for my remembrance and for begging favours of Me, because he remains busy with the Holy Qur'ân, I shall give him more than what I give all those who beg favours of Me". The superiority of the word of Allâh over all other words is like the superiority of Allâh over the entire creation. (Tirmizi)

Aisha Radiallahu anha narrates that the prophet of Allâh Sallallahu alaihi wa Sallam once said: "One who is well versed in the Qur'ân will be in the company of those angels who are scribes, noble and righteous, and one who falters in reading the Qur'ân, and has to exert hard for learning, gets double the reward." (Bukhari)

Abdullah ibn Umar Radiallahu anhu reports that the prophet of Allâh Sallallahu alaihi wa Sallam said: "On the day of judgement, it will be said to the man devoted to the Qur'ân, 'Go on reciting the Qur'ân and continue ascending the stories of paradise and recite in the slow manner you had been reciting in the worldly life. Your final abode will be where you reach at the time you recite the last ayah (verse)." (Ahmed, Tirmizi, Abu Dawood)

Umar ibn Khattab Radiallahu anhu reported that the prophet of Allâh Sallallahu alaihi wa Sallam said: "Undoubtedly through this book Allâh exalts some people and abases others." (Muslim)

Ibn Masood Radiallahu anhu reported that the prophet of Allâh Sallallahu alaihi wa Sallam said: "If anyone recites a letter from the Qur'ân, he will be credited with one virtue, and a virtue gets a ten-fold reward. I do not say that Alif Lâm Mîm is one letter, but Alif is one letter, Lâm is one letter and Meem is one letter." (Tirmizi)

Ibn Abbâs Radiallahu anhu reported that the prophet of Allâh Sallallahu alaihi wa Sallam said: "He who has nothing of the Holy Qur'ân in his heart is like a ruined house." (Tirmizi)

Abu Lubâbah Bashir bin Abdul Mundhar Radiallahu anhu reported that the prophet of Allâh Sallallahu alaihi wa Sallam said: "He who does not recite the Qur'ân in a melodious voice is not of us." (Abû Dawûd)

Abû Mûsa Al Ashari Radiallahu anhu reported that the prophet of Allâh Sallallahu alaihi wa Sallam said: "Retain and safeguard the Holy Qur'ân in your memory. By the one in whose hands is my life, it (the Qur'ân) slips more quickly away from one than a camel from its fetters." (Bukhari & Muslim)

Narrations regarding our Pious Predecessors

Uthman Radiallahu anhu used to fast during the day and spend the whole night in salâh apart from getting a little sleep during the first third of the night. It is well known that he used to recite the entire Qur'ân in one rakât at a time.

Qatâdah Radiallahu anhu used to recite the whole Qur'ân every three nights in the month of Ramadhân but during the last ten nights, he used to finish the whole Qur'ân every night.

Imam Shafi'î Rahmatullah alaihi used to recite the Qur'ân about 60 times during the days and nights of Ramadhân.

The Glorious Qur'ân

The book which fills every nook

To serve as a suit

For every era of soup

For a group to scoop

From its clear brook

Such a root

Its melody better than a flute

Keeping everyone glued

Its authenticity is such one cannot dispute

Its meaning is food

For a hungry man's mood.

Explanation

The Qur'ân and its beautiful teachings has flooded the world filling every nook (corner).

It serves as a suit for every era of soup (for every era when man is faced with difficulty, his solutions lie in the Qur'ân and Sunnah).

For a group of pious Ulama to scoop (to extract) solutions to the peoples problems from the Qur'ân's teachings which is clearer than a brook (stream).

Such a root, the Qur'ân is original and free from any errors.

Its melody is better than a flute, keeping everyone glued, the Qur'ân with its beautiful words and meanings, its melodious tune enraptures every true believer.

Its authenticity one can never dispute, its food for a hungry man's mood, it is guidance for those who seek the truth.

There are three important factors to take into consideration when memorising the Qur'ân.

1. The new lesson (also known as sabaq or dars)

2. The previous day's lesson.

3. Revision (also known as Muraja'ah, dor)