Memorising The Holy Qur’an


My question is that what is the need and significance of Hifz-e-Quran these days. These days, the Quran has been saved in its best form; it has been saved on computers, CDs, hard disks and papers. There is no chance of any amendment/ forgery/ changes in the Quran now. Is there a need to do Hifz-e-Quran by heart? I believe that learning of the Quran by heart was only for a limited time (when there was shear need to save the Quran for future generations). Second part of my question is that what is the use of learning the Holy Quran by heart by 10-12 year old kids who are not adults (and are not able to decide what is good or bad for them)? Parents send such kids to madrassas without considering whether these kids are able to take this responsibility and whether they will be able to honour this responsibility all their lives. I have observed that many Huffaz forget the Quran when they enter the tough practical life. So what is the need and significance of putting this huge responsibility and burden on the shoulders of immature kids? Please note that I am also such a Hafiz who feels ashamed to confess that I have also forgotten the Quran and I feel extremely bad for that... What should I do?


Even after the invention of these sources, memorization still remains the primary tool for preservation and transmission of the Qur'an since every cd, hard disk, codex etc needs the stamp of a hafiz to certify if the Qur'an has been correctly recorded in these mediums.

Moreover, memorization of the Qur'an establishes a living relationship of a hafiz with the Qur'an if he knows what he has memorized. This relationship of course cements his faith and augments his ability to practice Islam.

The intense regard Muslims have for the Qur'an and the importance it occupies in their lives on the one hand and the easy-to-memorize text of the Qur'an on the other induces automatically the yearning in a person to commit it to his memory.

Regarding the second part of your question, I think that this memorization process should be adjusted to schooling by spreading it over the entire 8-10 years of the school period. Taking children out from their mainstream education and sending them to madrassas for this purpose not only at times badly damages their psyche but is also detrimental for their education.

Forgetting the Qur'an often happens with people whose native language is not Arabic and who are made to memorize the Qur'an by rote without being taught Arabic. One should devote some time for revising the Qur'an he has learnt by reciting it out in the daily prayers. In your case when the need is to recall it afresh, you will need less time to refresh your memory.

About the Author

Dr. Shehzad Saleem


Special Area of Interest

Books Authored
  1. Common Misconceptions about Islam
  2. Playing God: Misreading a Divine Practice
  3. Islam and Women: Misconceptions and Misperceptions
  4. Essays on Character Building, Lessons on Character Building
  6. Lessons on Character Building
  7. Selections from the Qur’an
  8. Selections from the Bible
  9. Selections from the Hadith



  2. Mizan (Islam: A Comprehensive Introduction)
  3. Al-Islam (Islam: A Concise Introduction)
  4. Selected Essays of Javed Ahmad Ghamidi
  5. Volumes 1 and 5 of Al-Bayan 









1. Misconceptions about Women in Islam
  2. Pardah and Gender Interaction
  3. Non-Muslims and the Qur’an
  4. Question on the Qur’an by Serious
  5. Misconceptions about Islam
  6. Muhammad (sws): The Misunderstood Prophet of Islam
  7. Marriage and Married Life
  8. Fast and Fasting
  9. Basic Morality
  10. Islam and Islamic Welfare State
  11. Misconceptions about Divorce in Islam
  13 Imbalanced Religious Attitudes


1. Spending in the Way of God 
  2. Pride and Arrogance
  3. Remembering God  
  4. Civic Sense
  5. Kindness to Parents
  6. Gratitude
  7. Forgiveness
  8. Moral Courage
  9. Truthfulness 
  10. Showing Off
  11. Humility
  12. Sympathy
  13. Sinful Speech 
  14. Honesty
  15. Justice



Answered by this author