Scripture Memorization Method Ideas wanted.

[JenniferJoy]

Does anyone have a method for passage memorization, whether it be classical literature, scriptures, positive sayings.... 

Thank you,
Jennifer

[linzy]

This is the best method I have found.  It is awsome and can be used by the whole family and for poetry too!!
http://simplycharlottemason.com/timesavers/memorysys/

[JenniferJoy]

Thank you,
That sounds simple to start:

The method is simply this: once or twice each day read aloud the verse or passage you are memorizing. As the words become familiar, the family members should join in saying the parts they know. Continue the one or two readings a day until all family members can recite the Scripture together with confidence.

Then after I've started, I can start with the file cards.
thanks,
Jennifer

[DomanMom]

Recently with Hunter, I have been teaching him scripture memorization in three ways. The first one is teaching individual verses "bit-style". That is, I write verses on index cards and read him five of them in the same way I teach bits - simply reading it aloud quickly and properly labeling it. For example, saying "Proverbs 1:7. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction" and then saying "Proverbs 1:8. My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother", etc.

The second way I teach them is by reading though whole chapters. For example, reading through the entire first chapter of Proverbs once or twice a day. I actually have a tape that I play for him once a day while he plays, and again while he naps. This tape has a recording of me reading through the entire book of Proverbs.

I prefer teaching him whole chapters and books rather than me picking out individual, secluded verses that I deem the "most important". I would like whole chapter memorization to be a habit for him throughout his life. It is very easy for little children to memorize whole passages if they have enough exposure to them. When I think about all the brain space he has available to him, I think the most important and useful things that space can be used for is scripture.

The third thing I do is to simply read aloud a few chapters from the Bible each day after breakfast and after lunch. I will simply read it when I'm done with my food, before we clear the table. I read three chapters at each meal which takes about ten minutes. At that rate, we read through the entire Bible twice each year. He's not specifically memorizing what we read, but he is getting a lot of exposure to the scriptures and becoming familiar with it by reading through it that often. By the time he is 13 (ten years from now) we will have read through the Bible twenty times.

You can use this method for your two-year-old, simply reading individual verses or whole chapters aloud once or twice a day, but don't leave out the baby! Although she may not understand a lot of it, she probably understands a lot more than you think! My theory instead of waiting until you think they can understand, read to them so SO THAT they will understand. That is how we handle talking to our children, right? We don't wait until our baby knows English before we start speaking to them - we speak to them from the minute they're born SO THAT they will learn to understand it. Remember what Jesus said that "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." And also, "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby" There's a lot even your baby can get out of it, and even if she does not fully understand the words and concepts, she can still appreciate the beautiful language, is growing her brain, and most importantly is developing a love of the word of God.

"...from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." 1 Timothy 3:15

[Plarka]

Wow, DomanMom, that's really awesome.  I never thought of that before, but I agree with what you said.  Now I want to try and read the Bible to my daughter too!

[rixu]

very good idea. i never have thought of this . thanx

[Ayesha Nicole]

Dear All,

This is an interesting thread because it is a duty for Muslims to memorize the Holy Qur'an, as much as possible, because it used to recite during our five obligatory prayers throughout the day.  And many people, young and old, memorize it in it's entirety (604 pages for the Saudi Arabia 'Uthmanic [style of Arabic calligraphy] Arabic script print).  Muslims all over the world speak various mother tongues and dialects, and yet all can read and recite the Qur'an, because it is in the Arabic language.  For example, if you go to China or Russia or America and listen to the recitation of the Qur'an, it is the same because the Arabic text of the Qur'an has never changed since it was revealed.  It is true that there are many translations of the Qur'an to help understand the Arabic language, but as far as the Arabic language text is concerned - it is the same and remain the same - unchanged by humans. 

I have often wondered if any Christians have memorized the entire Bible - and which version of the Bible, because there are many translated interpretations of the original Aramaic scripts.
And I actually came across the following video of one Pastor who is close to that personal goal:
 > <a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/qfnB4qWJhes&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/qfnB4qWJhes&rel=1</a>

I can tell you from a Muslim's perspective of memorization methods, that it is repitition and linking the ayah together (there is no suitable English word to translate the Arabic word "ayah" - the closest word is 'verse', which is highly inaccurate, because 'verse' refers to poetry; and the Qur'an is NOT poetry, which is a human form of language expression.  Muslims consider the Qur'an to be the exact words of Allah (God) as revealed to the Angel Gabriel, who revealed it verbatim to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).  Since the Arabs at that time were known for the linguistic superiority and poetry was preserved in the oral form only, the Qur'an was and still is an open challenge to anyone to produce a single ayah better than it.  In fact, it is well known by Oriental scholars who study the Quran', such as Dr. Micheal Sells (who authored the book, Approaching the Qur'an: The Early Revealations), and Dr. Michael Zwettler of Ohio State University (authored The Oral Tradition of the Classical Arabic Poetry: It's Charachter and Implications)that it is the inimitable.  The Qur'an was later recorded in print by scribes and is the text is same as it was 1500 years ago.)

In the Middle East in general, there is a lot of rote memorization as it applies to education.  And particularly in Mauritania, there is a well known memorization method that is highly effective and can be applied to various texts.  Much can be gained from reading this lenthly post of one method of memorizatin that is used by this region of the world, especially because Mauritanians are known for memorizing not only the Qur'an, but many of their texts used in their particular school of thought within Islamic Law.

* * *

Methods of Memorization in Mauritania
by: Abu Umar Abdul 'Aziz

Al-Hamdulillah, we praise Allah and seek His aid and forgiveness. May the Salah and the Salam be upon the Messenger of Allah, and upon his family and companions and all who follow his path with goodness until the Day of Judgment.

To proceed:

Once, the great scholar and grammarian, Shaykh Muhammad Salim al-'Udud ash-Shinqiti of Mauritania was attending a meeting for the international jurisprudence council in Cairo Egypt. After the meeting, the Shaykh went out with an Egyptian scholar to have dinner and converse with. During the course of the modest dinner, lively discussion took place about the various differences between Mauritania, a large extremely poor country situated in the Sahara desert, and the fairly developed and modern Egypt. The two scholars discussed the methods of Islamic study in both countries and this led the Egyptian scholar to jokingly ask him, "Which scholars are more knowledgeable, the scholars of Egypt or the scholars of Mauritania?"

In response to the question, Shaykh Muhammad Salim said: " Your scholars are more knowledgeable in the day time, and our scholars are more knowledgeable in the night."

Due to the extremely harsh existence in the deserts of the Sahara and the near impossibility of preserving large amounts of written works from the fierce and constant sand storms, the scholars of Mauritania have relied upon a tradition of rote memorization of everything that is studied. Upon visiting the small villages that are devoted to study [Mahdharah], you will not see large libraries wherein a person may research and benefit. For this reason, you will find in many books in Arabic written about the methods and manners of studying mentioning that they divide the study styles in the Islamic world into two:

1. The style of Tanqih and Mutala'ah- the method of perusing large amounts of written works after mastering the fundamental sciences at the hands of the scholars. This is the most well known method in the Muslim world. In places such as Egypt, Sham [Levantine], Hijaz [Kingdom of Saudi Arabia], and even as far as India and Indonesia, the students of knowledge employ this method.

2. The style of Hifdh and Itqan- the method of intense memorization and mastery. This less popular method is commonly employed in places such as Mauritania, Senegal, Mali and most of North Africa.

Pros and Cons
Both methods of learning have their positives and negatives from them:

Tanqih and Mutala'ah method
Pros:

• It provides the detailed knowledge of issues due to the heavy reliance upon the written works of the scholars.
• It enables the student and scholar to research the difficult issues and see the evidences and opinions of past scholars.
• It links the person with the scholars of the past.

Cons:


• Without proper training, a person cannot properly learn from the books.
• Often times, people pick up books and, without any principles and background learning, they fall into error.
• Due to the presence of books, many a time a person will have a false sense of security-even though he/she has not learned the basics that will enable them to put what they read into proper perspective.
• The presence of books weakens one's desire to memorize what is learned. Thus, the scholar who is most knowledgeable in the day is the one who can refer to his books and without which, say in the darkness of night, they would not be able to go into the degree of detail that he would normally do after his research.
• The limited amount of memorization that is performed through this method means that whatever a student memorizes; be it the Qur'an, Hadith, or any other text, he will spend lots and lots of time reviewing and revising because the material was not vigorously memorized.

Method of Hifdh and Itqan
Pros


• It enables the student to focus on the fundamental issues that are presented in the small texts as opposed to drowning in piles of books.
• It gives the student the ability to teach others and educate in any situation because it is a part of his long-term memory and experience.
• It grants time for the student to concentrate and focus on his subject of study and to master it.
• It saves lots of time in revision because everything that is memorized is ingrained in the long-term memory.

Cons

• It is often very time consuming and tedious.
• It is not uncommon for a person to rely on this method without going back to written works for more detail, thus much knowledge passes him by.
• Most people are too weak to continue with this method for very long.

Ideally, the student of knowledge should combine the two methods to assure maximum benefit.

How to memorize?
In brief, we wish to outline the Mauritanian method of memorization so that we can all take advantage of its strong points.

The method of memorization in Mauritania is divided into three categories:

1. Memorization of the Qur'an
2. Memorization of texts
3. Group review as an aid to memorization

Because the Mauritanian method of memorization of the Qur'an and texts are largely the same, we will mention them both in one category.

Getting started:
Getting started, here are a few points:

• Memorization is usually easy. The real challenge is the repetition and review.
• The goal that we have is to place all memorized texts, be they from the Book of Allah or other texts, into our long-term memory. Basically, that means that we are attempting to memorize everything and recall it just as we recall Surah al-Fatihah.
• In Mauritania and North Africa in general, they memorize off of a small wooden tablet called a lawhah. This lawhah is both held like a book and viewed, or it is propped up against something-standing upright. Allah knows why, but if you try memorizing in a similar manner, it will become easier for you. Perhaps it is the tan-brown color of the board that is relaxing to the eyes as opposed to the sharp color of white paper. Allah knows best.
• Try getting some brown/tan colored drawing paper and writing whatever you are to memorize. Prop this up or tape to the wall where it is level with your head- for some reason, writing it with your hand helps in memorizing it.
• I know this may be controversial to some, but in order to memorize in this method, you will need to have with you a Misbah' [Dhikr beads] in order to count your repetitions. Most of the scholars hold the opinion that the Misbah is not an innovation in the religion and is allowed to use-even though using the hand is preferred for Dhikr. In this memorization, you are using the Misbah as a tool to count and nothing more. So, if you hold the opinion that the Misbah is not good, in sha Allah there is no harm because it is nothing more than beads used to count. If you are afraid of being attacked by people for carrying Dhikr beads around, then why not just go out and purchase a mechanical counter [like the ones that bean counters use]?

After getting your supplies [wooden board or tan paper, ink pen, and Dhikr beads (or bean counter)] you are ready.

How to do it


1. Write the page [or two or three or four-if it is Qur'an] on the board or tan paper in legible writing. If you are memorizing a text such as Imam Nawawi's Forty Hadith collection, or a small text on Fiqh or grammar, you should only memorize one Hadith at a time or-as with texts that are often in poetry form-only write four lines per day. [Note: For memorizing Qur'an in this method, you must read what is written to one who knows the Qur'an. It is not uncommon to mistakenly write something and start off reading it incorrectly]
2. Proceed to read the text out loud while looking at the board or paper just as you would with a book. Read and read until you can read it without looking at all.
3. After memorizing the text, proceed to repeat what you memorized 300 times-using the Misbah to count with. If you are memorizing the Qur'an, repeat it 500 times. As you are reading this, I can imagine that you are probably shaking your head thinking that maybe what I wrote was a typo. It is not a typo- in Mauritania they repeat each page of Qur'an 500 (five-hundred) times in their memorization. With the Qur'an, it is possible to lower that two 150. However, as was mentioned before, this will mean that you will have to review more to ensure that you don't lose what you memorized. With other texts, 300 times is the maximum number of repetitions. I remember once memorizing Lamiyatul Af'al in the science of Sarf [morphology] and I thought that I was supposed to repeat each line of that poem 500 times! After spending days and days with that misunderstanding, I could hear myself reading the lines in my dreams, not to mention having that strange feeling you get when you say one word hundreds of times without stopping!
4. Occasionally, read the text while looking at the board or paper to insure that you have not left off anything.
5. Go easy on yourself. You don't have to read the text 300 times in one sitting! Take it easy and break the task into manageable parts. Try repeating it with the Misbah 100 times and then take a break. Continue like this until you complete 300 repetitions. Based on my own experience, I would say that it will take you about an accumulated 3 hours to repeat on part of a text 300 times and a total accumulated time of 4 ½ hours to read one page of Qur'an 500 times [with the average quick reading time of one minute for one page of Qur'an].
6. After completing 300 repetitions [or whatever high number you choose] take a break. You are done…at least for today. J
7. Now on day two you will memorize new material and that means 300 more repetitions. With that however, you still have not finished from yesterday. After memorizing and repeating the new material, proceed to repeat yesterday's material 150 times from memory.
8. On day three, you will memorize new material and that means 300 more repetitions. Don't forget though, you still have to repeat yesterdays [day 2] text 150 times and the day before that [day 1] text 50-75 times.
9. On day four, you will memorize new material and that means 300 more repetitions. Don't forget though, you still have to repeat yesterday's [day 3] material 150 times and the material from the day before [day 2] 50-75 times and the material from day one 10 times.

Sounds like a lot? Of course it is! That is all the fun!
With this program, you will need less time to review what you have memorized because it will have entered into your long-term memory. Even though you know it well, it is advisable to read everything that you have memorized [from texts] 5-10 times from beginning to end just to make sure that you can connect ever part together as one unit.

The same is said with regard to memorization of the Qur'an. You should always review from front to back on a consistent basis.

What's next?
Traditionally, a student would either memorize and repeat his lesson for that day and then proceed to sit with the Shaykh who would then go on to explain the lines that he memorized. The student would only learn the meaning of those 4 or 5 lines and depart once more to memorize. Memorize what you ask? He would then go out, write the brief explanation of the lines he memorized on the other side of the lawhah [or in our case, on another sheet of tan paper] and memorize that as well.

How?
At this point, the student understands the lines that he memorized, be it in Fiqh or grammar. Now, he will read the explanation and put it into his own words,explaining the meanings of what he memorized and what it entails of finer points. On day two, the student will repeat those first lines from day one 150 times. After each tenth reading, this student would then read, in his own words, the meaning of the lines he read-as if he was teaching some one else. This will continue every day for all material, be it from day one, two, three, or four and beyond.

After one engages in this time consuming program for more than two weeks or so, he will have the following:

Day 1: 300 reps
Day 2: 300+150+explanation 15 times
Day 3: 300+150+75+explanations for material of day one and two- totaling 23 times
Day 4: 300+150+75+10+explanations for material of day one, two, and three- totaling 33 times.
Day 5: Continues as day four along with reading everything at once a few times to ensure proper connection etc.

With this method, you will memorize with strength in sha Allah. One thing to keep in mind also is that you are not bound to the numbers mentioned above. If you don't have the time to sit for hours upon hours, at least repeat your material 50 times on day one and then 25 on day two and 10 on day three and so on and so fourth. A little is better than reading it a few times thinking that you memorized it, only to stumble the next day as if you did nothing at all.

Group review as an aid to memorization

Last but not least, I would like to mention a bit about the group reviews in Mauritania and how we can implement that in our communities.

The group reviews are nothing more than a memorization mini study group. In Mauritania, a student will link up with a handful of other students that are studying the same book and all will do their part in the group study. The way this is done is by starting with one person [perhaps the most senior]. He will read four to ten lines that everyone has already memorized and studied. After reading them from memory, he will then start from the first line, read it and explain it's meaning in his own words. He will read each line in this manner, reading and explaining until he reaches the end of the selected amount. After he is finished, the student next to him will read and explain in the exact same manner. This will continue until everyone in the circle has read and explained to the others. From the technique, there are numerous benefits. From them:

• It is like hearing the lesson 5, 6, or 7 times, or as many students are there. This helps the meaning of the lesson stick.
• One gets to hear it explained by others who might express a concept better and thus the student benefits more and more.
• One might have a faulty way of explaining a concept; in that case, the senior student or anyone else in the circle will correct him as soon as he says in.
• One reads this in a group setting and thus works at getting over the nervousness of public speaking [to a smaller extent].

These gatherings can take place every day, or every few days according to the need. One thing to keep in mind with this method is that you are not giving a full fledged, 45-minute or one-hour lesson when you read and explain. The most it would take is 15 minutes per-person according to the subject matter.

One way this program can be implemented in our communities is by us gathering a group of serious dedicated individuals who want to learn. All of them agree to memorize in this method [even if adapted somewhat] and either learn the meanings of what is memorized through a Shaykh or teacher, or through the cassette tapes of scholars who have explained that book. If everyone goes at the same pace and all are either attending the classes of the Shaykh or teacher or are listening to the tapes, they may then gather together and hold small study sessions.

This is an attempt to learn the basics with strength and mastery. The goal behind this should not be out quoting another person and bombarding them with opinions in the subject that is being learned about. The focus as we mentioned should be on the main meaning of the text that is being read and repetition repetition repetition.

This is the method of memorization that I was blessed to learn. I am sure that there are variations of this technique in Mauritania that differ slightly. And Allah knows best.

I hope and pray to Allah the Most High that this was of benefit to you and that you read it, implement it even if in a small way, and that you make Dua' for me.

Wa Sallallahu ala Nabiyyina Muhammad wa ala aalihi was Ashabihi Ajma'in

* * *

Happy Memorizing!
Ayesha

[Ayesha Nicole]

Dear All,

I forgot to mention that while in art school, I learned that yellow is the most memorable color.  So, I always use the "canary yellow" colored paper to write/print on when I want to memorize anything.  In my experience, it does help.  And there is also an interesting thread on this topic here:

http://msgboard.snopes.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=47;t=000451;p=1

Happy Memorizing!
Ayesha

[Ayesha Nicole]

Dear All,

I found an actual study on color and memory.  Please enjoy benefitting from it below:

* * *

HIGHLIGHTING THE COLOR OF MEMORY
STEPHANIE R. GILGOUR
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY
-NONE-
Sponsored by BRIAN CRONK([email protected])

ABSTRACT
Highlighters have been used for the past couple decades for use of a study aid. Past experiments have shown that yellow highlighters benefit when studying for a test versus not using any kind of highlighting. When studying I noticed that yellow and pink highlighters helped me remember key terms better than when I did not use them, and decided to test whether they actually had an effect on memorization. Students in Missouri Western’s general studies courses were used as subjects and were given extra credit for participating in the study. They were given test packets that contained a reading passage, short demographic section, and five questions to answer over the reading they had just completed. These packets were divided into a control group with no highlighting in the reading passage, an experimental group where key terms were highlighted in yellow, and a third experimental group where the same key terms were highlighted in alternating pink and yellow. The tests were graded with the questions being answered correctly, giving one point, or incorrectly, giving zero points. The results showed that there were no significant differences in the three groups, all of their average scores came out to be almost equal, and the results were calculated using a one-way between subjects analysis of variance. Though the results were not as hypothesized, I found that the experimental yellow group did achieve the highest average in correct answers. If this study were to be replicated, more information about colors effects on the brain would be beneficial, as well as making sure that the participants are not able to cheat on the test; the results in this test could have been flawed by participants who looked up the right answers

INTRODUCTION
Short-term memory is temporary recollection of information. When reading a sentence, or a passage, you have to keep in mind the beginning of the sentence to make sense of the rest. The sensory memory is received through the senses. A sensory memory is obtained through the senses: iconic memory is the name given to the sensory memory of visual stimuli. Information is passed from sensory memory to short-term memory through attention, meaning information that is interesting is what’s going to be remembered.

Beckman (2002) states that researchers have had a hard time showing that people’s ability to see things in color helps them to remember what they are seeing. Earlier studies compared memory with line drawings done in black and white and in color, resulting in few differences. Beckman also states that only natural colors improves memory versus black and white and also falsified color, especially when viewing a nature scene, landscape, or people.

Color is used in memory through learning strategies. Harlow (1988) defines learning strategies as a set of processes used by a learner that can facilitate the acquisition, storage, and/or utilization of information, and highlighting falls under the category of a learning strategy. Phillips (2004) states that the color yellow stimulates the brain, which is basis for my hypothesis that yellow will show the highest results, and why yellow is such a popular highlighter color.

Rachel Bailey (2001), a Missouri Western State College student, did a study with highlighting and found information that showed highlighting did not increase the learning of enrichment. In her study, she used a control group of non-highlighting, and two experimental groups with highlighting: one group had key terms highlighted, and the other had the wrong terms highlighted. Her results showed that there was a significant difference between the scores of the highlighted group and scores of the non-highlighted group.

I have found that when I study, highlighting helped me remember essential information for tests. I have also found that certain colors stimulate learning more than others when I study, I steer away from greens and blues because they didn’t seem to keep my concentration. In this study the dependent variable will be memory, shown by the number of correct answers. The independent variable will be highlighting and the color of highlighter. The purpose of this study is to find whether highlighting improves memory and is an effective learning strategy.

METHOD
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PARTICIPANTS
There were 62 participants in this experiment: 24 participants in the control group and 19 for each level of the independent variable. The participants were from general studies classes of Missouri Western State College, including a 100 level psychology class and a 100 level criminal justice class

MATERIALS
The participants received a pen and paper test packet including a reading passage, a multiple-choice questionnaire, and a short demographics section (see appendix).

PROCEDURE
Each general studies course had participants assigned to each level of independent variable because it is an individual test. Those who received the control test will answer the same questions as those who receive the experiment packets, the only difference is that the control group has nothing highlighted in their reading passage, whereas the experimental groups’ passage has key terms highlighted in either yellow, or alternating yellow and pink. The demographics section was the same in all the test packets as well as the multiple-choice questions. The tests were collected and put face down into a large envelope, and graded by whether the question was answered correctly or incorrectly. Correct answers received one point, and incorrect answers were given zero points.

RESULTS
In this study a one-way between subjects analysis of variance was used to calculate the results of the test. No significant difference was found (F(2,59)=.033, p=.97). The three groups tested did not differ significantly in the tests given. The means were very close between all the groups: the yellow experimental group was 2.89; the yellow and pink experimental was 2.78; and the control group was 2.83.

DISCUSSION
The tests resulted in the experimental yellow group having the highest mean score of correct answers, with the second experimental group of pink and yellow and also the control group of no highlighting showing means very close to the yellow group. I expected the yellow highlighting group to do the best out of all the groups. In Rachel Baileys study she found that the group with the yellow highlighting received higher scores, and her data reflected her hypothesis. In future research I would find more information on how colors influence the brain and try to match different colors with different attributes. In a repeat of this study I would also take that information into consideration, as well as making sure the participants did not cheat while taking the test even if testing in smaller groups would be the only reasonable action.

REFERENCES
Beckman, M. (2002). Kodak moments more memorable in color. Science now, 5, 2.

Cycowicz, Y.M., & Friedman, D. (2003). Pictures and their colors: what do children remember? Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 15, 759.

Harlow, L.L. (1988). The effects of the yellow-highlighter?second language learning strategies and their effectiveness- a research update. Canadian Modern Language Review, 45, 91-102.

Howe, M.L. (2004). Demystifying the beginnings of memory. Developmental Review, 24, 1-5.

Phillips, S. (2004). Pastels are good for the brain. Times Educational Supplement, 4596, 2.

The Dalai Lama. (2001). An Open Heart: Practicing Compassion in Everyday Life. Boston: Little. Brown and Company.

APPENDIX
Read the following passage, and when finished, turn the page and do not

turn it back to this page:

Calm abiding, or single-pointed concentration, is a form of meditation whereby you choose an object and fix your mind upon it. This degree of focus is not achieved in one sitting! You must train your mind by

degrees. Slowly, you will find that your mind is capable of greater and greater concentration and focus. Calm abiding is the steady state in

which your mind is able to remain focused on a mental object for as long as desired, with a calm that is free from all distractions. In this meditation practice, as with all the others, motivation is once

again all-important. The skill involved in concentrating on a single object can be used to various ends. It is a purely technical expertise,

and its outcome is determined by your motivation. Naturally, as spiritual practitioners, we are interested in a virtuous motivation and a virtuous end. Let us now analyze the technical aspects of this

practice. Calm abiding is practiced by members of many faiths. A meditator begins the process of training his or her mind by choosing and object of meditation. Whatever object you choose, your single-pointed concentration must possess qualities of stability and

clarity. Stability is undermined by excitement, the scattered, distracted quality of mind that is one aspect of attachment. The mind is easily distracted by thoughts of desirable objects. Such thoughts

keep us from developing the stable, settled quality necessary for us to abide truly and calmly on the object we have chosen. Clarity, on the other hand, is hindered more by mental laxity, what is sometimes called a sinking quality of mind.

Please answer the following then turn to the next page, and do not turn

back to the first page.

Age:________

Sex:_________

Years completed in college:_______________

Estimated hours spent studying per week:__________________

Do you use highlighters when studying for classes?___________________

Read the questions and write the letter of the correct answer in the

space provided by the question number. When you are finished please

raise your hand and your packet will be collected.

______1. What form of meditation is this passage discussing?

A single-sided

B. single-minded

C. concentration

D. single-pointed

______2. It is a purely __________, and its outcome is determined by

your _________.

A. technical experience, determination

B. technical expertise, motivation

C. technical experience, motivation

D. technological, motivation

______3. What is undermined by excitement?

A. clarity

B. calming

C. stability

D. motivation

______4. Naturally, as spiritual _________, we are interested in a

virtuous end.

A. practice

B. practitioners

C. leaders

D. people

______5. What should ?calm? be free of?

A. distractions

B. focus

C. desires

D. stress

AUTHOR CONTACT INFORMATION: -None-
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Manuscript Submitted: 12/7/2004 12:58:43 PM
Manuscript Last Edited: 12/7/2004 1:07:33 PM

Copyright 2008 Missouri Western State University. Please see complete copyright information. Missouri Western is not responsible for the content posted on this web site. Any potential copyright violations, etc. should be reported to the Director so that the material can be removed.

source > http://clearinghouse.missouriwestern.edu/manuscripts/527.asp

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Happy Memorizing
- Ayesha

[Ayesha Nicole]

Dear All,

Below is the English translation from a book on of memorisation techniques by the world-leading Syrian Saudi-based Quranic recitation scholar, Dr. Yahya al-Ghouthani waffaqahullaah.  He describes a technique from his own extensive experience that is the best way to memorise the Book of Allah (Holy Qur'an.)

The following method is less intense than the previously mentioned Mauritanian memorization method.  These techniques can also be applied to other texts.

* * *

The Best Way to Memorise the Noble Quran according to my Personal Experience
By Dr. Yahya al-Ghouthani, Jeddah (world leading Quranic recitation authority)
Translated by Abu Muqatil – may Allah be forgiving to him and his parents

In light of the principles which have passed us by in the previous section, I say to whoever wants to memorize a page from the Noble Quran from any chapter that I hope that you will stay with me so we can read the following steps together at ease paving the way to apply it precisely.

1. [Obtain a good mus-haf ]
Try to obtain a good copy of the Quran whose size is according to your need and never ever replace it so that you will be strong in memorising the parts of the pages and the lines. The mus-haf al-huffaaz (the memorisers’ codex) [i.e. the text of the popular green edition from Madina written by the world famous calligrapher, Ta Ha Uthman] is preferred which starts with the verse at the start of the page and finishes with the last verse, and it is divided up well, whereby the Quran being thirty juz` (parts), every juz` has 20 pages and every page has 25 lines. The King Fahd organization in Medina al-Munawwarah has built a printer for this copy and I advice getting it as it is the most accurate contemporary print.

2. [Set the scene]
Setting the scene for memorization according to the following:-

    i. Self-composure - Have the correct intention in mind and a desire for reward from Allah
    ii. Wudoo` (ablution) and complete purity - Do not take the easy option of those who give a fatwa (legal edict) for its opposite as that goes against what befits high regard of the Speech of Allah and good manners with it.
    iii. [Comfortable setting] - Sitting in a place where you feel at ease, and there is no more sacred place than the mosque.
    iv. [Free of distractions] - It is preferred that it is a place without many pictures, carvings, decorations and distractions. The more enclosed the place is - with all due regards to fresh air - the better, compared with open space, trees and gardens. Even if some may differ with me, but I say this based upon experience not from abstract thinking. The atmosphere for light reading is different from the atmosphere for focused memorization, as wide spaces, sceneries and trees distract the mind and focus. Whatever is suitable for light reading is not needed for genuine work and focus, as mentioned in rule 4.
    v. Face the Qibla - (direction of prayer towards Mecca) and sit in a state of submission, tranquility and respect.


3. [“Warm up”]
Begin the “warm up” process (for want of a better expression). It is the preparation where you read a few pages of the Quran before starting the memorization process, whether from memory or looking.

Recite nicely, listening to yourself without haste or delay.

This is a fundamental component in preparing the self. You will find many successful memorization teachers do not allow the student to memorize before getting them to revise the previous session and letting the sheikh hear. This is to prepare him psychologically and spiritually for memorization, whilst the student may be totally unaware of the teacher's aim.

4. [Be controlled in recitation]
Beware of your voice’s beauty from distracting you at this point. The sweetness of your tone encompasses you in the atmosphere of chanting. So you start thinking that you’re so-and-so, the famous reciter, then you assume his persona and start to recite with deliberation and perfecting the letters. You repeat it and recite it again like some of the reciters. Perhaps it all goes over the top and you bring out a microphone and recording equipment. Time will pass by whilst you are unaware, and you become like that young man who really wanted to memorize the Quran but every time he sat down to memorize he opened the Quran at 7-rah Y-suf and began to chant it until the time passed him by and he memorized absolutely nothing.

5. [“Feel that urge…”]
About 10-15 minutes of the warm up exercise and personal preparation you will feel a strong desire in yourself to memorize, with that it is possible for you to start with a new page you want to memorize.

6. [Focus]
Here begins an important stage, you really have to doubly focus on the verses. Imagine that your eye is a camera lens, and that you want to film the page with sound and image. Be careful not to shake the camera.

7. [“Action!”]
Open your eyes well. Free your mind from any distraction. Read by looking at the first verse at the top of the page in an audible voice with tajw5d [the correct rules of recitation]. Read correctly with concentration. Lets use an as example His statement, the Most High:

سيقول السفهاء من الناس ما ولاهم عن قبلتهم التي كانوا عليها قل لله المشرق والمغرب يهدي من يشاء إلى صراط مستقيم

The fools among the people will say, "What has turned them from their prayer direction to which they were used to face in prayer." Say, "To Allah belong both, east and the west. He guides whom He wills to a Straight Way.” [2:142]

Read three or more times until your mind takes it all in, then close your eyes and picture in your mind the places of the words and read them. If you succeed in reading them completely without any mistake, don’t get excited but instead repeat two, three or five times.

8. [Repeat]
Then open your eyes a second time. Read the same verse from the book to confirm the correctness of your memorization. If you are certain that you’ve memorized it correctly, don’t get excited. Instead close your eyes and read another time. With this you have chiseled in your mind an engraving that is impossible to disappear with the permission of Allah, the Most High. Try the steps carefully, you will definitely find this approach sound.

Note: During the process of recall and repetition, be careful not to divert your gaze to the things around you such as written notices distributed upon walls, posters, artwork, or décor. Do not follow a whirling fan. Do not be concerned about the type of furniture or coverings you’re sitting on. Be careful of excessively looking out of the windows, perhaps your eyes will chance upon something that will not please you, or perhaps you will be distracted by the scene of people in the street, or the scene of cars as happens to students during their revision for their exams. One of them stands at the window with the excuse of getting fresh air, then there he takes a census of cars based upon make and model, and in this manner time passes him and is wasted whilst he hasn’t benefited a single thing.

You have no business with these distractions, my brother. You have put yourself forward as someone from the people of the Quran and from its memorizers, and that requires motivation, perseverance, focus and an absence of distractions.

9. [Next verse]
After that move to the verse immediately following it:

…وكذلك جعلناكم أمة وسطا
Thus we have made you a middle nation�

[fatima786]

fascinating stuff Ayesha.
karma to u.
when do u plan on starting your baby with memorising al quraan.

[Krista G]

I have found that children just absorb the scriptures, with no effort.   I would read a Psalm to the children before bed.  After 2 nights, they would be filling in the last word of each verse.  Within a week, they would know them.  Just choose a passage ad repeat it often.

There is also a great CD available from www.nogreaterjoy.org.  It is called Bible ABC's.  It has a scripture for each letter of the alphabet and it is sung and then the chapter and verse are sung as well.  It is such an easy way to teach children 26 verses of the Bible.

[Ayesha Nicole]

Dear Fatima & All,

Because medical research confirms that hearing is the first sense of a fetus to develop in the womb, the girls listened to Qur'anic recitation pre-natally.  After birth, they have listened to Qur'anic recitation daily, when they observe us performing our five obligatory prayers (in which three of the prayers are offered audibly and two are offered silently).  We also play Qur'anic recitation cd's for them when they are going to sleep. 

Linguists agree that children are born with the ability to mimic any sound and theoretically speak any language as long as they here the sounds of that language.  They also have discovered that if the child does not hear other language sound systems, that at age five, is when they begin to loose the capabiltiy of reproducing the sound audibly as a native speaker of the language would.  I believe this is explained in Dr. Suzette Haden Elgin's book on The Language Imperative:

http://www.amazon.com/Language-Imperative-Power-Enrich-Expand/dp/0738204285
(you can "look inside the book" for the table of contents and an excerpt)

I will try to locate the excerpt and post it later. 

My husband's native tongue is Arabic and he is a master of the classical Arabic language because is Hafidh ul-Qur'an, masha'Allah and speaks to them in mostly fus-hah (modern standard Arabic) and some in the Sai'di dialect (Upper Egyptian colloquial Arabic).  However, because I am learning Arabic as a second language, my pronunciation is less than native at this point, I speak to them mostly in English and some in Arabic.

After discovering Your Baby Can Read, The Doman method of reading, and this excellent e-community, I plan to use the Doman method of teaching, coupled with the Little Reader program, to teach Sarah & Salma (19 months) to recognize/read/speak whole words from the Qur'an in Classical Arabic.  I will also use the Modern Standard Arabic equivalents of the English language vocabularies, couplets, phrases, simple sentences, and books.  Below are several excellent resources in several languages:

http://www.emuslim.com/Quran/Lughat.asp (2,000 distinct words in the Qur'an)   
http://www.emuslim.com/Quran/Translation_English.asp (word for word English translation)
http://www.emuslim.com/Quran/English80.asp (80% words)   
 
And I found a neat video of a 22-month old girl reciting Qur'an after her father:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/fopqgniSmcU&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/fopqgniSmcU&rel=1</a>

So, the teaching has begun indirectly, and I am currently creating my word sets/categories in Little Reader Lite until I download the Home Basic version.  I assume I can copy and paste Arabic words - or do they have to be uploaded as pictures/graphics?  I am still learning the program and any advice would be great.

Are you teaching your children Arabic?  And how did you come to this forum?  Any tips and advice would be greatly appreciated.  I have posted several threads in the Arabic forum, if you are interested.

ASA
Ayesha

[fatima786]

wonderful.

i want to teach my son arabic but neither my husband or i speak arabic (your downloads will be so useful to us.)
we recite quraan and read an arabic translation for meaning. its so strange that we can read it beautifully but dont understand what we read. i hope my son will be different.
i have made powerpoint slides by isolating each word from the surah and on the next slide i write the meaning. i dont have a voice recorder so i say it myself.

[Ayesha Nicole]

Dear All,

It seems that my posting of Today (01/21/2009) at 04:47:04 PM, got truncated.

So, I am posting the rest, along with the title of the translated book on Qur'anic memorization, followed by the rest of the method on memorization that is commonly used in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.  This method is less intense than the method of memorization used in Mauritania, Mali, Senegal, and North Africa, that is briefly referred to in the previous post of Mauritanian methods of memorization.  


* * *

The Best Way to Memorise the Noble Quran according to my Personal Experience
By Dr. Yahya al-Ghouthani, Jeddah (world leading Quranic recitation authority)
Translated by Abu Muqatil – may Allah be forgiving to him and his parents

. . .

continued after point number 8 . . .

9. [Next verse]

After that move to the verse immediately following it:

…وكذلك جعلناكم أمة وسطا
Thus we have made you a middle nation…[2:143]

and begin with the same steps we outlined with the previous verse. If you think the verse is long, then divide it into several parts corresponding to correct and sound stops and normal meanings. Then repeat and repeat many times until it is engraved deeply in your memory.

10. [Connection process]

Begin now with the connection process which I mentioned in the eighth rule of memorization. That is by opening the book and focusing on the last part of the first verse – for example – إلى صراط مستقيم …and read it with an audible voice then connect it quickly without any stop with the first part of the second verse وكذلك جعلناكم أمة وسطا. Repeat this process many times but no less than five times.

After reading these steps – if you like them – begin implementing them straight away and record in a special notebook the date of beginning memorization. Contact someone you love and trust, and then tell them that you have found a technique in memorizing the Quran that you began applying today, so that you can be someone who guides to good.

One of the benefits of contacting someone like this is that it will be an encouragement for you in memorization and continuation, as it reflects an increased conviction in oneself with what you’ve read.

This is what is confirmed in psychology, if a person does something and he convinces someone else about it, then it is like taking a firm stance without retracting from it and his behavior increases his conviction in what he does.

It is possible to summarize this method in the following steps:-

1.   Personal composure
2.   Warm up
3.   Concentration
4.   Repetition
5.   Connecting

Result = a strong memorization with the best method.

Source: Kayfa Ta4fa= al-Qur``n al-Kar5m (“How to Memorise the Noble Quran”)
Originally posted on: http://talk.islamicnetwork.com/showthread.php?t=5643


* * *

Happy Memorizing,
Ayesha

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