Hifdh requires sustained focus to ensure efficient use of your allocated time and accurate memorisation.

With sustained focus, you might be able to memorise your target portion within 20-60 minutes, but with constant distractions and daydreaming, it can go beyond 3 hours.

Telling oneself to focus is easier said than done! Sometimes you realise you’re not focusing after 30 minutes pass. Here are some things you can try to help you:

  1. Set up the right environment
    • If something is on your mind and you’re finding it particularly difficult to focus, try standing up and memorising or going for a walk outside in a peaceful environment and reciting.
    • Sitting at a desk or on your prayer mat instead of sitting on your bed when memorising can make all the world of difference.
  2. Minimise distractions
    • Turn off your phone or keep it out of reach or sight, as scrolling through messages and social media is a sure way to trigger your mind into thinking many things. It also consumes valuable energy that you can use to memorise.
    • If you use your phone to look at translation, consider using another means of translation: a separate device which has no distracting apps installed on it or use the hard copy translation of the Quran. Alternatively, use an app blocker that prevents you from using certain apps on your phone during certain times of the day.
    • Remind yourself that your time for Hifdh is reserved, and that everything else can indeed wait until you are done.
    • It takes time to get into “the zone,” so before deciding to “quickly do something” while memorising, remember that regaining focus and momentum will take time. Sustaining focus is key to accomplishing tasks more efficiently, which will, in turn, motivate you for your next session.
  3. Take a break – Let your mind rest at least every 40 minutes for up to 10 minutes. (Important: Avoid going on socials during your break so you can keep your mind fresh )
  4. Beautify your voice – if you have successfully mastered Tajweed, think about improving your voice. The intention of beautifying the voice should be to further implement the Sunnah, help strengthen your relationship with the Quran and to help you connect with meaning -these all in turn help bring you closer to Allah. Being able to connect to the verses and have your voice reflect the meaning is a great goal to have in the long term. The verses on Allah’s mercy and Jannah are traditionally read in a certain style, and the verses of punishment and Jahannam in a certain style. If you think you don’t have a good voice, remember that your vocal cords are muscles that can be trained. With practice and proper techniques, you can enhance your delivery and develop a more beautiful recitation. Improvement is always possible regardless of your age.
  5. Be engaged – In order to be more focused, you need to be engaged with the Qur’an. Connect to the meaning as much as you can; this will make the journey much more enjoyable. Review the section on understanding the Qur’an for more advice on how you can do this. It’s also useful to be mindful about how many times you’re repeating a verse. Daydreaming whilst repeating won’t get the same result as if you were to be mindful whilst repeating. You could be mindful of the meaning, how many times you’re reciting and whether you can read it from your memory or not. The Tarteel.Ai can assist you in focusing when you’re testing yourself.
  6. Eat wisely – Your nutrition and diet have an impact on memorisation and how you feel.
    • The brain uses glucose as its primary energy source. A stable supply of glucose, derived from healthy carbohydrates, ensures steady brain performance (consider consuming honey or dates in moderation). Sudden spikes and crashes (from sugary snacks) can impair focus and memory.
    • Overeating or heavy meals can lead to sluggishness and reduced alertness. You will never appreciate the benefits of eating moderately until you intentionally try it for yourself and experience how much more productive you can be after a meal.
    • Dehydration reduces brain efficiency and impairs memory. Drinking adequate water supports concentration and short-term memory.
  7. Sleep well – Scientific studies consistently indicate the strong link between sleeping and cognitive abilities. If you sleep late or have a poor sleeping pattern, you may want to address this if you have trouble focusing.
    • Sleep is essential for consolidating memories, which is the process of transferring new information from short-term memory to long-term memory.
    • Sleep deprivation impairs the ability to focus and pay attention, making it harder to encode new information. Without adequate sleep, your ability to recall stored memories diminishes.
    • Note: How much sleep someone needs will differ from person to person, so listen to your body and not someone else’s amazing sleep pattern. If you want to sleep less to gain more hours in the day, this should be something you do gradually, and in a way you don’t feel it impacting your productivity and alertness.
  8. Set yourself up for success
    • Preparing for your memorisation session can make your experience much more effortless. Prepare to memorise by listening to the targeted Sūrah a month in advance, daily – this can be done very easily and integrated into your daily routine
    • Go over what you will memorise the next day a few times before you go to bed. This shouldn’t take long, perhaps 5-10 minutes (depending on how much you will be memorising)

PARTS IN THIS SERIES

  1. Introduction
  2. Errors in Recitation
  3. Stuck on a Difficult Verse
  4. Similar Verses (المُتَشَابِهَات)
  5. Struggling to Recall How the Next Verse/Page Starts
  6. Struggling to Recalling How Verses End
  7. Forgetting
  8. Being Consistent
  9. Lack of Motivation
  10. Difficulty Focusing
  11. Not Reflecting and Understanding
  12. Reflections & Resources