Hafiz (Quran)

Hafiz (/ˈhɑːfɪz/; Arabic: حافظ, romanizedḥāfiẓ, pl. ḥuffāẓ حُفَّاظ, f. ḥāfiẓa حافظة), literally meaning "protector", depending on the context, is a term used by Muslims for someone who has completely memorized the Quran. Hafiza is the female equivalent.

A hafiz is given great respect by the people of the community with titles such as "Hafiz Sahb" (Sir Hafiz), "Ustadh" (أُسْتَاذ) (Teacher), and occasionally Sheikh (شَيْخ).

Importance

Hifz is the memorization of the Quran. Muslims believe that whoever memorizes the Quran and acts upon it will be rewarded and honoured greatly by Allah, as Abdullah ibn Amr narrated that the Messenger of Allah said: “It shall be said — meaning to the one who memorized the Qur'an — 'Recite, and rise up, recite (melodiously) as you would recite in the world. Indeed your rank shall be at the last Ayah you recited” (Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2914)

Having memorised the Quran, the hafiz or hafiza must then ensure they do not forget it. Ensuring perfect recall of all the learned verses requires constant practice. The memorisation of the Quran was important to Muslims in the past and also in the present. Yearly, thousands of students master the Quran and complete the book with interpretation and also memorisation. The Quran is the only book, religious or secular, that has been memorized completely by millions of people.

In Pakistan alone, Qari Hafeez Jalandhari, the general secretary of the Wafaq-ul-Madaris, which is a central board accounting for most of the religious seminaries in Pakistan adhering to Deobandi sect, says that, in its network of madaris, "one million children have become Hafiz-e-Quran after an exam was introduced in 1982", with more than 78,000 (including 14,000 girls) every year, which he compared to the yearly output of Saudi Arabia, which is 5,000.

Procedure

The procedure of memorizing the Quran often varies from person to person, but generally some steps are followed.

  • A basic understanding of the Arabic language, especially reading the words easily, can make the process easier.
  • The individual must be committed to devoting time and effort to the practice.
  • It is advised to do the sincere intention (niyyah) before starting the memorization.
  • Dedicating a specific time of the day for memorization and stick to it. This process is important for effective memorization.

Memorization

  • Beginning by memorizing short chapters (known as "Surahs" in Quran) and gradually move to longer ones.
  • Repeating the verses multiple times to commit them to memory.
  • Using proper pronunciation and rhythm, often called Tajweed, while reciting. (This not only helps with memorization but is also considered an act of spiritual merit).
  • After memorizing a new portion, immediately reciting it several times to reinforce memory.
  • Periodically go back to previously memorized portions to ensure they are retained.
  • Memorizing with a group can be beneficial as it allows for immediate correction and mutual motivation.
  • Most of the time Hafiz students listen to recitations which help in memorization.
  • When the memorization process is complete, a teacher (often called a sheikh or hafiz) tests the student's memorization through oral recitation.
  • After successfully memorizing the entire Quran, individuals may receive a certificate confirming their Hafiz status, often following an extensive oral examination.

In today's world most people in countries like the United States do not take physical classes because their schedule is too busy so they get Islamic education for their kids or themselves through online platform.

Cultural differences

For Muslims who are attempting to memorize certain suras but are unfamiliar with the Arabic script, the ulema have made various elucidations. There are mixed opinions on the usage of romanization of Arabic due to concerns about mispronunciations, higher approval of writing systems with close consonantal and vocalic equivalents to classical Arabic or relevant and effective diacritics, and a preference for Quran tutors or recorded recitations from qaris or any device with clear audible sound storage technology, such as CDs or cassettes.

Keeping the Quran memorized has always been a challenging and, at the same time, an important issue in Muslim countries. In Iran, according to Resolution 573 of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution, there is at least one specialized examination of the preservation of the Quran each year, according to specific criteria. The reviewer of this evaluation is Dar al-Qur'an al-Karim, a subsidiary of the Islamic Advertising Organization. According to Article 5 of the above Decree, holders of specialized qualifications for memorizing the Quran will enjoy the benefits of one to five art degrees, subject to the approval of the 547th session of the Supreme Council for Cultural Revolution. Therefore, the approval of the Qualification Degrees 1 to 5 of the Quran is in line with the Doctoral, Master's, Bachelor, Associate's Diploma, and Diploma degrees, respectively.[circular reference]

See also


This page was last updated at 2023-09-24 10:56 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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