The Fifty Method
The Diary of A Hāfiz - Issue #142
Bismillāh al-Rahmān al-Rahīm
Assalāmu ‘Alaykum!
Alhamdullāh, hope you’re doing well.
Today I share a method for Hifz and a timely story.
Again, requesting your prayers,
- Qāri’ Mubashir
A moments reflection changed the course of her Hifz
She said she joined a Hifz class and experienced the same difficulties that many of us face. Many prioritise either reviewing the old memorisation at the expense of memorising new portions or vice versa — they memorise new portions but don’t strengthen the old ones sufficiently. This causes memorisation to weaken. The challenge is always the battle between the new and the old.
Her experience with Hifz: She shared, “I enrolled in a Hifz class, and I went through different phases. There were times when I focused solely on reviewing the old portions. I would review them extensively, spending all my time revising the old, and as a result, I wouldn’t memorise anything new. Meanwhile, others in the class would be progressing with new memorisation, and I’d feel like I wasn’t keeping up. This would lead to feelings of inadequacy and frustration.
Then, there would be periods where I did the opposite — I would abandon the old memorisation entirely and focus only on the new. I’d memorise new parts without reviewing the old ones, which I’d eventually forget. I felt like I was stuck in a cycle, unsure how to break free.
I also noticed that while memorising one Surah, my mind would still linger on the previous one. For example, while working on Surah al-Baqarah, I’d find myself thinking about Surah Aal-e-‘Imran. When I moved to Surah an-Nisa, my mind would still be with Surah Aal-e-‘Imran. I didn’t have clear focus.
The turning point: “So one day, I told myself, ‘Enough is enough. I need to organise myself and break out of this cycle. I want to memorise in a way that brings me happiness, not feelings of inadequacy.’
So I reflected on a beautiful thing we all carry — occupied with wanting to please Allah. It’s not the same as being consumed by worldly distractions. When you’re preoccupied with strengthening your memorisation of Surah al-Baqarah, for instance, it’s a beautiful burden. Others may be distracted by the world and its fleeting pleasures, but you are striving for Allah’s pleasure. So why should I feel inadequate?
Her plan: She said, “So I made a plan. Every day, I would memorise a page or half a page. Then I would review the old portions, and in the middle of the day, I would revise the most recent Juz’ I had memorised. I stuck to this plan with immense patience. I reviewed with my teacher, revised older Surahs, and maintained a program for my daily and detailed portions.
Over time, by the grace of Allah, I began to see incredible results. I continued like this until, by Allah’s permission, I completed memorising the entire Qur’an. Afterward, I joined a consolidation course to strengthen my memorisation even further. Now, I’ve reached a stage where I open my mushaf, review my portion, and close it with ease, all in a calm and relaxed state. Reviewing has become simple and effortless for me.”
The Key Takeaway: The sister concluded her story by saying, “This ease didn’t come overnight. It required determination, effort, and patience. I had to transition from a stage of weakness in my memorisation to a stage of strength. If others could do it, by the grace of Allah, then so can you.
Many Hafiza’s of the Qur’an started with weak memorisation but improved through hard work. Nobody begins with perfect memorisation except a rare few. Most people face challenges in the beginning but overcome them with persistence. This is the key, you just keep going.”
Practical Advice:
Adopt a Structured Approach: Memorsze with repetition and follow a cumulative consolidation method. Review and reinforce previous portions daily.
Embrace Patience: Understand that memorisation and revision require time and dedication. Progress comes with consistency.
Focus on Quality Over Quantity: It’s better to memorise a little with precision than to rush and achieve weak memorisation.
Avoid Procrastination: Begin immediately with what you can manage. Use your time wisely and focus on your goals without distractions.
Trust in Allah: Seek His help, and remember that with effort and du’a, you will succeed.
Final Words: “My advice is to work on your Hifz daily, with ease and patience. Make repetition your key. Record in your mind the goal of reaching a stage where you can open your mushaf, review your portion, close it, and move on with peace of mind. Remove feelings of frustration or self-doubt. Know that you are engaging with Allah’s book, the greatest source of nourishment for the soul. So, if you feel weak today, put a plan in place and work consistently. Little by little, you’ll see improvement.
Remember, 'Repetition is the path to mastery.' Stay steadfast, seek Allah’s help, and trust in the process. May Allah accept your efforts and grant you ease in your journey. Peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you."
The Fifty Method (Tariqah al-Khamsiniyyah)
Memorising the Qur’an is one of the most rewarding and spiritually uplifting journeys a believer can undertake. Yet, the challenge of retention amidst life’s daily distractions and commitments often leaves many feeling overwhelmed. Enter the Fifty Method (Tariqah al-Khamsiniyyah) by Shaykh ‘Abdul Rahman al-Shanqiti — a structured and simple approach that can help anyone solidify their Hifz, one page (less or more) at a time.
This method is not only effective but also aligns perfectly with the rhythms of daily life, linking the memorisation process to moments of spiritual elevation and focus, such as the daily prayers. Here’s how it works:
The Fifty Method: Step-by-Step
Start with your portion: Select a single page or portion from the Qur’an as your focus for the day.
Link Memorisation to Salah: After each of the five daily prayers (Salāh), repeat the page ten times (looking). By the end of the day, you will have recited it 50 times (looking).
These repetitions are not rushed; they are deliberate, with full attention to the flow of words and the accuracy of recitation.
Before Sleeping: Recite the page once before going to bed to reinforce your memorisation in your short-term memory.
Before Fajr Prayer: Upon waking, recite the page again. This early morning recitation helps transfer the memorised page into your long-term memory. Do these from memory.
Move to a New Page: The next day, after Fajr, begin the process with a new page, repeating the same sequence.
The Advantages of the Fifty Method
Linked to Salah: The method is structured around the five daily prayers, moments that are already part of our routine. These are spiritually blessed times when focus and intention are heightened, making the memory more receptive.
Daily Progress Without Overload: By focusing on one page a day, you balance progress and retention. The steady pace ensures that your memorisation is both effective and sustainable.
Encourages Discipline: The regularity of tying memorisation to salah instills a sense of accountability and rhythm, making it easier to stay consistent.
The Importance of Review
While the Fifty Method helps with the memorisation of new material, reviewing previously memorised portions is essential to avoid forgetting. No week should pass without revisiting everything you’ve memorised. Here’s how to approach review effectively:
Spread Review Across the Week: Divide your memorized ajzā’ (parts) across the seven days of the week. For example, if you’ve memorized 10 ajzā’, review two each day, ensuring you cover everything by the end of the week.
Integrate Review into Tahajjud: The night prayer (Tahajjud or Qiyām al-Layl) is the perfect opportunity to review memorized portions. Reciting in the stillness of the night enhances focus and strengthens the connection to the Qur’an.
Effective Memorisation
If you’re looking to refine your memorisation technique, here’s an additional method you can incorporate into your routine:
Start with an Ayah:
Read the Ayah 3-5 times while looking at the text.
Then recite the Ayah 3 times without looking, focusing on the accuracy of words.
Address Stumbling Blocks:
If you get stuck, look at the specific word or phrase causing the issue, repeat it 3 times, and then try reciting the entire Ayah again.
Connect the Ayat:
After successfully memorising one Ayah, move to the next using the same process.
Once the second Ayah is memorised, recite both together without looking. Continue this pattern for the entire page.
Recall Throughout the Day:
The key to solidifying memorisation is recalling the page during spare moments. After salah is an excellent time to test your recall.
Evaluate Retention:
If you can recall the page after several hours without needing the mushaf, you’ve successfully internalised it.
Read more:
🔗 The 5×3 Method For Hifz Students Revising Quran (3 mins)
🔗 The Badrani Hifz Repetition Method (3 mins)
🔗 Five A Day Method To Memorise Qur’an In 4 Years (3 mins)
📖 THE DIARY OF A HĀFIZ
This is where we try to learn by watching others memorise. A roundup reporting the progress of our brothers and sisters in their pursuit of memorising the Qur'ān:
👳🏼♂️ Muhammad, 36, founder
Background: After forgetting what he memorised (half the Qur'ān) and kept struggling to start again. So he decided to share his diary and mission with us. After 19 weeks of struggle, he finally started. It took him a few months to do a few Juz’. He’s a few months away from having a years diary complete.
What he accomplished last week (Year 2 Week 16 complete):
“I didn’t get to revise or recite much this week because of travelling and hope to get back on track with things this coming week, in shā’ Allāh — I do have a question though, how can you keep up with Hifz/revision while travelling?.”
🧕🏼 Aaliya
Background: I'm 28 and I started memorizing full time about 2 years ago. I have almost 17 Juz memorized Alhamdulillah. I go to a masjid hifz class everyday and I'm trying to increase my daily revision to 2-3 juz. I'm hoping recording weekly diaries will motivate me to be more consistent and inshAllah help others who read it too.
Week 19:
“This week, I decided to focus on revision and didn't memorize ahead this week. Alhamdulillah I revised 2-3 paras daily. They weren't strong, I hadn't recited them in 3 weeks, but at least I recite them now, inshAllah next time they will be stronger.
I realized I keep falling into a pattern of feeling overwhelmed easily and avoiding reciting because I don't feel prepared and don't want to recite badly. I have to remember to be kinder to myself and push myself to recite, even if it is full of stops and mistakes.
Next week, I plan to continue memorizing, I am on the last quarter of 16th juz. And I will try to go up to 3-4 paras daily revision.”
🧕🏼 Aisha
Background: I am a 36 yr old, mother of 6 kids. I memorised 20 juz in a madrasa but got married and although completed my hifz on my own , my revision was poor and I couldn't recite anything properly except for 5 or 6 juz. It's been 12 years of ups and downs trying to rememorise with little success. Alhamdulillah I found Qari Mubashir’s website that answered so many of my questions and took me out of self doubt, I discovered the tikrar program, downloaded the app and Alhamdulillah my path to rememorise has finally been made possible by the grace of Allah. I started on the 20th of June and so far have completed 8 juz , currently doing the 9th . I also gave my first test for juz 1 - 6 last month and passed it Alhamdulillah. I am looking forward to completing hifz, with a solid revision this time, bi iznillah.
Week 6:
“Assalamualaikum warahmatullah,
Current Juz: 11
New : No new memorisation last week ,
I paused it to focus on my revision, and Alhamdulillah it was very helpful.
I've resumed new memorisation today , almost at the end of Surat Tawbah , Alhamdulillah.
Connection : 10th juz full and 3 pages from 11th juz daily.
It took me some time to strengthen the 10th juz , especially the 2nd half , but focusing completely on it lifted alot of stress from me and I'm happy I didn't give in to the temptation of moving forward on a shaky foundation.
Revision : Juz 1 to 9 - 1.5 juz (30 pages) daily .
Memorising and revising in prayers had a profound effect, also recited to my friend.
Earlier I had stopped reciting in prayer due to lack of time but this step is crucial in hifz , there's no hifz without it !!
Although I didn't move forward but focusing on revision felt like a big weight was lifted off me , Alhamdu wa shukru lillah !!”
👉 If you have any questions, just drop a reply to me and I'll feature the questions and answers in relevant issues. If you want to join the diaries, get in touch also!
Allāh grant us all success and ease on this path!
⭐ COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS & UPDATES
What’s new / recent
I’m working on a few things this week and hope to bring some updates next week, in shā’ Allāh.
📢 📢 Requests
1️⃣ My request is also on-going, share your usual hifz schedule with me. Please fill in the Form. (I have had several which I will add online soon)
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4️⃣ If you have anything to add, have hifz stories, want to share your own journey, have advice, have teachers, have anything you want to add to the weekly emails, do let me know. Especially if you have any questions for me to address through the weekly newsletter.
5️⃣ If whatever advice, motivation, strategies I have shared have helped you memorise please, check out Impact and share your thoughts.
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