An Ayah A Day Teaching the Qur’an to children We all dream of ourselves and our children becoming hafidhul-Qur’an – the protectors of the Qur’an. For Umm Raiyaan, her teacher happens to be her husband, Abu Raiyaan, who has 16 years of experience in teaching Hifdh and Tajweed. She interviews him to gain some insight and some tips as to how parents can take responsibility for their children’s hif 1. How should the Qur’an be taught to children? Do not teach Qur’an to young children in a strict manner. It should be taught in a fun way (without mocking the Qur’an). Children need incentives. Just as we memorise because of incentives of Jannah, children will be motivated by a little treat after completing each surah. Always remind them that Allah (s.w.t) stores away special treats for them every time they memorise something and that treat is a surprise and better than the one you are giving to them. 2. What is the best way to memorise the Qur’an? The best way to memorise is through listening and repeating. Depending on the age and ability, this can be done by breaking down the ayah and asking the children to repeat until the ayah is completed or by repeating a few ayah at a time. This is the traditional method of learning the Qur’an. A lot of people/children memorise after they have learned to read, but it can start even earlier. When our first child was born, we would play the same tape of Juz Amma while she napped or slept at night. We still do it; it now helps when she does come to memorise a new surah. Whichever surah you or your child is memorising, play it continuously- when you are driving, when you are on the train, when you are waiting for a doctor’s appointment. When your children are playing, play that surah in the background. 3. Many want to memorise the Qur’an quickly. What is your advice? It is good that we make the niyah to memorise the Qur’an but many make the mistake of memorising the Qur’an very quickly in order to become hufadh but then, after a few months, they forget a lot. In my opinion, it is better that the Qur’an is memorised slowly with the aim of memorising it all. In this way, the person will still memorise the entire Qur’an but will retain it, insha Allah. Retaining the Qur’an is much more difficult and more important than actually memorising it. Always develop a muraji’ah (revision) programme every day. Even if your child has only memorised a few surahs- it is important that these are revised every single day in addition to new ayat that are being memorised. A common mistake that is made is that new hifdh is what is concentrated on and the muraji’ah is forgotton. 4. What other advice can you offer to anyone wishing to achieve this goal? Firstly, do not underestimate the response to your du’a from Allah (s.w.t.) neither you nor your children will become hafidh of Qur’an without the permission of Allah (s.w.t.). Secondly, you must constantly make istighfar. Your sins will be a barrier between you and your goal. So, always seek forgiveness from Allah (s.w.t.) for the sins you remember and the sins you have forgotten. Thirdly do not try to fit your hifdh time in (to your life). You have to make specific times for your memorising and stick to it! You must be strict on yourselves and your children (but still teach them in a fun way). Fourthly, when memorising, read the tafsir. The stories and sequences in the Quran will help you memorise. Fifthly, and this is very important, a little every day is better than larger amounts. Small goals are better. Test yourself throughout the day. For example, with children, test them after lunch, “Recite Surah Fajr to me”. Whilst they are playing with toys, tell them, “recite to me Surah Fajr again.” In the car, say “Im sure you’ve forgotten surah Fajr.” (They will probably reply with a NOOOOOOOOOOO!”) Then they will revise it by repeating it to you. So it is about testing them here and there throughout the day. Finally, always remember why you are doing this. It is not to receive the label of being a ‘hafidh’. It must be done with ikhlas (sincerity). Those that do it to seek Allahs pleasure- Allah (s.w.t.) will help them in ways you cannot imagine. Those who do it for any other reason will continue to struggle for the rest of their lives. And Allah (s.w.t) knows best.