Boost your Memory

The scholars have enlisted many practices for boosting the memory, however most of
these practices are based on experience and are not from the Hadith. There is no harm
in practicing upon these as long as one is aware of the above.

My Honourable teacher, Al-Muhaddith Shaykh Muhammad ‘Awwamah (may Allah protect

him) usually recommends -among other things– the following salat on Nabi (sallalahu
‘alayhi wasallam) to be recited frequently daily between Maghrib and ‘Isha Salah:
“Allahumma salli wa sallim wa barik ‘ala sayyidina Muhammadiw wa alihi kama
la nihayata likamalika wa ‘adada kamalih”
Here under are more such practices:

Actions or foods that strengthen the memory

1. The correct Intention.

2. Practicing upon the acquired knowledge.

3. Propagating knowledge.

4. Muzakarah/Takrar (discussions) of knowledge.

5. To revise the lesson in one’s mind.

6. Writing / to take notes.

7. Cupping.

8. To scent a good fragrance.

9. Honey.

10. Raisins.

11. Cow’s milk.

12. Rose water.

13. Frankincense.

14. Resin of Mastic tree.

15. To eat and drink less.

16. Fasting.

17. Reciting the Holy Quran while looking into it.

18. Reciting the first four verses of Surah Baqarah, Ayatul-Kursi, with the two verses
that follow it and the last three verses of Surah Baqarah before sleeping.
19. Sallutations upon Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam)- as directed above-

20. Salatul hifz.

Imam Bukhari (rahimahullah) was once asked as to what was most beneficial for
increasing the memory, he replied:
21. True greed for knowledge, and

22. Persistent mutala’ah (studying).

Imam Shafi’i (rahimahullah) had prescribed the following four methods:

23. The use of a Miswak.

24. Sitting in the company of the ‘Ulama (Scholars).

25. Sitting in the company of the Pious.

26. Abandoning futile talk.

References for the above:

Al-Faqih wal Mutafaqqih, vol.1 pg.103, Al-Jami’u li akhlaqir rawi, pgs. 400-406,
Muqaddimah ibn salah, pg. 247, Sunan Darimi, vol.1 pg. 155-158, Al-Hath ‘ala talabil
‘ilm of ‘Askari, pg. 73, Ta’limul Muta’allim, pg.41, At-Tibbun Nabawy of Abu Nu’aim,
pg.210, and Zadul Ma’ad, vol.4 pg.376

Deeds or foods that weaken the memory

1. Sins.

2. Sour Apples.

3. Vinegar.

4. All those things that cause phlegm.

5. Moist coriander.

6. Salted meat.

7. Hot bread.
8. Eating from a pot.

9. The leftover drink of a rat.

10. Reading tombstones.

11. Witnessing a crucifixion.

12. Looking at stagnant water.

13. Looking at one’s own private parts.

14. Looking at the private parts of a woman.

15. Masturbation.

16. For a person in need of a Fard bath to look at the sky.

17. Looking into the mirror of a cupper (one who does cupping).

18. Using a broken comb.

19. Urinating in stagnant water.

20. Urinating on the side of the road.

21. Urinating under a fruit tree.

22. Urinating into ash.

23. Making wudu in an impure place.

24. Wiping the hands or face with the tail of the clothing/kurta/qamis etc.

25. Entering the Masjid with the left foot or leaving with the right.

26. Dusting clothes in the Masjid.

27. Sweeping with a cloth.

28. Using a pants or turban as a pillow.

29. Excessive joking.

30. Laughing in the graveyard.

31. Excessive worries of the world.

32. Cupping on the nape.

33. Throwing of live lice.

References for the above

Al-Mu’jamul Kabir of Tabarani, Kitabul ‘ilm of Ibn Abi Khaithamah, pg.31, Al-Jami’u li
akhlaqir rawi, pgs.400 and 404, Ta’limul Muta’allim pg. 43, Al-Maqasidul Hasanah pg.
519, Tazhkiratu Sami’ Wal Mutakallim pg. 77, At-tibb of Imam Dhahabi, pgs.174-175
and Raddul Muhtar.

Lastly,

The best times and places for memorizing

Khatib Al-Baghdadi (rahimahullah) has mentioned the following in his book: “Al-Faqih
wal-Mutafaqqih”

“The best time for memorizing is the time of sehri (early dawn), thereafter the time of
mid-day.

The mornings are better for memorizing than the evenings, and on the whole the night
is better than the day.”

He further states: “And the best of places for memorizing are those rooms which are
above ground level and all such places where there are no distractions.

It is better that one abstains from places of greenery, riverbanks and the road side
because such places naturally distract the mind.

References for the above

Al-Faqih wal-Mutafaqqih, pgs. 103 – 104. Also refer to : ” Qimatuz zaman ‘indal-
‘Ulama of Sheikh ‘Abdul Fattah Abu Ghuddah (rahimahullah) pgs. 100-105 and
Wafayatul A’yan, vol.2 pg.245.

Four deeds for increasing the memory

Shaykh writes:
The four deeds below are effective in increasing one’s memory and protection
from forgetfulness:
1. Pray two rak’ats of nafl salah; in the first rak’ah after Surah Fatihah, recite

َ‫ﺴﺒﱢ ْﺤﻦَ َواﻟﻄﱠ ْﯿ َﺮ ۚ َو ُﻛﻨﱠﺎ ﻓَﺎ ِﻋﻠِﯿﻦ‬ َ ‫ﺳﻠَ ْﯿ َﻤﺎنَ ۚ َو ُﻛ ًّﻼ آﺗَ ْﯿﻨَﺎ ُﺣ ْﻜ ًﻤﺎ َو ِﻋ ْﻠ ًﻤﺎ ۚ َو‬
َ ُ‫ﺳ ﱠﺨ ْﺮﻧَﺎ َﻣ َﻊ دَا ُوو َد ا ْﻟ ِﺠﺒَﺎ َل ﯾ‬ ُ ‫ﻓَﻔَ ﱠﮭ ْﻤﻨَﺎھَﺎ‬
Fafahhamnaha Sulayman, wa kullan aatayna hukmaw wa ‘ilma, wa sakh-kharna ma’a
Dawudal jibala yusabbihna wat tayr, wa kunna fa’ilin.
Translation:
‘We explained the decision [as mentioned in the previous ayahs] to Sulayman (‘alayhis
salam) and granted wisdom and knowledge to both of them. We placed the mountains
and birds at Dawud’s (‘alayhis salam) service and they all engaged in Allah’s glorification
[with him]. We are the ones Who can do [Who can make such things possible].’

– In the second rak’ah after Surah Fatihah, Recite Surah Kawthar. After the Salam,
recite the following du’a:

َ‫ﺻﺤﺎﺑِ ِﮫ أَ ْﺟ َﻤ ِﻌﯿﻦ‬ ٰ
ْ َ‫َﻠﻰ َﺧ ْﯿ ِﺮ َﺧ ْﻠﻘِ َﻚ ُﻣ َﺤ ﱠﻤ ٍﺪ ﱠو آﻟِ ِﮫ َو أ‬
ٰ ‫ﺳﻠﱢ ْﻢ ﻋ‬ ِ ‫اﻟﻠّ ُﮭ ﱠﻢ ا ْﻓﺘ َْﺢ َﻋﻠَ ْﯿﻨﺎ ِﺣ ْﻜ َﻤﺘَ َﻚ َو ا ْﻧﺸ ُْﺮ َﻋﻠَ ْﯿﻨﺎ َر ْﺣ َﻤﺘَ َﻚ َو أَ ْﻧ ِﺰ ْل َﻋﻠَ ْﯿﻨﺎ ﺑَ َﺮﻛﺎﺗِ َﻚ َو ﻻ ﺗُ ْﻨ‬
َ ‫ﺴﻨﺎ ِذ ْﻛ َﺮ َك َو‬
َ ‫ﺻ ﱢﻞ َو‬
Allahummaf tah ‘alayna hikmataka wan shur ‘alayna rahmataka wa anzil ‘alayna
barakatika wala tunsina dhikraka wa salli wa sallim ‘ala khayri khalqika Muhammad wa
alihi wa as-habihi ajma’in.
Translation:
O Allah, open Your wisdom for us, spread Your mercy upon us, do not let us forget Your
remembrance, and send blessings and salutations upon Your greatest creation
Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam), his family, and all his companions.

2. After reading any book, recite the following du’a:

‫ﱢﯾﻦ‬
ِ ‫ﻟﻰ ﯾَ ْﻮ ِم اﻟﺪ‬ ُ ‫ف ﯾﱡ ْﻜﺘ‬
ٰ ِ‫َﺐ إ‬ ٍ ‫ﺐ َو َﻋ َﺪ َد ُﻛ ﱢﻞ َﺣ ْﺮ‬
َ ِ‫ف ُﻛﺘ‬ ِ ‫ِ ا ْﻟ َﻌﻠِ ﱢﻲ ا ْﻟ َﻌ ِﻈ‬l‫ﺎ‬
ٍ ‫ﯿﻢ َﻋ َﺪ َد ُﻛ ﱢﻞ َﺣ ْﺮ‬ ّ ٰ ‫ﷲُ َو‬
ّ ٰ ِ‫ﷲُ أَ ْﻛﺒَ ُﺮ َو ﻻ َﺣ ْﻮ َل َو ﻻ ﻗُ ﱠﻮةَ إِ ّﻻ ﺑ‬ ّ ٰ ‫ِ َو ﻻ إِ ٰﻟﮫَ إِ ّﻻ‬lّ ٰ ِ ‫ﷲِ َو ا ْﻟ َﺤ ْﻤ ُﺪ‬
ّ ٰ َ‫ﺳﺒْﺤﺎن‬
ُ
Subhanallahi wal hamdulillahi wa la ilaha illallahu wallahu akbaru wa la hawla wa la
quwwata illa billahil ‘aliyyil ‘adhim ‘adada kulli harfin kutiba wa ‘adada kulli harfin
yuktabu ila yawmid Din.
Translation:
All Glory and praise belongs to Allah! There is none worthy of worship besides Allah!
Allah is the greatest! There is no might and power except with Allah the Most High (May
Allah Ta’ala be praised with this) to the number of letters that have been written and
that will be written till the Day of Qiyamah!

3. Before the lesson recite:

ٰ
ِ ‫اﻟﻠّ ُﮭ ﱠﻢ ا ْﻓﺘ َْﺢ َﻋﻠَ ْﯿﻨﺎ ِﺣ ْﻜ َﻤﺘَ َﻚ َوا ْﻧﺸ ُْﺮ َﻋﻠَ ْﯿﻨﺎ َر ْﺣ َﻤﺘَ َﻚ ﯾﺎ ذا ا ْﻟ َﺠ‬
ِ ‫ﻼل َو ْاﻹ ْﻛ‬
‫ﺮام‬
Allahummaf tah ‘alayna hikmataka wan shur ‘alayna rahmataka ya dhal jalali wal ikram.
Translation:
O Allah! O Possessor of Grandeur and Honour! Open up Your wisdom to us and spread
Your mercy upon us!
4. Recite the following form of salat/durud on Nabi (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam)
frequently between Maghrib and ‘Isha Salahs:

‫ﺳﯿﱢ ِﺪﻧﺎ ُﻣ َﺤ ﱠﻤ ٍﺪ ﱠوآﻟِ ِﮫ َﻛﻤﺎ ﻻ ﻧِﮭﺎﯾَﺔَ ﻟِ َﻜﻤﺎﻟِ َﻚ َو َﻋ َﺪ َد َﻛﻤﺎﻟِ ِﮫ‬ ٰ ‫ﺳﻠﱢ ْﻢ َو ﺑﺎ ِركْ ﻋ‬ ٰ
َ ‫َﻠﻰ‬ َ ‫اﻟﻠّ ُﮭ ّﻢ‬
َ ‫ﺻ ّﻞ َو‬
Allahumma salli wa sallim wa barik ‘ala sayyidina Muhammadiw wa alihi kama la
nihayata likamalika wa ‘adada kamalihi.
Translation:
O Allah send blessing and salutations upon our Master Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alayhi
wasallam) and his family to the amount of Your limitless perfection and the number of
his perfection.
– End of article.

Note: These deeds are proven through experience [and not necessarily from Hadith] to
be effective in increasing one’s memory.
May Allah Ta’ala make it beneficial for all.