We start to learn Quran at an early age, and we continue to learn more as we grow up, so it becomes part of our lives. We learn how to read it, understand it and implement it into our lives by memorizing it, understanding its meanings, and putting them into practice. Search or the biography of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is another form of knowledge that we need to learn and master to have a deeper connection with our beloved Prophet (peace be upon him). So how do we balance between Seerah and learning Quran? I’ll share my experience below.
The Importance Of Memorizing The Noble Quran
Memorizing The Noble Quran is one of Allah’s greatest gifts that He has given to us. Memorizing The Noble Quran isn’t easy, but it is something anyone can do. We’re lucky that today we have an online Quran academy to help with memorization and putting all of our time into studying Islam and bettering ourselves.
Anyone who learns The Noble Quran, even in a small amount, has one of Allah’s highest rewards awaiting them on Judgement Day, so don’t lose your chance to have a great standing with God. It may be difficult to balance time between seerah and learning Islam, but if you are committed to making it happen, it will fall into place just like anything else you want out of life does.
Make A Schedule
First, you must choose what you want to learn. That’s where a Quran Online Academy can come in handy. Your lesson plan should be made for a specific period of time-based on how much knowledge you would like to gain within that time frame. You will have to make sure that your schedule is not too busy or not too relaxed because both of those situations are not optimal for learning.
This may seem like a lot of work, but it’s easier than it sounds; most online Quran academies have built-in schedulers to help you stay on track and keep your lessons balanced. Once you make a schedule, stick with it! Skipping or changing lessons means wasting your time and money and hurting your long-term goals.
Make Sure There Is Emphasis On The Arabic Language
Unfortunately, most online Quran academies focus on recitation and memorization. It’s not enough to learn how to recite your favorite surahs; you should also be focusing on your understanding of what you’re reading. This requires a deep comprehension of both classical and modern Arabic. If you don’t have a background in Arabic grammar, it will be difficult for you to derive meaning from what you’re reading.
Once you’ve begun studying Fusha (formal) grammar with an instructor, ask them if they offer online coaching sessions through Skype or another video platform. Or maybe they have some audio files that can help guide your practice sessions at home.
Cut Back On Watching Television
The world is filled with distractions that are harder to avoid than ever before. From Facebook to Pinterest to Reddit, it’s easy to get lost in a quick bit of research or an hour-long TV binge. The best way for you to balance between learning about Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and reading his biography is by cutting back on your TV time.
Find some headphones and listen to a Qur’an recitation while you do your schoolwork; focus on memorizing new passages each day instead of zipping through them too quickly. In addition, spend more time each week reading biographies of your favorite Muslim historical figures (think: Al-Khansaa).
Stay Busy With Other Activities That Engage Your Mind
A lot of us find it hard to stay focused and engaged when we spend hours in prayer at a time. This is especially true during long recitations like Taraweeh or Tahajjud, but even 5-10 minutes of Dhikr can be enough to make your mind wander.
When you’re feeling lazy or sleepy while doing Quran, try switching over to another activity that keeps your mind engaged, like reading a book or exercising. (Bonus points if you do these two things together!) Not only will staying active help you stay awake, but it will also give you an opportunity to engage with life on a deeper level than memorizing words on a page. You’ll really be living for God.
Learn Simple Recitation Techniques
Reciting or memorizing a long passage of Arabic text can be intimidating for a new student. But you don’t have to do it all at once. A basic and easy technique is to memorize short, familiar phrases over time until you build up enough to put together more complex verses. We’ll focus on one simple phrase—Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim (In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful)—that will serve as a foundation for reciting short passages such as those in Surat Al-Fatiha (The Opening).
Start by looking at some examples of how different calligraphers use different styles when they write out Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim once you feel comfortable with your ability to copy these letters, practice writing them repeatedly until you are able to trace them without lifting your pen from the page. The next step is learning how to read what you’ve written so that you know where each letter begins and ends. This takes practice; if possible, ask someone who knows Arabic well to help guide your efforts.
Consistency Is Key
It is said that if we are consistent in our worship, and if it’s a form of worship we can maintain throughout our lives, then it is all we need to reach Paradise. It doesn’t matter what type of worship we perform, but rather that we do it consistently. In other words, as long as we have consistency in our intentions and beliefs about what we are doing, then there is no need to worry about whether it is accepted by Allah (SWT) or not.
That being said, one might ask: What does all of that have to do with learning Qur’an and the Sunnah? The answer lies in a hadith from Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal (d. 241 AH/855 CE), who related from Abu Umamah Al-Bahili (d. 99 AH/717 CE): The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم once came out one day, and I was walking behind him. He stopped at a place where there was some shade, so he sat down on his cloak. Then he took my hand and said: ‘O Abu Umamah! Shall I teach you something that is better than what you are following? When you go to bed, say: Allahumma antas salamtu was minkas salamu; tabarakta ya dhal Jalali wal Ikram [O Allah, You are Peace and from You comes peace; blessed are You and exalted. O Possessor of Majesty and Honor]. If you die during that night, you will die on Islam.
Conclusion
When we have time for our studies of learning the Quran and for studying about Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم’s life and actions, it is important to plan when we are going to spend time in each. That way, we will achieve maximum benefits from both. Both may seem easier than you thought – after all, one focuses on what Allah has created, and one focuses on what Allah has revealed. They overlap a lot! So that means that if you give extra time to studying the seerah or Qur’an, it will also help your studies of Qur’an reading! This is especially important if you’re trying to memorize more of it. The methods you learn here can easily be applied there, too – and vice versa.
