Amal for increase in memory (Hadeeth)

There is a Hadith recorded by Imam Tirmidhi (Rahimahullah), Hadith: 3570 and others where Sayyiduna ‘Ali (radiyallahu ‘anhu) narrates a Salah he learnt from the Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) to ease his memorization of the Quran.

Click here to see the status and translation of this Hadeeth.

The amal mentioned in the Hadeeth is as follows:

Read 4 Rakaats of Tahajjud Salaah on a Thursday night (the night preceeding Friday). The best would be to wake up in the last 3rd of the night. If this is not possible then in the middle of the night. If this also is not possible then at the begin of the night.

In the first rak’ah recite Surah Fatihah and Surah Yasin,

In the second rak’ah recite Surah Fatihah and Surah Hamim Dukhan,

In the third rak’ah recite Surah Fatihah and Surah Alif Lam Mim Sajdah

In the fourth rak’ah recite Surah Fatihah and Surah Tabarak.

When you complete the tashahud then praise Allah Ta’alah in the best manner you can in Arabic. Then send salutations upon Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) in the best manner you can in Arabic. Then send salutations upon all the Ambiya Alaihimus Salaam. Then seek forgiveness for the believing men and women and your brothers who preceded you in iman. Then read the following dua:

اللَّهُمَّ ارْحَمْنِي بِتَرْكِ الْمَعَاصِي أَبَدًا مَا أَبْقَيْتَنِي، وَارْحَمْنِي أَنْ أَتَكَلَّفَ مَا لاَ يَعْنِينِي، وَارْزُقْنِي حُسْنَ النَّظَرِ فِيمَا يُرْضِيكَ عَنِّي، اللَّهُمَّ بَدِيعَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ ذَا الجَلاَلِ وَالإِكْرَامِ وَالعِزَّةِ الَّتِي لاَ تُرَامُ، أَسْأَلُكَ يَا أَللَّهُ يَا رَحْمَنُ بِجَلاَلِكَ وَنُورِ وَجْهِكَ أَنْ تُلْزِمَ قَلْبِي حِفْظَ كِتَابِكَ كَمَا عَلَّمْتَنِي، وَارْزُقْنِي أَنْ أَتْلُوَهُ عَلَى النَّحْوِ الَّذِي يُرْضِيكَ عَنِّيَ، اللَّهُمَّ بَدِيعَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ ذَا الجَلاَلِ وَالإِكْرَامِ وَالعِزَّةِ الَّتِي لاَ تُرَامُ، أَسْأَلُكَ يَا أَللَّهُ يَا رَحْمَنُ بِجَلاَلِكَ وَنُورِ وَجْهِكَ أَنْ تُنَوِّرَ بِكِتَابِكَ بَصَرِي، وَأَنْ تُطْلِقَ بِهِ لِسَانِي، وَأَنْ تُفَرِّجَ بِهِ عَنْ قَلْبِي، وَأَنْ تَشْرَحَ بِهِ صَدْرِي، وَأَنْ تَغْسِلَ بِهِ بَدَنِي، فَإِنَّهُ لاَ يُعِينُنِي عَلَى الحَقِّ غَيْرُكَ وَلاَ يُؤْتِيهِ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ، وَلاَ حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّةَ إِلاَّ بِاللَّهِ العَلِيِّ العَظِيمِ

‘O Allah, have mercy on me by abandonment of sins forever, so long as You keep me remaining. And have mercy on me from taking upon myself what does not concern me, and provide me good sight for what will make You pleased with me. O Allah, Originator of the heavens and the earth, Possessor of glory, and generosity, and honor that is not exceeded. I ask you, O Allah, O Rahman, by Your glory and the light of Your Face, to make my heart constant in remembering Your Book as You taught me, and grant me that I recite it in the manner that will make You pleased with me. O Allah, Originator of the heavens and the earth, Possessor of glory, and generosity, and honor that is not exceeded. I ask you, O Allah, O Rahman, by Your glory and the light of Your Face, to enlighten my sight with Your Book, and make my tongue free with it, and to relieve my heart with it, and to expand my chest with it, and to wash my body with it. For indeed, none aids me upon the truth other than You, and none gives it except You, and there is no Might or Power except by Allah, the High, the Magnificent.’

Do this Amal for 3, 5 or 7 Thursday nights consecutively. 

 

Imaam Ghazali (Rahmatullahi Alaih) mentions in his book “Al Haqq Al Murr”:

Look at the Hadeeth Where Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) advised Hazrat Ali (Karramallahu Wajhahu) to read a certain dua for increase in memory. Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) advised him to make dua such:

Oh Allah through your mercy allow me to refrain from sins for as long as you grant me life.

Oh Allah allow me to stay away from anything that does not concern me.

And Oh Allah bless me with forsight into what will please you.

Imaam Ghazali (Rahmatullahi Alaih) comments on this saying: ” We understand from here that sins weaken the memory, engaging in useless things prevents it from absorbing and not planning to do that which pleases Allah Ta’alah is a road to complete deprevation.”