Allah Ta’ala has created every human being with different qualities and traits. While some may possess extraordinary memories and great intellect, others may possess equally unique capabilities in a different field. If a person has a weak memory, that is only natural. Hereunder are different methods that one may adopt to enhance his memory:
🕌 The Foundational Principle: Abstaining from Sins
The cultivation of a strong memory, particularly for those seeking knowledge, begins with spiritual discipline. This is strongly attested to by the pious predecessors.
The great Jurist, Imam Muhammad bin Idrees Al-Shafi’ee Rahimahullah, once complained of his struggle with retention to his revered teacher, Imam Waki bin Jarrah:
شَكَوْتُ إِلَى وَكِيْعٍ سُوءَ حِفْظِي فَأَرْشَدَنِي إِلَى تَرْكِ المَعَاصِي
وَأَخْبَرَنِي بِأَنَّ العِلْمَ نُورٌ وَنُورُ اللَّهِ لَا يُهْدَى لِعَاصِي
Translation: I complained to Waki of bad memory; so he advised me to abandon sins
And he told me that knowledge is a light; and the light of Allah is not given to a sinner.
This critical advice was also emphasized by Imam Waki bin Jarrah in another instance. A student of Imam Waki bin Jarrah, a scholar mentioned in all six famous books of Ahadith, inquired about his (Imam Waki's) wonderful memory, which allowed him to memorize everything without notes:
قَالَ عَلِيُّ بنُ خَشْرَم: مَا رَأَيْتُ بِيَدِ وَكِيْعٍ كِتَاباً قَطُّ، إِنَّمَا هُوَ حِفْظٌ، فَسَأَلتُهُ عَنْ أَدوِيَةِ الحِفْظِ، فَقَالَ: إِنْ عَلَّمْتُكَ الدَّوَاءَ، اسْتَعْمَلتَه? قُلْتُ: إِيْ وَاللهِ. قَالَ: تَرْكُ المَعَاصِي، مَا جَرَّبْتُ مِثْلَهُ لِلْحِفْظِ
Translation: Ali bin Khashram said: I have never seen a book in Waki’s hand; it was only good memory (meaning he would always memorize everything; he did not need a book). So I asked him about the treatment for good memory. So he said: “If I teach you the treatment, will you use it?” I replied, “Yes, by Allah”. So he said, “abandoning sins; I have never experienced anything like it”.
If a person has a good memory but focuses towards sinful acts, the ability of his memory is also directed towards sinful acts. In such a situation, the brain consumes sinful content rather than correct and good content.
💪 Training the Mind: The Necessity of Working Hard
If a person possesses a weak memory by nature, he could enhance his memory by training the memory to retain information. For this, he has to work hard and put pressure on the brain to retain information. Gradually, the information will saturate in his brain and the ability to retain information will increase.
This concept is similar to the physique of a child. The limbs are weak in it’s initial stages. When it is trained to walk, then there is energy created for the legs to carry the weight and enable the child to walk. Over time, the same legs carry a person for long distances.
There are many Ulama who have excelled in Fiqh, Tafseer and Hadith due to hard work and putting pressure on the brain. Allah Ta’ala appreciates hard work and strengthens the person’s memory. Allah Ta’ala mentions in the Qur’an:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
Translation: Indeed, Allah does not allow to be lost the reward of those who do good.
🍯 Enhancing Cognitive Function: Consuming Brain Food
Apart from two factors mentioned above, abstaining from sins and working hard, a person may also enhance his memory with brain food. See the following:
The Islamic Perspective on Diet
Scholars have mentioned certain foods and remedies which increase the memory, such as drinking honey, eating raisins, and chewing certain kinds of gum resin and nuts such as, almonds, walnuts, pistachios, etc.
- Honey:
Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam is reported to have mentioned:
"إِنْ كَانَ فِي شَيْءٍ مِنْ أَدْوِيَتِكُمْ خَيْرٌ، فَفِي شَرْبَةِ عَسَلٍ، أَوْ شَرْطَةِ مِحْجَمٍ، أَوْ لَذْعَةٍ مِنْ نَارٍ، وَمَا أُحِبُّ أَنْ أَكْتَوِيَ"
Translation: "If there is any good in your medicines, then it is in a gulp of honey, a cupping operation, or branding (cauterization), but I do not like to be (cauterized) branded.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) also said:
"عَلَيْكُمْ بِالشِّفَاءَيْنِ: الْعَسَلِ، وَالْقُرْآنِ"
Translation: “You should take the two that bring healing: Honey and the Qur’an.”
Imaam al-Zuhri Rahimahullah has reported to have mentioned in Al-Jami of Imam Al-Khateeb Al-Baghdadi:
قَالَ الزُّهْرِيُّ: «عَلَيْكَ بِالْعَسَلِ فَإِنَّهُ جَيِّدٌ لِلْحِفْظِ»
Translation: "You should eat honey because it is good for the memory.”
Specific remedies involving honey include: Take ½ tsp cumin powder. Add 1 tsp honey. Mix well. Have this twice a day. Take 1 tbsp honey. Add a pinch of cinnamon powder. Have this at bedtime.
- Raisins:
Imaam al-Zuhri Rahimahullah also mentions:
عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، قَالَ: " مَنْ سَرَّهُ وَقَالَ الْهَاشِمِيُّ: مَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يَحْفَظَ الْحَدِيثَ فَلْيَأْكُلِ الزَّبِيبَ "
Translation: "Whoever desires to memorize hadeeth should eat raisins.”
- Almonds:
It was the practice of many elders to soak seven pieces of almonds over night and eat them the next morning. This has also proven to be beneficial in enhancing the brain.
- Almond-Milk Shake: This home remedy holds good for the students and also the persons who are engaged in mental work. You should keep in mind that this boiled almond milk shake should be taken in an empty stomach and also not to consume any food for a minimum of two hours after drinking this boiled almond milk shake: Allow seven almonds to stay overnight in water. In the morning, peel and grind them into paste. Mix this paste in a glass of milk. Boil the almond-milk shake for some time. Drink the milk shake for 15 to 40 days continuously to improve your memory status.
- Almonds and Milk: Soak 7 almonds overnight in water. Peel off the skin the next morning. Eat them with 1 glass lukewarm milk.
- Oats, Milk, Dates, Almonds and Honey: Take 1 cup oats. Add 1 cup milk. Add 3 chopped dates. Add 3 chopped almonds. Add 1 tsp honey. Mix well. Eat this for breakfast. Follow it with an unpeeled apple.
Modern-day Research on Cognitive Diet
Modern-day research claims that the issue might be as simple as fatigue, stress, or a lack of sleep. Eating excessively also makes one sleepy and lazy, dulls the senses, along with exposing one to the risk of physical diseases. Many of the diseases which we see today result from food and drink. Acidic food is also one of the causes for laziness and a weak memory. It also claims that the following have proved to be beneficial in regards to a weak memory (some have already been mentioned above):
- Walnuts: This unique dry fruit acts as a best home remedy for weak memory. The walnut gives synergistic effect when twenty grams of this dry fruit is taken daily along with ten grams of raisins or fig. Pistachios have also proven to be beneficial due to their rich source of thiamine.
- Fruits: Fruits play an important role in alleviating weak memory condition. The fruits rich in phosphorus are considered as the best home remedy for memory weakness. Apple, grapes, figs, dates, blueberries and oranges are considered to be a more effective home remedy for weak memory. Carrots, eggs, and okra are also very beneficial.
- Herbs: Rose Mary is a very valuable herb for restoring a poor memory, which is botanically called as Rosmarinus Officinalis. This is always called as herb of remembrance. Rosemary is a perfect antidote for forgetfulness and mental fatigue. If you want to enhance your mental ability, make a tea with this herb and drink at least once or twice a day. Many herbs create a positive effect on memory. Take them as herbal teas by brewing 1 tsp. of herbs in 1 cup of hot water and let steep for ten minutes. Sage herbs are also very beneficial as they strengthen the ability to concentrate, mitigate mental exhaustion and improve the memory of the sufferer.
💉 Other Remedies and Spiritual Supplications (Duas)
Therapeutic Practice: Cupping (Hijamah)
Another procedure that can help the memory and reduce forgetfulness is cupping (Hijamah), as is well known from experience. Ibn Umar Radhiallahu Anhu also recommended such a practice.
Recommended Duas
Spiritual aid comes through specific supplications (Duas):
- For Strength After Prayer: Placing one’s hands on the forehead after every fardh prayer and reciting the following eleven times is beneficial:
یا قوی
Transliteration: Ya Qawiyyu
The following dua is to be recited seven times after every prayer:
اللهم نور قلبي بعلمك واستعمل بدني بطاعتك
Transliteration: Allahumma Nawwir Qalbi bi ‘ilmika wasta’mil badani bi ta’atika
- For Knowledge and Progress:
Hadhrat Thanwi Rahimahullah mentions in his Remedies of the Holy Qur’an:
رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي (25) وَيَسِّرْ لِي أَمْرِي (26) وَاحْلُلْ عُقْدَةً مِنْ لِسَانِي (27) يَفْقَهُوا قَوْلِي (28)
Significance: One should recite this verse 20 times after Fajr Salaah everyday for strengthening his memory and progress in his knowledge.
He also mentions:
Anyone who recites Surah Al-Muddathir (Surah No. 74) regularly, and after that makes supplication (Dua), Memorizing of The Holy Qur'an will-lnsha Allah-became easy for him.
Excessively reciting the following is also beneficial:
رَبِّ زِدْنِي عِلْمًا
Transliteration: 'Rabbi Zidni Ilma'
Translation: 'O my Lord, increase my knowledge’ (Aamale Qurani)
- Dua for Speech:
To enhance speech, one may recite in abundance the dua Sayyidina Musa Alayhis Salaam made to Allah Ta’ala, mentioned in the Qur’an:
رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي (25) وَيَسِّرْ لِي أَمْرِي (26) وَاحْلُلْ عُقْدَةً مِنْ لِسَانِي (27) يَفْقَهُوا قَوْلِي (28)
Translation: "My Lord, expand for me my breast [with assurance] And ease for me my task And untie the knot from my tongue That they may understand my speech.
The many duas and remedies you have listed from the website are different methods that have been tried and tested and proved to be beneficial. You may use them to increase your memory but there is no assurance that you may instill every quality mentioned within yourself.
