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Wasfeeya Altalib

~ Welcome to my blog, where I'll be sharing diary posts, bios, motivation & resources. | For hifdh mentorship, contact me on 0793500024 or email wasfeeya@gmail.com.

Wasfeeya Altalib

Category Archives: Inspiration

8 years since day 1

03 Sunday Mar 2019

Posted by Wasfeeya in Hifdh Diary, Inspiration, Motivation, Reflections

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Haafidha, haafizah, hafidhah, Hifdh, Hifth, Hifz, Islam, memorising Qur'an, Qur'an memorisation, Quran, Qurʾān

Bismillah

All praises and thanks be to Allah SWT. Abundant salutations be upon His beloved Messenger SAW.

Why me?⁣⁣

People usually ask that when something bad happens to them, but this was the most blessed thing anyone could ask for. ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

I couldn’t accept the fact that Allah chose me. Why me? Why not my brother with the impressive memory?⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

“Rather, it [the Qur’an] is distinct verses [preserved] in the chests of those who have been given knowledge…” (Qur’an, 29:49)⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

Allah says they have been *given* knowledge. Which means He granted me this gift; so I should appreciate it. ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

It was not, however, handed to me on a silver platter. It was actually the most difficult thing I’ve done. I couldn’t even imagine completing and knowing the whole Qur’an at once. It seemed impossible. ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

But I went to hifdh school day in, day out. I begged Him to get me though each and every day. I implored Him for sincerity constantly. ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

“Then we caused to inherit the Book those We have chosen of Our servants…” (Qur’an, 35:32).⁣⁣⁣⁣

Alhamdulillah. ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

May Allah SWT accept from me and you, and make us true people of the Qur’an, so that on the day it is said to us “Recite and ascend, and recite as you used to recite in the [previous] world…” we will be able to do so effortlessly🤲🏻 Āmīn⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

3 March 2019⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

8 years since my first Hifdh lesson, 3 March 2011. ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

⁣

⁣#hifth #quran #hifdh #quranmemorisation #motivation #islam #alhamdulillah #inspiration #goals #aakhirah

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Qari Yusuf Noorbhai (ra) In His Own Words

14 Thursday Jul 2016

Posted by Wasfeeya in Advice, Inspiration

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

haafidh, Hifth, Hifz, huffaaz

Qari Yusuf Noorbhai (ra) In His Own Words
by Ebrahim Moosa

Veteran South African Qari, Yusuf Noorbhai, breathed his last on Monday, drawing to a close a glorious chapter of dedication to the Qur’aan and service to humanity.

In 2012, I was blessed with the opportunity to engage Qari Saheb directly on his life’s journey as well as a number of pertinent matters related to Hifdh and the Qur’aan. In the interview which took place just prior to Ramadan, he spoke lovingly, yet also candidly and passionately about matters in the community which he deemed as requiring attention. What follows is a synopsis of what he had shared.

May Allah SWT grant Qari Saheb a special rank amongst His chosen servants.

THE INTERVIEW

At the inception, Qari Saheb was full of gratitude for the interaction, at the same time full of humility mentioning that he ordinarily would not like speaking about himself:

“We are only achieving what we did through the Duas of the people, and the good Muslim community, our mothers and fathers in Islam. We are not worthy of anything, but Allah SWT has put it in your mind to feature us, so we will try our best to answer your questions.”

Early Life and Inspiration

From a very young age I would go out with my uncle, Hashim Bhana – that’s our surname actually, somehow or the other Noorbhai came in. We were very anxious to listen to great Qurrah. And the greatest role model for me in the whole world – and until now I had not found anyone who could match his style in Taraweeh – he was Sheikh Ismail Hanif of Woodstock, Cape Town. Subhanallah! He was a reader! He was an Azhari, an Aalim and a Qari.

I was a very young man of just 14/15, and I would stand directly under the loudspeaker at the Masjid in Durban, and would hear how he would pronounce the words, his application and taqdeequl lisaan. It is as if the sound of his recitals are still ringing in my ears, even though he is lying in his Qabr. It was a different spiritual ecstasy that I experienced in Ramadan with him coming to Durban. Much credit goes to the Lockats, who used to invite him there. He was my inspiration. But prior to that, my key inspiration was my father. My father was a very senior Hafidh, who had also tutored many Hufaadh in Durban.

The enjoyment I derived from listening to Qari Ismail would lead me to awake at Sehri and mumble away, at the stove, the style of reading of this man, as my granny prepared the meal. Qari Ismail’s proficiency and command of the Arabic language translated into a great feeling of spirituality in his Quraan reading that could be sensed by the listener.

This inspired me to ask my father to grant me permission to begin my hifdh. His immediate response was: Tu Quraan Yaad Rakhe? – Will you remember this Qur’aan? It was a weighty question, but I promised him I would. Today, I know the promise I made him and Allah SWT that I will remember this Qur’aan, I am remembering this Qur’aan and have remembered the Qur’aan according to what Allah SWT wants me to remember. And when I forget, I open and check. So, from a very young age I started reading the Qur’aan, and it is still going on, Alhamdulillah! I fell in love with the Qur’aan.

Taraweeh

After completing my hifdh, I performed Taraweeh for the first time with my father behind me. It wasn’t easy having him monitoring. But he had a very special skill that very few people possessed: how to correct, when to correct and where to prompt a Hafidh from, when he gets confused on the musallah. Right until today, people in the West Street, Grey Street and May Street mosques remember my father for his art of correction.

The calling from Egypt

My father meticulously taught me all the Tajweed rules whilst I was in South Africa. When I went to Egypt, Moulana Abdur Razaaq put me onto a teacher from al Azhar, who tested me on a few Tajweed rules and when satisfied with my answers, agreed to teach me further.

My journey to Egypt only came after I had completed my hifdh, performed Taraweeh and even after I had married and had a few kids.

When I first went to Cairo in 1960, they bundled me up and sent me back to South Africa after barely a week as I had not applied properly. I went back after 10 years in 1970, and with the advice of Sheikh Mahmud Khalil al Husri and his recommendation, I was given all the necessary assistance there. I first met Sheikh al Husri in Madinah Munawarah and we became very good friends. I received a Shahadah from him personally as well as from Sheikh Abdullah Fuq’a-ee.

This was the crown of my life.

There were only 3 people from the whole world who received this specialised tuition from Sheikh Abdullah Fuq’a-ee, who was the leader of the Qur’aan teachers at Azhar at the time. I was the only one from South Africa. One of the three was Mufti Baba Ghanouf from Tashkent, the other was Qari Yusuf Muhammad from Sudan.

I had to read to my Ustaadh from the beginning to the end of the Qur’aan. In Egypt, you can’t get away easily – just reading at random places – and then hoping to be called a Qari and endowed with a red hat. Anyone can pick up styles and tunes easily, but it is the tajweed and Arabic intonation that is the core of Qira-ah.

‘It was not easy’

I underwent such challenges to solicit a bursary to study in Cairo. I went to a certain prominent person who rejected my application outright based purely on my lineage and the village my family hailed from in India. I then went to Isipingo Beach – the late Dr Mohammed Jadwat’s mother gave me the airplane ticket. She also provided for expenses of my stay in Cairo. Marhoom Ismail Lockat, the son of Mr Suleiman and Fatima Lockat, furnished me with resources to cover the living expenses of my family here in South Africa, whilst I would be away. And a Hafidh from Cape Town sponsored my return ticket. It was a very difficult task to get assistance to go to Cairo – I really went through hard times. My family too was not really affluent. But Alhamdulillah, on my subsequent trips, all was so smooth. Allah SWT made it so easy – I would say the blessings did not rain, they poured.

Meeting the greats

I was keeping the last of the Shawaal fasts when I got to meet the late Sheikh Mahmud Khalil al Husri RA. It was the greatest honour in my life sitting beside him. I posed to him a certain question on Tajweed and paid fine attention to his tongue and tip movement as he demonstrated the answer. There are some very subtle sounds in Qur’aan, and it was an ecstasy for me to get it from him directly. I was merely 30 odd years at the time and I exclaimed: Ya Allah, what an opportunity! What an opportunity!

What an amazing personality Sheikh Mahmud was: Tall, with such a beautiful round voice. I did learn and would also sometimes emulate his style. It is the best style in the Hadr, slow mode of recital.

My students

I can mention Ridwaan Esat, Mohammed Gangat, Raees Dasoo, Sheikh Sadullah Khan, Mukhtaar, Zakariyyah from Zeerust who come to mind, from amongst many many others.

My procedure and style of reciting Qira’ah

If you do not know a language, you can only become a very good copycat and learn the style of saying that word –probably you will just make it. But a good Qari needs to understand Arabic.

When I prepare to recite at a certain function, I review the Quranic words that will be recited and then plan to match their meaning with a very special tone that comes from within, that requires sincerity as well as presence of mind, heart and soul.

Anyone who knows the Arabic language would be able to detect whether the Qari is connecting to what he is reciting, whilst one listens to him.

Favourite sections of the Qur’aan

I love Surah Zaariyaat – its words lend themselves to certain rhythmical tones that come easily on the tongue. I also love to recite Surah Maryam and portions of Surah Taha. Surah Najm is also so rhythmical and beautiful to recite. But, I would also say that the entire Qur’aan is my favourite – different sections prepared and recited appropriately for the occasion.

Advice to Hufaadh leading Taraweeh

I would very sincerely and humbly tell the Hafidh to read Quraan picturing how Jibraeel AS read it to Nabi Muhammad SAW. Read like you are standing before Allah SWT. Take the musallah to be the station of Nabi SAW and afford it great reverence. Know that the angels of Allah SWT are listening and the servants of Allah SWT, who are present, are listening.

You must read with Tajweed. You must take a middle course in reading – not too fast, nor too slow. Don’t read fast, because the Quraan does not allow you to do that. There are verses in the Qur’aan that prohibit you from reading fast. I am saying: ‘Don’t read so slow like a goods train in India nor so fast like the Punjab Mail in India. You don’t have to have a melodious voice and elaborate tune, even if it is plain and simple. If you are blessed with a melodious voice or can imitate certain world class reciters, that is a gift. But it is no use reading Surah Fatiha like Sheikh Shatri, and then reading ‘ya’lamoon, ta’lamoon’ when you are reading ‘wal muhsanaat’.

This is not a game, and you will be disappointing Allah SWT and His Prophet SAW and His Malaaikah and the good people standing behind you. If you choose so, learn and read the whole Qur’aan like Shatri, Husri or Abdul Basit – not just here and there.

On public pressure for Hufaadh to read fast in Taraweeh

The greatest culprits, the greatest culprits, the greatest culprits in this arena are the trustees of the masjids. They can shoot me, they can curse me, they can do whatever, nothing will affect me, because the Qur’aan is with me. They are the enemies of the Qur’aan when they tell the Hufaadh to speed up on the pretext that people are complaining.

With the greatest humility I am saying to hell with the people who are saying speed up. This is the Word of Allah. You are going to climb a ladder, and Allah SWT is going to ask you to read this Qur’aan in the Hereafter with Tarteel.

There are culprits in the mosque who tension up the Hufaadh and time their recitals. Hufaadh have come to me with tears in their eyes complaining how some musallees are troubling them. Some seek to bring to us erroneous trends from India and Pakistan in reading the Qur’aan. We are not living in a country where we make lataas of the Qur’aan, and eat the words of the Qur’aan up. The way some people read Qur’aan in some Masaajid, I am saying in the presence of Allah SWT, and Kiraaman Katibeen on my shoulders, it is Haraam for them to read Qur’aan like that. They should leave the Musallah and be afraid of Allah. Did their teachers read like that? Did Nabi SAW read like that? Does the Qur’aan command us to read like that?

I have been to some places, I swear to Allah that I could have walked out in disgust, but did not do so just out of respect. They are making total ‘fruit salad’ out of the words of the Qur’aan.

Opinion on Hufaadh completing the Qur’aan in Taraweeh in short periods of time

They are doing it out of love for the Qur’aan, so I will not fault anyone for that. But we do find that musallees who attend these Taraweehs tend to become lethargic to read Taraweeh for the remainder of the nights. Taraweeh is Sunnah for the entire Ramadan. Also, we find that the venues reading 3 paras a night and those reading one and a quarter a night are completing at the same time. There has to be something wrong with how they are reciting to complete at the same time.

How should the Hufaadh correct, and accept correction in Taraweeh

The Hufaadh standing behind the Imam must be mature people and good listeners. If the Hafidh standing behind is an elder to the Hafidh on the Musallah, he should not expect the young Hafidh to be on his level of memorisation. This is total pride and arrogance. The elder should be merciful and patient to the Hafidh standing on the Musallah. It should not be a matter of ego, proving that one knows one’s Qur’aan, not providing the Hafidh on the Musallah any room for even breathing or self-correction: You just want to correct him, you just want to pounce on him, like a lion when he gets raw meat.

The result is that the young man gets excited, and he starts getting even more confused, because you are confusing him.

The situation demands that the listener be patient, and should be a wellwisher for the Hafidh on the Musallah, making dua that all goes smoothly for him. How difficult it is to read on the musallah – your feet are shaking, your heart is quivering. So, when you correct, your tone as the corrector says a lot. There must be no anger or aggression. Because correction, I am not ashamed to say, is given by some listeners who are very aggressive, very dirty at heart, very jealous. They want to show the people that the poor young man in front does not know his Qur’aan. They confuse him.

But I will not generalise. There are very good and respectable listeners as well.

As far as the Haafidh goes, he should be patient, and reason with those behind him if they are being inconsiderate in their correction.

How to become people of the Qur’aan (especially with reference to Ramadan)

I would advise that we peruse through the translation of the portion of Qur’aan to be recited daily from an authentic translation, as advised by the Ulama. Hufaadh would be able to understand many of the words. There are a large number of simple words that appear recurrently, and can be easily picked up even by children. We should not concentrate too much on words that need further expertise to understand.

For those with more knowledge, I think of people like my Ustaadh, Mufti Abdullah form Skeerpoort, and how much time they spend with the Qur’aan. I can just imagine how much Tafseer he is going through. One cannot reach him in Ramadan. He is only busy with the Qur’aan.

For others of the general public who have prioritised making an abundance of Khatams, I would advise that you limit the number of khatams – do a few with quality, reciting the Qur’aan as it ought to be read, making Allah SWT happy, instead of tallying up many in a ‘hit and run’ style.

And when you recite, read the Qur’aan – irrespective of whether you don’t consider yourself to have a melodious voice- clearly and beautifully. You must say, ‘I am reading to Allah’; also picture that you are in Madinah Munawaraah reciting to Nabi SAW.

If you read like this, this Qur’aan will intercede for you on the day of Qiyamah.

Final thoughts

May Allah SWT create within us a strong dislike for sin, and may we be able to readily make Tawbah when we err. May Allah SWT make us significant in His Eyes; insignificant in the eyes of people. Truly, we are nothing. Remember, if we afford the Qur’aan its due rights, we will all become of the special family of Allah SWT.

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Qur’an Goals

19 Tuesday Apr 2016

Posted by Wasfeeya in Inspiration, Motivation

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Haafidha, Hifdh, Hifz, Qur'an memorisation

Bismillāh
All praise and thanks are due to Allāh (SWT), who blessed us with the Glorious Qur’ān. Abundant salutations be upon our beloved teacher and role model, the first haafidh, Nabi Muhammad (SAW).

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As I renew my life goals tonight, I thought I’d share some with you to inspire you to write your own. Especially with the month of Qur’an coming up, first up should (ideally) be Qur’an goals, followed by spiritual goals. These are lifetime goals which should be broken up according to one’s ability and preference.

General Qur’an Goals

  • Learn to recite with tajweed (correct pronunciation)
  • Ensure your children or family recites with tajweed
  • Recite the entire Qur’an
  • Understand the Qur’an
  • Read tafseer of the entire Qur’an
  • Memorise suwar Mulk, Waaqi’ah, Sajda, Yaaseen etc. 
  • Memorise the entire Qur’an

Qur’an Goals for Huffaadh

  • Attain sanad & ijaaza in some or all of the 10 qira-aat (from memory)
  • Recite the whole Qur’an in one sitting (from memory)
  • Recite the complete Qur’an in salaah in one night (from memory)
  • Write down the entire Qur’an (from memory) 

Impossible? Actually, I personally know and have read or heard of people who have accomplished these goals, subhanAllah! May Allah preserve, reward and grant them the highest level of Jannah! And may Allah grant us tawfeeq (the ability and opportunity) to follow suit. Aameen!

Simultaneously work on life goals in other areas of your life.

Categories include:

  • Spiritual goals e.g. go on hajj
  • Skill-set goals e.g. public speaking
  • Physical goals e.g. exercise
  • Family goals e.g. get married 
  • Influence goals e.g. mentor others
  • Giving goals e.g. charity in cash or kind
  • Travel Goals e.g. all the continents
  • Financial Goals e.g. owning a successful business
  • Experience goals e.g. Mount Kilimanjaro

Once you’ve written these down, read them daily. This is a reminder to myself first. 

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with best wishes for your hifdh success,

Wasfeeya

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Tribute to Imaam Adnaan Goder

14 Thursday Apr 2016

Posted by Wasfeeya in Inspiration

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Bismillāh
All praise and thanks are due to Allāh (SWT), who blessed us with the Glorious Qur’ān. Abundant salutations be upon our beloved teacher and role model, the first haafidh, Nabi Muhammad (SAW).

   
This morning I found myself, or rather, Allah chose me to be, in a gathering of paying tribute to Imaam Adnaan Goder, brother of Ml. Allie Goder (Founder of Darun-Na’im). I first wanted to say I found myself there because I had no idea why I was there, as I had no connection to, and therefore felt no emotion to the Imaam.

I just walked into class and was asked to recite the 5th and 6th maqaras (eighths) of Juz 9. The students of Darun-Na’im were requested to recite a khatm on the rooh of the imaam this morning, which was done in about 20 minutes, subhanAllah. Then the female students were later summoned to the masjid. The tribute started off with nasheeds by Darun-Na’im Girls’ High School, followed by the completion of the khatm by the marhoom’s niece. Sister Roshaan Misbach very emotionally conveyed to us the significance of Imaam Adnaan, rahmatullahi ‘alayhi, to each and every one of us as Darun-Na’im students. I finally understood why I was there.

The imaam passed away on the 8th of September last year, but this beautiful occasion arose now, due to the visit of the marhoom’s family from Australia, and to bring comfort to their hearts.

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Handing over of the tribute gift

By the permission of Allah, Imaam Adnaan, the eldest brother of Ml. Allie, was the cause and the means for the guidance of Ml. Allie and the direction he took in his life.

He planted the seed

and Ml. Allie knew deep in his heart that he must be like his brother.

Sister Roshaan’s main message was  

One individual can have an impact on so many!

Roshaan had interviewed Ml. Allie about his brother, and one of the stories she shared was that when Ml. Allie started going on jamaat, he couldn’t wait for people to ask him, “Who are you?” because he wanted his name associated with his brother, who had always been known in jamaat, always living Islam. Ml. Allie isn’t about the celebrities you and I think of today, he is about the celebrity of his brother, subhanAllah. Two things that stood out for him were

1.His perserverence

With regards to his perserverence, he says he came across a brother one day in jamaat, and the man, when he heard that he was the brother of Adnaan Goder, his face lit up. He said to him, “Let me tell you about your brother.” He said, “One day, I was going to a program at Muir Street masjid, and we were regularly meeting there every week. I used to take a particular route there every single week. But this week, instead of driving via the highway, I decided to go via the main road. Low and behold, as I’m driving up the main road towards Muir Street, I see in the distance this man with luggage, and he looks like a tableegh. So I stop and I find that he is Brother Adnaan, and when I engage with him, he said that he made the intention to go (for tableegh) for four months, and he wasn’t going to wait for anybody, so he walked from Athlone to Muir Street in Town.” SubhanAllah. The perserverence of this man in pursuit of knowledge.  

Mind you, he never had any formal Islamic Studies. He learned from jamaat – the suhba (companionship) from the brothers, the elders, the wisdom that was passed onto him and his readings, because he loved reading.

When Imaam Adnaan made an intention and set his mind to do something, he saw it through. SubhanAllah.

2. His humble, noble beginnings

Whilst on jamaat, one day he ran out of money. So he called his father who arranged with the imaam of the masjid. When he went to the imaam’s house to collect the money, he saw the man’s sister. It was love at first sight, and the rest is history. There was no courting. Just a proposal. This shows the simple life that he had. SubhanAllah. 

Another example was that on his 21st birthday, he asked his mother to cook a pot of food for special friends that he was going to invite. Then he went and fetched underprivileged children from Langa (a township) to come and share his birthday with him.

He used to live in Garlandale, Athlone, and at that point they walked to St. Athens Road Masjid for jama’ah salaah since there was no masjid in Garlandale. Then Brother Adnaan had the forsight to see that a shop on a corner was for sale. He persisted and perservered in trying to purchase this piece of land until he eventually purchased the land that is known as the Garlandale Masjid today. He was the first imaam of the masjid. When they bought the masjid, it was just an empty shell. It was at the beginning of Ramadhan and they made taraweeh on a couple of carpets. Sister Roshaan said she imagines it as how masjidun Nabawi started out. Simple, humble beginnings. His life came full circle when his janazah salaah in absentia was performed here.

At his janazah in Australia, the imaam said, “Brisbon today has lost a General.” SubhanAllah. His entire life was lived in a state of obedience to Allah, he was confident about who he was and who he needed to be. He loved Allah (SWT) so much that he just wanted that for others.SubhanAllah. Don’t give up hope in others. Because of Brother Adnaan’s character, Ml. Allie always knew who he needed to be, despite the fact that he wasn’t there yet. Imaam Adnaan’s favourite aayah was:large

His legacy and how it ties to Darun-Na’im Students

Ml. Allie’s turning point in his life was when he started thinking a lot more about death. He decided to make a change. He started going to university in his sunnah garb. He lost 90% of his friends, subhanAllah. Instead of spending more time in the cafeteria, he started spending more time in the JK (Jamat Khana). Allah grants his hidayah, but how was the seed planted? Through his brother.

Ml. Allie consequently impacted the lives of many, including Haafitha Radia Bawa, who subsequently was the cause of my guidance. Just imagine, Imaam Adnaan shares the reward of everyone. SubhanAllah. (May Allah grant me and you to be a means and cause of guidance so the chain may continue. Aameen.)

By the end of the gathering, I felt emotion towards Imaam Adnaan and grateful for the opportunity to take part in his khatm, his tribute gathering and his legacy.

May Allah SWT accept. Aameen.

 

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Upcoming Hifdh Workshop

23 Wednesday Mar 2016

Posted by Wasfeeya in Hifdh Diary, Inspiration, Motivation

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Tags

hafidhah, Hifdh, Hifth, Hifz, memorising Qur'an, Qur'an memorisation

Bismillāh
All praise and thanks are due to Allāh (SWT), who blessed us with the Glorious Qur’ān. Abundant salutations be upon our beloved teacher and role model, the first haafidh, Nabi Muhammad (SAW).

I hate holidays! Okay maybe “hate” is too strong a word. Who hates holidays?!  It’s just that holidays are truly a test of self-discipline. I just want to read #dearfuturehusband quotes all day, but I’ve got reciting, academic readings and studying to do. I tend to waste a lot of time (embarrassed face). Astaghfirullah.

That’s why I decided to host my hifdh workshop this holiday. I chose a random date and put the word out, and then started preparing days later. That’s just how I roll. And I won’t apologise for it.

It’s a bit of a daunting task. There are so many videos, blog posts and hifdh guides to sift through. There is that hifdh workshop I attended as well, which I’d like to share, but I don’t want to copy anyone’s work. Blogging myself for the past year is definitely part of my prep, ’cause I’d like to share my journey. That way I definitely won’t be copying anyone’s work or sharing stuff that people can read on their own.

I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time now, and I’m looking forward to it in-sha-Allah. So if you’re in Cape Town and are a hifdh student, a prospective student or a mom of a student, then please come over and meet me in-sha-Allah! (Sisters-Only).

 

The Pursuit of Awesomeness (1)

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A Haafidh in Two Months?!

04 Friday Mar 2016

Posted by Wasfeeya in Inspiration, Motivation

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Hifdh, Hifth, Hifz, Qur'an memorisation

Bismillāh
All praise and thanks are due to Allāh (SWT), who blessed us with the Glorious Qur’ān. Abundant salutations be upon our beloved teacher and role model, the first haafidh, Nabi Muhammad (SAW).

This story has been on the internet for a while on many websites, but I found that some people still haven’t read it or come across it, so if you haven’t, read this inspirational story and note some of the lessons afterwards.

“I recently heard an incredibly amazing account told by Shaykh Yasir Salamah, one of the leading Imams and recitors of Egypt. In his audio tape ‘When will I see you as a Haafidh?’ he speaks of the true account of Muhammad, a brother who after attending a workshop on memorising Qur’aan and utilising all the available mediums, went on to memorise the entire Qur’aan within just 50 days (i.e 2 months)

Within 2 months?!

Yes. Within 2 months. This is his account and he says:

“I declared a state of Jihad upon my soul and put death before my eyes. I made an intention to memorise the Noble Qur’aan. So I abandoned telephone calls and unnecessary visits, and I changed all the negative thoughts associated with hifdh (memorisation) to positive and practical ones e.g. When a thought came to me saying ‘I can’t do it!’ I’d say, ‘I can do it.’ If it said, ‘My memory is weak!’ I’d say ‘I take pleasure in having a great memory.’

I chose the masjid as the place of my hifdh as it preserves three:

1. The eyes
2. The ears
3. The tongue

I followed a specific dietary program consisting of eating dates, fruits and honey – and fasting helped me a great deal in that. I used to wake up before salaat al-Fajr by 2 and a half hours and I slept 2 hours after ‘Isha. I used to wake up for Tahajjud (the night prayer), prolonging my sujood wherein I would call upon Allaah ta’alaa to ease for me my affair. I would also seek forgiveness 100 times.

I began to memorise 5 pages and would recite them in the Sunnah prayers of Fajr. After salaat al-Fajr, I would begin the memorisation of 5 new pages and at the end, I would recite them in the 2 raka’ahs of salaat al-Duhaa, all the time thanking Allaah for easing the memorisation.

I would perfect the recitation of what I had memorised by listening to tapes of one of the recitors. I would read about the qiraa’ah in books or via the Muqaddimah al-Jazariyyah (poem on the ahkam of tajweed).

After salaat al-Dhuhr, I would repeat everything that I had memorised previously beginning from the 1st Juz, until salaat al-’Asr. After the ‘Asr prayer, I would repeat the new portion of hifdh and the juz before. After the Maghrib prayer, I would prepare the recitation of 10 new pages and it was only after salaat al-’Isha that I’d review the Qur’aan with my teacher, may Allaah reward him well.

Before retiring to bed, I would listen to all that I memorised in the day from cassettes and I would be sitting for 6 continuous hours, without any boredom or feeling tired. In the 1st week, I would sit for 6 hours, memorising and revising. In the 2nd week, I would sit for 8 hours. In the 3rd week, it was 10 hours and in the 4th week, it was 12 hours. In the last 10 days, I was sitting for 14 hours memorising and revising.

The hardest times for me were when it came to sleeping and eating. I ardently wished that the period of sleep would end quickly so that I could start my hifdh of the Noble of Qur’aan. Everytime I began to read the Qur’aan and memorise, I felt such delight and enjoyment that I had never felt before. Du’a was an important factor for me before and after hifdh. I would memorise a page whilst sitting down and then repeat it whilst walking. My teacher played an important role in encouraging me, in revision, in correcting me and benefiting me in terms of Tajweed.

In the last week, on the night of 20th Ramadan, only 4 and a half juz remained until completion of hifdh. So I turned to Allaah to open up my way and ease it for me. I went on to memorise it in 6 days with the Help of Allaah.

Laylatul-Qadr came, the night of delight and happiness – it was like a wedding night to me. My completion of hifdh took place between Maghrib and ‘Isha in the masjid with the Imam and those in I’tikaaf. We began the khatma (reciting from beginning till end of the Book). In the end, during the du’aa, my heart opened up greatly and I began to weep like never before. It was the most beautiful hour of my life. Allaah had honoured me with the memorisation of His Book.

During the du’aa, I remembered a dream I had more than 10 years ago… I was a Mu’adhin of a mosque and after Fajr salaah, I sat remembering Allaah in the mosque. I felt sleepy so I took a nap in the middle of the mosque, and behold! I found myself amidst a gathering. A powerful ray of light descended from the sky down to the middle of the masjid. From that light came many angels and between them were 2 big Angels. One of them turned towards me and took me to the light. I entered along with the 2 angels. I then found myself on top of a large green tree – I began to climb it in the companionship of the 2 angels. We found angels standing by the door of the 1st heaven. They said to me ‘Where are you going?’ They opened up a book and said, ‘We don’t have your name with us, so climb onwards to the top.’ And likewise, all the time (through each heaven), they said the same thing to me.

Upon arriving at the 7th heaven, we reached the end of the tree. I found angels standing at the door and they said, ‘Are you Muhammad?’ I said, ‘Yes.’ They said, ‘Enter, for the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) wants you.’ I said to the 2 angels that were with me ‘Come in with me.’ They said, ‘We can’t enter. But we will wait for you.’ So I entered Jannah and behold, I saw therein what no eye has seen, no ear has heard and had never entered in the heart of Man. Angels were surrounding me and there was a door, on top of it was written لا إله إلا الله محمد رسول الله. جنة الفردوس (There is no God but Allaah and Muhammad is His Messenger. Al-Firdaws Paradise).

The Angels opened the door and I entered. Before me was the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) sitting at the top end and beside him were men, some that I recognised and some that I didn’t. In front of him were a very large group of men, women and children. They wore white clothes, and they were so many that they had a beginning but no end. All of them were reciting Qur’aan. The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) called me and I went up to him. He got up and made some space for me. I kissed him and he sat me down besides him. I asked him ‘Who are these people O Messenger of Allah?’ He said, ‘These are the people who have memorised the Book of Allaah `azza wa jall.’

Inshaa’Allaah ta’ala, the dream ended in truth. I never spoke to anyone about it until the night that I completed the memorisation of the Qur’aan.””

Lessons:

  • He made a firm intention
  • He remained positive
  • He sacrificed
  • He put in a lot of time
  • He changed his diet
  • He made istighfar (asked for foriveness)
  • He had tawakkul, (he relied on Allah (SWT))

If you’d like more tips to stay on track, tools to keep motivated or be mentored along your hifdh journey, you’re most welcome to contact me.

With best wishes for your hifdh success,

Wasfeeya

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Hifdh Diary: The Finale

01 Friday Jan 2016

Posted by Wasfeeya in Hifdh Diary, Inspiration

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Tags

Haafidha, Hifz, Qur'an memorisation

Bismillāhir-Rahmānir-Raheem

All praise and thanks are due to Allāh (SWT), who blessed us with the Glorious Qur’ān. Abundant salutations be upon our beloved teacher and role model, the first haafidh, Nabi Muhammad (SAW).

“We always know we are close to our true mission on earth when what we are doing is touched with the energy of enthusiasm.” – Paulo Coelho.

i was really looking forward to

This is one post that really should have been posted last year already! It’s been a month since I tammatted (graduated), subhanAllah.

The morning arrived of D-Day, the Crowning Glory, the Finale. I overslept for suhur and tahajjud – I had put off my alarm and went back to sleep. Like, really now?! (embarrassed face). At least I made Fajr in time and renewed my intention that I’d be fasting (regardless of suhur). I made two raka’aat of salaatul haajah and got ready.

I felt really anxious because I didn’t feel prepared enough but there was nothing I could do at that point but trust Allah. Before I left, my aunty recited and blew over me, and advised me to recite the du’a of Nabi Musa (A.S.). It helped a little bit, Alhamdulillah.

When I entered the door of the masjid and greeted one of my friends/students of deen, I just burst into tears and cried. I chunked – as I would say in the more expressive language of slang Afrikaans. I cried for many reasons at once. I was overwhelmed and was trying to keep myself together but seeing her triggered deep emotion in me. I felt so honoured that she had made the effort to be there for me when I hadn’t even personally invited her. It was also a reminder of how far I have come since my Jahiliyyah days, subhanAllah.

When I calmed down, I walked futher into the masjid and saw my fellow tamatees (graduates). I was the last to arrive and was actually a little late. I missed the naseeha session our ustadh had with them. When I greeted him and asked him to fill me in, he said, “Allah chose you to be here and Allah won’t disgrace you.” Those words were enough for me and gave me the confidence that I needed.

While I was waiting for my turn to be tested, my eyes were tearing and I kept needing to wipe my nose. I think everyone thought I was going to cry and mess up my exam, but I knew I was going to be fine, bi-ith-nillah. When my turn came, I spoke to Allah. I made my niyyah that I’m reciting sincerely for His sake, and that I’m reciting to Him the way I do in my salaah.

Lo and behold, the moment I started reciting, I physically felt everything lift off me -the anxiety, the overwhelming emotions and all, Alhamdulillah. I made mistakes but I didn’t lose my train of thought, so I remained composed.

I was blessed that there was a break scheduled straight after I was done, so I could greet everyone and everyone could come to greet me right after I was done.

Afterwards, I felt the biggest relief I ever felt in my life. I’m grateful that I went through this experience and achieved what I thought I couldn’t, with the help of Allah (SWT), my teachers, parents, family and friends.

I’ll leave you with the advice I got from my Egyptian teacher who I ran into at Canal Walk: Ask Allah to accept, constantly, at all times, always.

With best wishes for your hifdh success,

Wasfeeya

Kagiso Amendment Forms

BB 9900 407

A message someone sent me after my tamat:)

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Hifdh: Wisdom from a Winner

09 Wednesday Dec 2015

Posted by Wasfeeya in Inspiration, Motivation

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Hifdh, Hifth, Hifz, huffadh, memorising Qur'an, Qur'an memorisation

Bismillāhir-Rahmānir-Raheem

All praise and thanks are due to Allāh (SWT), who blessed us with the Glorious Qur’ān. Abundant salutations be upon our beloved teacher and role model, the first haafidh, Nabi Muhammad (SAW).

I’m priviliged to have advice at my fingertips from Muhammed Sheik, the winner of the South African National Qur’an Competition, which took place in August this year. Of course I had my ustadh to advise me, but it was comforting knowing that he recently went through what I was about to experience, and excelled, ma-sha-Allah. The format of my Qur’an exam was similar to his Qur’an competition.

shutterstock-75512413

General Advice

Make du’a before and after you recite.

I generally make du’a before I recite but afterwards, I’m falling asleep already and so zoned out that I forget.

Before you recite, ask Allah to send the thawaab of your recitation to all the past, present and future Muslims until the day of Qiyaamah.

SubhanAllah, what an incredibly beautiful intention! Think about all the people who did not or currently don’t have the opportunity that we have to recite and/or memorise the Qur’an. It makes me think of the ayah where Allah (SWT) says, “…Allah is never unjust…” (Qur’an, 4:40). By us making this beautiful intention, others will come on the day of Qiyaamah with just as much thawaab as us in-sha-Allah.

Side note: Being the person I am, and out of fear of falling into bid’ah, I asked him about the ruling on this. He replied that it is permissible according to the majority of the world’s scholars. (There is a difference of opinion though, where the Gulf scholars disapprove).

Mutashābihāt Advice

It’s important to look for other mutashābihāt as soon as you come across the first one. Write them on a page and after you finish practicing your revision for the day, read through the mutashābihāt on your little note page.

NB: Things to know about the mutashābihāt are:

the differences in the two āyāt;

where each one occurs;

the beginning of the next āyah after the mutashābihāt and

how many times it is repeated.

You do not have to go through every single mutashābihāt the way I explained above, rather just those that really confuse you.

I’d reccomend keeping a note book instead of having loose pages. There is also a mutashābihāt Qur’an that you can refer to if you can’t figure out where the other mutashābihāt is.

Correcting Old Mistakes

My dad would make me read it six times minimum – three times looking inside and the remainder in your mind.

I would suggest keep on reading it even ten times, until you’re confident that you won’t forget it again… ever in-sha-Allah.

One of my teachers said I should recite the corrected mistake ten times. I don’t know whether she meant looking in or not, so I would try to recite it both ten times looking in and then ten times without looking.

Advice on Testing

It’s important to keep your eyes fixed on a specific spot while you’re reciting, then you should try and picture where you’re reciting.

Recite abundant salawaat before going for your recital, in-sha-Allah, it will help calm the nerves.

Don’t stress… Allah has blessed you with the Qur’an – reciting it for Him takes away any anxiety or fear.

I usually close my eyes while I’m reciting and most definitely picture where I am reciting.

If you have any hifdh-related questions for him, I’m sure he’d be happy to answer them. I hope you benefit from the advice and spare a du’a for the blessed brother in-sha-Allah.

11899966_816298348483352_5598671904174169644_n.jpg

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15 Reasons Why All Of Us Should Have A Habit Of Memorizing The Quran

06 Thursday Aug 2015

Posted by Wasfeeya in Inspiration, Motivation

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Aweslimah

Hifdh or memorization of the Quran, to most of us, is a fairly distant dream that we simply wish to achieve at some far-off point in our lives; something we consider to be possible only for kids sent to special hifdh schools or madrasahs which detach them from the rest of the world and thus enable them to do this impossible-for-common-folk, utterly enormous feat. An unfortunately large number of Muslims also happen to believe that memorizing the Quran is an all-or-nothing venture: you either memorize the whole Quran and become a Hafidh or you remain satisfied with the few small surahs from “Ampara” i.e Juz ‘Amma that you learned as a kid. Thanks to such saddening misconceptions, most of us spend our entire lives missing out on some epic advantages, benefits and rewards that no other form of ‘Ibadah offer.

But here’s the thing: the Quran is THE most significant…

View original post 1,541 more words

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Database of Sanad Holders

09 Tuesday Jun 2015

Posted by Wasfeeya in Inspiration, Resources

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Database of Sanad Holders, Western Cape, South Africa, 2014/2015

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