Increasing Memory, Focus, and Concentration

17Feb08

Source: at-Talib

Q: what can one do to increase his memory and focus?

A: Here are a couple of brief tips:

1. Guard your gaze and your ears. There can be nothing more distracting than television, a wrong glance, or a tune that won’t go away.2. Recite after every salat the masnun du’as. In addition, recite “Ya Qawiyy” eleven times after every salat, or recite this du’a seven times: “Allahumma Nawwir Qalbi bi ‘ilmika wasta’mil badani bi ta’atika“

اللهم نور قلبي بعلمك واستعمل بدني بطاعتك

Recite this same du’a seven times before opening up a book to read or study as well.

Also, you can recite “Sanuqri’uka fala tansa” سنقرأك فلا تنسى three times after every salat.

3. When you sit down to study, minimize any nearby distractions. Also, in order to maximize your usage of time, keep a book unrelated to what you are studying nearby and whenever you tire of studying, distract yourself with a book on another subject to refresh the mind. Sometimes it is good to get up and stretch.

4. Memorizing is easiest when done with someone else. Memorizing alone can be difficult and takes much longer. Having someone quiz you can cut memorization time to at least one third.

- Shaykh Bilal Ali Ansari

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Similar questions posed to Mufti Nawaal ur-Rahman (DB) [of Darul Uloom Chicago and ShariahBoard]:

Q: Is there any dua / zikar for good memory & speech?

A: To become a good speaker, a man should acquire a good base of knowledge and information. He should summarize two or three speeches of eminent religious preceptors and scholars and memorize them. He should recite them before others so that he gets over his hesitation and learns to speak with fluency. For developing good memory, after every “namaz”, he should put his hand on his head and read “Ya-Qavi-yu” eleven times.

Allah (Subhana Wa Ta’ala) Knows Best

Mufti Naval-ur-Rahman Miftahi

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Q: My question is what is the most effective dua one can recite generally for exam success/concentration when studying and memory. Also can this be recited in sujood.

A: To increase your memory power, you need to recite “ Ya-Qavi” eleven times after every namaz along with “Durood-e-Shareef” before and after. This is one of the attributes of Allah (SWT) and your memory power will certainly improve. As your memory power increases, Insha-Allah, so also your inclination towards studies will become stronger. If you use your will then your determination and persistence will help you to concentrate your mind on your studies. In fact, whether you are interested in studies or not should not be so important. Your will to work hard by keeping your goals in mind, should be your priority. In addition, recite Surah “Fateha”, 41 times after Fajar ‘namaz’ and pray to Allah (SWT) for achievement of your objectives. Insha-Allah this will be very beneficial to you. (2) While offering “namaz” you should not recite anything during “Sajda”. After completion of the “namaz”, sometimes, you can supplicate, recite, or ask a “dua” by offering “Sajda”. But you should not make this a habit.

Allah (Subhana Wa Ta’ala) Knows Best

Mufti Naval-ur-Rahman Miftahi

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