How To Become a Hafiz

The step-by-step process, proven methods from around the world, and what you need to know before you start

Becoming a hafiz feels impossible when you first consider it. Six hundred and four pages. Over six thousand verses. How does anyone memorize that much and retain it for life?

The answer: one page at a time, with the right method, the right support, and the right mindset.

Thousands of Muslims around the world complete their hifz every year. Some are children in traditional madrasas. Others are working adults squeezing memorization into early mornings or late nights. Some follow centuries-old methods passed down through generations. Others use modern tools and techniques.

What they all have in common is this: they started, they stayed consistent, and they had a system that worked.

This guide will walk you through the entire process of becoming a hafiz, from preparation to completion, drawing on proven methods from different Islamic traditions around the world.

Before You Begin: Prerequisites for Success

Not everyone who wants to become a hafiz is ready to start memorizing immediately. Here's what you need in place first:

1. Quran Reading Fluency

You need to read the Quran smoothly and accurately before you start memorizing. If you're still sounding out words or reading very slowly, focus on building fluency first.

Practice reading full pages without stopping. Aim for a pace where you can complete one page in about 3 to 5 minutes. This foundation will make memorization significantly easier.

2. Solid Tajweed Foundation

Memorizing with incorrect tajweed means you'll have to relearn later, which is far harder than learning correctly from the start. Make sure you understand:

• Proper makharij (articulation points)
• Basic tajweed rules (ghunnah, qalqalah, madd, etc.)
• Correct pronunciation of similar letters

If your tajweed needs work, invest time with a qualified teacher before starting serious memorization.

3. A Qualified Teacher

This is non-negotiable. Even if most of your memorization happens independently, you need someone qualified to:

• Check your recitation regularly
• Correct mistakes before they become habits
• Hold you accountable
• Guide you through difficult sections

Your teacher can meet with you weekly, or even monthly if you're self-directed, but regular oversight is essential.

4. Realistic Time Commitment

Be honest about how much time you can dedicate daily. Thirty minutes is the bare minimum for slow progress. One to two hours is ideal for most people. More than four hours is only sustainable if you're a full-time student.

Consistency matters more than intensity. Better to commit to 45 minutes every single day than to plan for 3 hours and quit after two weeks.

5. The Right Intention

Why do you want to become a hafiz? This question matters because your motivation will carry you through the hard months.

The best intention is simply to draw closer to Allah through His words, to carry the Quran in your heart, and to preserve what has been preserved for over 1,400 years. Make dua for sincerity and ask Allah to make this journey a means of purification and growth.

Proven Methods from Around the Muslim World

Muslims have been memorizing the Quran for fourteen centuries, and different cultures have developed distinct approaches. Understanding these methods can help you choose what works best for your situation.

The Mauritanian Oral Tradition

In Mauritania, Quran memorization is deeply woven into the culture, and the country has one of the highest rates of huffadh per capita in the world.

The Method:

• Students use wooden tablets (lawh) to write verses in beautiful calligraphy, then memorize from their own writing
• Heavy emphasis on oral recitation with teachers and peers
• Communal learning where students recite to each other constantly
• Memorization often begins in early childhood (ages 4 to 6)
• Strong focus on correct pronunciation through repetition

What You Can Learn: The power of writing out verses by hand before memorizing them. The physical act of writing creates an additional memory pathway. Even if you don't use wooden tablets, copying verses in a notebook before memorization can strengthen retention.

Learn more about the Maurtianian method of memorizing the Quran with Sheikh Mustafa Shaybani 👇

The Somali Early Childhood Approach

Somalia has a rich tradition of Quranic education, with memorization starting very young and integrated into daily life.

The Method:

• Children begin memorizing short surahs as soon as they can speak
• Quran schools (dugsi) are community-centered and accessible
• Emphasis on recitation rhythm and melodious reading
• Memorization is treated as a normal part of childhood, not an extraordinary achievement
• Strong cultural expectation that produces widespread motivation

What You Can Learn: Starting with what's easy and building gradually. Even as an adult, beginning with shorter surahs you may already know partially helps build confidence and establishes the habit before tackling longer, more complex passages.

The Egyptian Academic Structure

Egypt, home to Al-Azhar University, has a long tradition of structured Quranic education that balances memorization with understanding.

The Method:

• Systematic curriculum that progresses from Juz Amma backward
• Integration of tafsir (explanation) alongside memorization
• Regular testing and certification at each stage
• Emphasis on both hifz and understanding of meaning
• Formal ijazah (certification) system upon completion

What You Can Learn: The value of understanding what you're memorizing. While you don't need to do deep tafsir of every verse, knowing the general meaning and context of passages makes them easier to remember and more meaningful to retain.

The South Asian Madrasa System

Countries like Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh have extensive madrasa networks focused on hifz.

The Method:

• Intensive daily schedule (often 4 to 6 hours of Quran study)
• New memorization in the morning when the mind is fresh
• Multiple revision sessions throughout the day
• Recitation to the teacher (sabaq) as daily accountability
• Living in a residential environment dedicated to hifz

What You Can Learn: The importance of optimizing your schedule around your peak mental energy. Most people memorize best in the early morning. Even if you can't dedicate your whole day to hifz, protecting your best hours for new memorization makes a significant difference.

The Step-by-Step Process: How to Actually Memorize

Regardless of which cultural approach resonates with you, the core process follows similar principles.

Step 1: Choose Your Starting Point

You have two main options:

Start with Juz Amma (the last section):

• Pros: Shorter surahs, many are already familiar, builds confidence quickly
• Cons: When you reach the longer middle surahs, the difficulty jump can be discouraging
• Best for: Beginners, children, or anyone who wants early wins

Here's our full guide on how to memorize Juz Amma 👇

Start from the beginning (Surah Al-Baqarah):

• Pros: You tackle the hardest part first while motivation is high, smoother path later
• Cons: Initial progress feels slow, requires strong commitment
• Best for: Adults with high motivation and discipline

Many scholars recommend starting with Juz Amma for most people, but this is a personal choice. Pick what keeps you most motivated.

Step 2: Establish Your Daily Routine

A typical daily hifz session includes three components:

New Memorization (Sabaq Jadid): The fresh material you're learning today. This should happen during your peak mental hours, usually early morning.

Recent Review (Subac): Material memorized in the past week or two. This needs frequent repetition to solidify before it enters long-term memory. Learn more about the Somali Subac method for revision here 👇

Old Review (Manzil): Everything you memorized more than two weeks ago. This prevents older material from being forgotten as you add new pages.

Sample Schedule (1.5 hours daily):

• 30 minutes: Memorize 5 to 10 new lines
• 30 minutes: Review yesterday's new memorization and the past week
• 30 minutes: Review older material on rotation

Adjust based on your pace and available time, but maintain this three-part structure.

Step 3: Effective Memorization Techniques

Here's how to actually memorize a new page or section:

Read and Listen: Read the section several times while looking at the mushaf. Then listen to a skilled reciter (like Sheikh Husary) to internalize the correct pronunciation and rhythm.

Break It Down: Divide the page into small chunks (usually 2 to 3 lines at a time). Don't try to memorize a full page at once.

Repeat, Repeat, Repeat: Recite the first chunk 10 to 20 times while looking at the text. Then try without looking. Repeat until you can recite it smoothly from memory.

Connect the Chunks: Once you have the first chunk solid, move to the next. After memorizing it, connect it to the first chunk. Recite both together until the flow is smooth.

Build the Full Page: Continue this process, always connecting new chunks to what came before, until you've completed the full page or section.

Recite from Memory: Close the mushaf and recite the entire section from memory. If you stumble, open the mushaf, review that spot, and try again.

Test Yourself: Later in the day or the next morning, recite the section again without looking. This spaced retrieval strengthens memory.

Step 4: Managing Your Revision Load

This is where most people struggle. As your memorized pages accumulate, revision becomes overwhelming if you don't have a system.

Daily Revision Quota: Set a fixed number of pages you'll review every day from old material. Start with 1 to 2 pages daily when you're early in your journey. As you get further, you may need to review 3 to 5 pages daily just to maintain everything.

Weekly Cycles: Some people divide their memorized material into seven portions and review one portion each day of the week. This ensures everything gets reviewed weekly.

Monthly Cycles: As your hifz grows, you might shift to monthly cycles where each day you review a specific section, completing the full Quran over 30 days.

The key principle: the more you've memorized, the more time you need for revision relative to new memorization.

Step 5: Progress Tracking

Keep a simple record of what you've memorized and when. This could be:

• A physical journal where you date each page completed
• A spreadsheet tracking daily progress
• An app like Tarteel that logs your recitations and goals

Seeing your progress accumulate is motivating, and having a record helps you plan your revision schedule.

Common Mistakes That People Make In Their Memorization Journey

1. Memorizing Too Quickly

The temptation is to rush through pages to see fast progress. This creates weak retention and a revision crisis later. Better to memorize half a page very solidly than two pages loosely.

2. Neglecting Old Material

Focusing only on new memorization while old pages weaken leads to forgetting faster than you're memorizing. Protect time for old revision even when it feels boring.

3. Skipping Teacher Review

Memorizing on your own without regular checks means errors become ingrained. Even small tajweed mistakes, repeated hundreds of times, become very hard to fix later.

4. Inconsistent Schedule

Memorizing two hours one day, then skipping three days, then cramming an hour creates weak retention. Daily consistency, even just 20 minutes, beats sporadic intensity.

5. Comparing Your Pace to Others

Someone memorizing faster than you might have more time, a better memory, or less demanding life circumstances. Your journey is your own. Focus on your consistency, not others' speed.

6. Memorizing Without Understanding

You don't need to study detailed tafsir of every verse, but knowing the basic meaning and context makes memorization easier and more spiritually fulfilling. At minimum, read a translation of what you're memorizing.

How Tarteel Supports Your Hifz Journey

While traditional methods remain the foundation of Quran memorization, modern tools can support your progress:

Goal Setting: Set daily or weekly targets for new memorization and revision. Having clear goals creates accountability even when you're memorizing independently.

Real-Time Feedback: Recite and receive instant feedback on your tajweed and mistakes. This helps catch errors before they become habits, especially useful between teacher sessions.

Progress Tracking: See your cumulative progress, streaks, and completed portions. Visual progress is motivating during the long middle months of your hifz journey.

Accessibility: Memorize anywhere without needing to carry a physical mushaf. Early morning at home, lunch breaks at work, or late nights when the house is quiet.

Tarteel doesn't replace a teacher or traditional methods, but it can make the daily grind of memorization and revision more structured and measurable.

Taking Care of The Spiritual Side

Becoming a hafiz is a technical process (memorization techniques, revision schedules, time management), but it's fundamentally a spiritual journey.

Make Dua Constantly: Ask Allah to make this easy for you, to grant you understanding, to purify your intention, and to let this Quran be a source of benefit in this life and the next.

Protect Your Heart: Avoid arrogance as you progress. The Quran is a trust, not a trophy. Stay humble and remember that retention is a gift from Allah that can be taken away.

Connect With the Meaning: Don't let memorization become mechanical. Reflect on verses that move you. Let the Quran change how you think and act, not just what you've committed to memory.

Be Patient With Yourself: You will forget. You will have bad days. You will feel like quitting. This is normal. The companions forgot, and the Prophet ﷺ said, "Keep refreshing your knowledge of the Quran, for it escapes from men's hearts faster than camels escape" (Bukhari). Forgetting is part of the process. Returning to review is the solution.

Your Next Steps

If you're ready to begin your hifz journey, here's what to do:

1. Assess your readiness. Can you read the Quran fluently? Is your tajweed solid enough? If not, work on these first.
2. Find a teacher. Ask at your local masjid, search for online Quran teachers, or connect with a hifz program. Don't start serious memorization without oversight.
3. Set your schedule. Be realistic about daily time. Thirty minutes minimum. Block it in your calendar like any other commitment.
4. Choose your starting point. Juz Amma or Surah Al-Baqarah. Pick one and commit.
5. Start small. Memorize just a few lines on day one. Build the habit before worrying about pace.
6. Track your progress. Use Tarteel to log what you've completed.
7. Pray for success. Make this a dua you repeat daily. Ask Allah to make you worthy of carrying His words.

The journey to becoming a hafiz is long, but it's not impossible. Thousands before you have walked this path. Thousands after you will too. The question is simple: will you be one of them?

Download Tarteel, set your first goal, and take the first step today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to memorize the entire Quran to be called a hafiz?

Yes. A hafiz is someone who has memorized the complete Quran from Al-Fatihah to An-Nas. Memorizing portions (like Juz Amma or selected surahs) is commendable, but the title "hafiz" is reserved for those who have completed the full Quran.

Can I become a hafiz if I don't speak Arabic?

Absolutely. Millions of non-Arabic speakers have become huffadh. You need to learn proper pronunciation and tajweed, but you don't need to speak conversational Arabic. Understanding the meaning is helpful but not required for memorization.

Should I memorize with translation or just Arabic?

Memorize the Arabic text (which is the actual Quran), but reading a translation of what you're memorizing is highly recommended. Understanding the meaning makes retention easier and makes the journey more spiritually meaningful.

How do I choose a qualified teacher?

Look for someone who has a strong chain of transmission (ideally ijazah), correct tajweed, and experience teaching hifz students. They don't need to be a famous scholar, but they should be knowledgeable and patient. Ask for recommendations at your local masjid.

What if I don't live near a masjid or hifz program?

Online hifz programs and teachers are widely available now. Platforms like Tarteel offer tools for independent memorization, and you can find qualified teachers via video call for weekly or monthly check-ins.

Is it better to memorize alone or in a group?

Both have benefits. Group settings provide accountability, motivation, and peer support. Individual memorization allows you to go at your own pace. Many successful huffadh combine both: memorize independently but meet with a teacher and/or study group regularly.

How much time should I spend on revision vs. new memorization?

Early in your journey (first 50 to 100 pages), you might spend 60% on new memorization and 40% on revision. As your memorized material grows, this ratio gradually shifts. By the time you're 400+ pages in, you might spend 30% on new material and 70% on revision.

What do I do if I feel like quitting?

Completely normal. Every hafiz goes through this. Reduce your pace temporarily but don't stop entirely. Even if you only review old material for a few weeks without adding anything new, you're maintaining momentum. Talk to your teacher, make dua, and remember why you started.