by Shaheryar Sadiq
Can you think of one thing in your life at the moment that you can focus on so deeply with all your heart without getting distracted constantly?
There’s no doubt that the world has developed tremendously over the past few decades. But it also can not be denied that our preferences, habits, and lifestyles have changed so drastically that we’ve lost our ability to focus on things that matter.
According to The Guardian, most people check their phones 58 times a day. With our lifestyles so consumed by technological advancement and our surroundings, where is our ability to focus?
Go around and ask any successful personality about how important focus and determination are for success. Whether it’s a short-time goal, a long-term goal, academic achievement, or that career you’ve spent years working for, the focus is key to achieve it. But that’s not where it ends. Even to achieve success spiritually, you need to remain focused.
As a legend once said: “Successful people maintain a positive focus in life no matter what is going on around them.”
Spirituality & Focus – What’s the Connection?
There are numerous ways through which focus can be linked to spirituality. For example, spirituality is a meaningful process. When one is spiritual, he feels more compassionate towards his surroundings and is also able to connect with God closely. And when one is focused, especially during the act of prayer, he’s better able to connect with God due to deepening existing spiritual experiences.
Moreover, even meditation which requires utmost focus, has been practiced for thousands of years by scholars to maintain their concentration. Therefore, in today’s world of the hustle and bustle, taking some time out to focus on the divine text of Allah and memorizing the Quran can not only help us maintain better focus but can also help us gain good deeds in this life and the Hereafter as Allah says:
“Take one step towards me; I will take ten steps towards you. Walk towards me; I will run towards you.” – Hadith Qudsi.
Tips to Maintain Focus when Memorizing the Holy Quran
As mentioned above, in our busy lives today, it can be difficult to maintain your focus on even the most important of tasks efficiently. Therefore, we’ve got some tips that will help you focus when you try to start your journey towards memorizing the Holy Quran.
1. Ignore Distractive Thoughts
This is one of the common things to happen to us humans whenever we’re trying to memorize something – your mind wanders off to places far away, and the thoughts just don’t stop. And we realize such an event can be difficult to deal with. However, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to.
There are several things you can do to stop repetitive thoughts: If thought is about a task you forgot to do, and it can be completed later, write it down on paper or set the alarm for after you’re done reciting and memorizing the Holy Quran.
Moreover, constantly try to remind yourself that you’re doing one of the most rewarding and fulfilling jobs: memorizing the word of Allah. Nothing in the world can be as important as this. And with peace in your heart and calm in your mind, stay focused and keep on reciting the Holy Quran.
2. Eliminate Every Distraction
It’s inevitable to lose concentration when your room is full of distractions—for example, bright lights, a messy room, snacks, and most importantly: electronic devices. And yes, that includes your mobile phone! Whenever you sit down to recite and memorize the Quran, eliminate every distraction present in the room.
Ensure you sit down in a clean room with your television switched off. And leave your mobile phone in a separate room. Don’t worry! You’ll have plenty of time later to get back to calls.
Moreover, make sure you’re alone. Put the kids down for a nap and ask your family not to disturb you. This way, you’ll have little to no distractions and will be able to maintain your focus on the Holy Quran completely.
3. Make Sure Your Heart’s in it
As Holy Prophet (PBUH) said:
“Actions are judged by intentions.”
So, know that the point of learning the Holy Quran isn’t to improve your ability to focus. But solely for the sake of Allah, to be closer to Him, and to earn good deeds that will ensure a good worldly life and the Hereafter.
4. Listen & Recite Our Loudly
Whenever you sit down to start memorizing the word of Allah, first try and listen to the Holy Quran. And then recite it out loud.
You can listen to the Quran through applications such as MuslimPro or simply be Googling the relevant Surah. However, only do this on a device that does not have social media or other data that may prove to be constantly distracting installed in it.
5. Perform Wudu Before Starting
It’s recommended to be in the state of Wudu or Ablution before reciting the Holy Quran. When one performs ablution, he’s refreshed, ready, and focused on concentrating on the word of Allah.
6. Set a Time
Ensure you recite and memorize the Holy Quran at the same time every day, preferably after you’re done with your day at the office and other house chores. Eventually, it will become a part of your routine, and you’ll never miss out on it. Moreover, you’re also less likely to get distracted by other activities as this particular time will only be about focusing on your faith and earning good deeds.
Conclusion
When you’re in the process of memorizing the Holy Quran, you eventually train your brain to automatically ignore worldly distractions and focus on what really matters and what’s in front of you in the present moment. Moreover, several scholars all over the world have discussed the fact that learning and reciting the Holy Quran is known to improve one’s attention span.
Moreover, it’s also known to make one more intelligent and understanding if you choose to learn it along with the translation. So, along with gaining intelligence and improve your concentration abilities, you’ll also be gaining unlimited good deeds. What more could a believer ask for?