Freed Palestinian Prisoner Reveals Keys to Quran Memorization Amid Gaza’s Hardships
In an interview with Al Jazeera Mubasher’s program “Ayyam Allah” (Days of God), Sheikh Naji al-Jaafarawi, a freed Palestinian prisoner and preacher at Gaza’s Ministry of Awqaf, spoke about how the people of Gaza continue to produce generations of Quran memorizers under the most difficult conditions.
Asked about the secret behind the emergence of exceptional memorizers in Gaza, al-Jaafarawi said: “Planning and organization lead to successful and effective results. Therefore, structured programs with clear frameworks that consider individual differences among memorizers—such as age, gender, and educational level—are essential. This is the first key.”
He went on to explain that the second important factor is the method of loud recitation during memorization.
“A person memorizes one page, then two pages together, and so on—five pages, even ten pages. The memorizer does not move on to the next surah until they have recited the previous one completely, from the first to the last verse. This was the best method we experienced,” he said.
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Al-Jaafarawi said the results of these methods were evident. “During two years of war, more than 1,500 male and female memorizers of the Book of God sat among the ruins of one of our destroyed mosques and recited the Holy Quran from memory, from Surah al-Fatiha to Surah al-Nas, in a single session.”
He highlighted the third element of success as the presence of a dedicated teacher.
“Each memorizer must have a teacher who accompanies, reviews, and encourages them throughout the journey,” he said.
The fourth key, al-Jaafarawi added, is companionship and mutual support.
“God Almighty says: ‘Appoint for me a helper from my family’ (Ta-Ha: 29), and ‘We will strengthen your arm through your brother’ (Al-Qasas: 35). Having a companion fosters healthy competition and shared motivation in memorizing the Book of God.”
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He concluded by emphasizing the importance of seeking divine assistance. “Finally, the memorizer must seek help from God—through prayer, supplication, and humility in all circumstances, in prostration, and during night prayers—so that He makes memorizing the Quran easy,” he said, quoting the Quranic verse:
“And We have certainly made the Quran easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember?” (Al-Qamar: 17).
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