Is It Strictly Prohibited (Haram) to Forget a Quranic Verse after Memorizing It?

Answered by Shaykh Yusuf Weltch

Question

I recall hearing some scholars say it is haram to forget Quranic verses after memorizing them. Is this right?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

There are many verses of the Quran and narrations from the Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace) warning us about forgetting the verses of the Quran.

Allah Most High says, “Allah will respond, ‘It is so, just as Our revelations came to you and you neglected them, so Today you are neglected.’” [Quran, 20:126]

The word above, translated as “Our revelations,” literally translates as “Our verses.”

The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “The rewards of my community were presented to me, even some filth a person removes from the mosque as well as the sins of my community. I did not see any sin worse than a chapter or verse of the Quran that one was given, then they forgot it.” [Abu Dawud]

Grading the Above Narration

Despite the above narration and those like it that seem clear in their warning against forgetting any portion of the Quran that one memorized, many scholars spoke critically of the strength of its narrators. [Bin Tahir, Sullam al-Tawfiq]

Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalani (Allah have mercy on him) considered the above narration from Abu Dawud and a similar version from Tirmidhi as weak narrations (d’aif). [Ibid.]

Other Issues in the Narration

Another rational issue that many scholars held concerning the apparent understanding of the above narration is that it will lead people to abandon memorizing the Quran out of fear of putting themselves at risk for the threats of the above narration. [Ibid.]

In abandoning the memorization of the Quran, there will be a great loss to the religion. This is clearly not the intent of the Lawgiver when making such a statement. [Ibid.]

If this is the case, how do we understand the above narration?

Understanding the Texts

The above verse and narration may seem clear in their outward purport. One may conclude that forgetting a single verse after memorizing it is strictly prohibited (haram) and sinful.

However, we must see how the Companions and scholars understood the meaning of “forgetting” in the above texts.

Two Main Understandings

• Forgetting how to read the verse even if one were to look at it in the text;
• Abandoning acting on the verse.

The first opinion was held by Qadi Abu Yusuf (the student of Imam Abu Hanifa) and Shaykh ‘Umar bin ‘Umar al-Dafri al-Hanafi. [Bin Tahir, Sullam al-Tawfiq citing Suyuti and Nahlawi]

Many scholars understood the word “forgetting” to mean abandoning acting on the verses. This is due to the common usage of the word “forgetting” (nasiya) to mean abandoning (tark). [Ibid.]

Allah Most High says, “They forgot Allah, so He forgot them.” [Quran, 9:67]

Meaning they abandoned the obedience of Allah Most High, so He abandoned mercy towards them.

Of the scholars who held this second opinion were Abu Shama (The teacher of Imam al-Nawawi and the student of Ibn Salah.) [Bin Tahir, Sullam al-Tawfiq]

Summary

The varying opinions above give a broad understanding of the verses and narrations. One should have a moderate and cautious outlook moving forward. Memorizing the Quran is an immense honor, and with this honor comes trust and responsibility.

If one is going to take on this responsibility, one must do so, aiming to please Allah Most High. They must dedicate themselves to revision and implementing the teachings of the Quran.

If, while striving, one has difficulty remembering certain tricky chapters/verses, they should not become despondent or have an unhealthy fear due to the above narrations.

But the understandings above should not lead one to be lazy in revising or give less importance to retaining the memorization of the verse. This lack of care itself is a sign of a lack of reverence and/or a lack of gratitude for the blessing of memorization.

Allah Most High says, “That is so. And whoever honors the symbols of Allah, it is certainly out of the piety of the heart.” [Quran, 22:32]

Hope this helps
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch is a teacher of Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he then completed four years at the Darul Uloom seminary in New York where he studied Arabic and the traditional sciences. He then traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he stayed for three years studying in Dar Al-Mustafa under some of the greatest scholars of our time, including Habib Umar Bin Hafiz, Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf, and Shaykh Umar al-Khatib. In Tarim, Shaykh Yusuf completed the memorization of the Quran and studied beliefs, legal methodology, hadith methodology, Quranic exegesis, Islamic history, and a number of texts on spirituality. He joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.