insomniac
13-04-07, 01:09 AM
Ways to strengthen one’s memory and combat forgetfulness
It is human nature to be forgetful, as the Arab poet said:
“He is only called man (insaan) because of his forgetfulness (nasiyaan), and
it is only called the heart (al-qalb) because it changes so rapidly
(yataqallib).”
In the past they said that the first one to forget (awwal naasin) was the
first man (awwal al-naas), meaning Adam, peace be upon him. Forgetfulness is
something that varies from person to person according to each individual’s
nature; some may be more forgetful than others. Some of the things that may
help to combat forgetfulness are the following:
Keeping away from sin, because the bad effects of sin result in a bad memory
and the inability to retain knowledge. The darkness of sin cannot co-exist
with the light of knowledge. The following words were attributed to
al-Shaafa'i, may Allaah have mercy on him:
“I complained to [my shaykh] Wakee’ about my bad memory, and he taught me
that I should keep away from sin.
He said that knowledge of Allaah is light, and the light of Allaah is not
given to the sinner.”
Al-Khateeb reported in al-Jaami’ (2/387) that Yahya ibn Yahya said: “A man
asked Maalik ibn Anas, ‘O Abu ‘Abd-Allaah! Is there anything that will
improve my memory?’ He said, ‘If anything will improve it, it is giving up
sin.’”
When a person commits a sin, it overwhelms him and this leads to anxiety and
sorrow which keeps him busy thinking about what he has done. This dulls his
senses and distracts him from many beneficial things, including seeking
knowledge.
Frequently remembering Allaah, may He be glorified, by reciting dhikr,
tasbeeh (saying ‘Subhan Allaah’), tahmeed (‘Al-hamdu Lillaah’), tahleel
(‘Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah’) and takbeer (‘Allaahu akbar’), etc. Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning): “…And remember your Lord when you forget…”
[al-Kahf 18:24]
Not eating too much, because eating too much makes one sleep too much and
become lazy, and it dulls the senses, besides exposing one to the risk of
physical diseases. Most of the diseases which we see result from food and
drink.
Some of the scholars have mentioned certain foods which increase the memory,
such as drinking honey and eating raisins and chewing certain kinds of gum
resin.
Imaam al-Zuhri said: “You should eat honey because it is good for the
memory.”
He also said: “Whoever wants to memorize hadeeth should eat raisins.” (From
al-Jaami’ by al-Khateeb, 2/394).
Ibraaheem ibn [sth. omitted] said, “You should chew resin gum, because it
gives energy to the heart and gets rid of forgetfulness.” (From al-Jaami’ by
al-Khateeb, 2/397).
As they mentioned, too much acidic food is one of the causes of laziness and
weak memory.
Another thing that can help the memory and reduce forgetfulness is cupping
(hijaamah) of the head, as is well known from experience.
Another means is to stop looking, listening, speaking, eating and sleeping
too much, so that your heart will be prepared to memorize that which is
beneficial, for too many distractions make the mind unfocused.
It is human nature to be forgetful, as the Arab poet said:
“He is only called man (insaan) because of his forgetfulness (nasiyaan), and
it is only called the heart (al-qalb) because it changes so rapidly
(yataqallib).”
In the past they said that the first one to forget (awwal naasin) was the
first man (awwal al-naas), meaning Adam, peace be upon him. Forgetfulness is
something that varies from person to person according to each individual’s
nature; some may be more forgetful than others. Some of the things that may
help to combat forgetfulness are the following:
Keeping away from sin, because the bad effects of sin result in a bad memory
and the inability to retain knowledge. The darkness of sin cannot co-exist
with the light of knowledge. The following words were attributed to
al-Shaafa'i, may Allaah have mercy on him:
“I complained to [my shaykh] Wakee’ about my bad memory, and he taught me
that I should keep away from sin.
He said that knowledge of Allaah is light, and the light of Allaah is not
given to the sinner.”
Al-Khateeb reported in al-Jaami’ (2/387) that Yahya ibn Yahya said: “A man
asked Maalik ibn Anas, ‘O Abu ‘Abd-Allaah! Is there anything that will
improve my memory?’ He said, ‘If anything will improve it, it is giving up
sin.’”
When a person commits a sin, it overwhelms him and this leads to anxiety and
sorrow which keeps him busy thinking about what he has done. This dulls his
senses and distracts him from many beneficial things, including seeking
knowledge.
Frequently remembering Allaah, may He be glorified, by reciting dhikr,
tasbeeh (saying ‘Subhan Allaah’), tahmeed (‘Al-hamdu Lillaah’), tahleel
(‘Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah’) and takbeer (‘Allaahu akbar’), etc. Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning): “…And remember your Lord when you forget…”
[al-Kahf 18:24]
Not eating too much, because eating too much makes one sleep too much and
become lazy, and it dulls the senses, besides exposing one to the risk of
physical diseases. Most of the diseases which we see result from food and
drink.
Some of the scholars have mentioned certain foods which increase the memory,
such as drinking honey and eating raisins and chewing certain kinds of gum
resin.
Imaam al-Zuhri said: “You should eat honey because it is good for the
memory.”
He also said: “Whoever wants to memorize hadeeth should eat raisins.” (From
al-Jaami’ by al-Khateeb, 2/394).
Ibraaheem ibn [sth. omitted] said, “You should chew resin gum, because it
gives energy to the heart and gets rid of forgetfulness.” (From al-Jaami’ by
al-Khateeb, 2/397).
As they mentioned, too much acidic food is one of the causes of laziness and
weak memory.
Another thing that can help the memory and reduce forgetfulness is cupping
(hijaamah) of the head, as is well known from experience.
Another means is to stop looking, listening, speaking, eating and sleeping
too much, so that your heart will be prepared to memorize that which is
beneficial, for too many distractions make the mind unfocused.