| Author(s) | Muhammad Yaseen Alfi |
| Affiliation | Assistant Professor, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, College of Education, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
| Title | An Applied Linguistics Approach to Improving the Memorization of the Holy Quran: Suggestions for Designing Practice Activities for Learning and Teaching |
| Source | Journal of King Saud University. Educational Sciences & Islamic Studies. Volume 16, No 2. (2004/1424) |
| Abstract | The memorization of the Holy Quran is as old as the inception of Islam, and memorization has continued to play a vital role in many of its religious practices. In this paper we intend to introduce to the Islamic reader some of the information from research on memorization and some of the methodologies from educational theory that may enhance the already advanced practices of memorization in the Islamic world. Some of the issues that will be discussed are the following: the traditional role of memorization in the study of the Holy Quran; methodology in contemporary Islamic Schools; on the idea of memorization as a methodology of study; motivation and meaning as they pertain to memorization; techniques such as chunking and mnemonics that assist the learner in his/her effort at memorization; a tentative model for repertory memory and possible classroom applications. It is hoped that the discussion of these issues will assist teachers and curriculum designers in confirming the good practices that are already in place, in improving practices that are found to be less useful, and in eliminating some practices that are seen to be counterproductive. To paraphrase the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), we may take wisdom wherever we find it. It is hoped that the information presented in this brief paper will open the door for further research into the topic of memorization for scholars and teachers so that we can continue to build on our great past. |
