Traditional and Modern Methods Used for Memorization of Quran in Turkey

Abstract

The Quran, being the last divine book and guideline for mankind, requires to be preserved until the Day of Judgment occurs. Learning by heart is the most sustainable method of preserving any text because it involves human being as a tool and it assures that this method will continue as long as the humanity itself continues. Muslims have been using this human technique for preserving the Quran from the first day of its revelation and hence the Quran has been surely the most and probably the only memorized book throughout the human history. Turkey’s contribution like any other Muslim country in preserving Quran through memorization is no doubt enormous. The country produces thousands of Huffaz (Memorizers of the Holy Quran) every year with nearly half of them as females. This article analyses the traditional and modern ways adopted for the memorization of Quran in a historic and scientifically advanced country like Turkey. This study on one hand enables us to detect flaws in the system so as to help in improving the system and on the other hand it introduces modern methods used in Turkey to other Muslim countries, which  may not be known to them and thus brings in front new ways that may contribute to the betterment of memorization techniques and ultimately the preservation of Quran, the last and only authentic divine guideline for human beings who are engulfed by a number of problems and complications in present age.