Pondering and thinking deeply about the meanings of the verses of the noble Qur'aan is from the greatest intents behind its revelation.
Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) said:
"(This is) a Book (the Qur'aân) which We have sent down to you, full of Blessings that they may ponder over its verses, and that men of understanding may remember."
(Surat As-Saad Vs 29)
Ash-Shinqeetee said:
"Allah revealed this book, glorifying Himself by using the pronoun "WE", and that it is a blessed book. Also from the wisdom behind its revelation is that mankind should ponder and think deeply over its signs; meaning, they should understand it, contemplate and think deeply until they grasp all that is encompassed in it from the different types of guidance."
Understanding the verses and pondering over them are from the greatest means by which memorization can be achieved. Knowing the differences and similarities in the verses and their interconnections are a means of perfecting the memorization. Therefore, it is upon the person memorizing the Qur'aan to read the translation of the meaning along with the tafseer(exegesis) of the noble Qur'aan as they are memorizing it. He/She also has to pay full attention when reading or reciting the Qur'aan in order to be able to connect between the verses as well as, follow the meaning of what he is memorizing.
It is worthy of mention here that he/she should not solely rely on understanding the meaning of the verses alone in memorizing but he must repeat the verses and this is the real way of retaining them in the mind. If he/she repeats the verses several times, then even when the mind strays or is distracted sometimes from the meaning of what is being recited, the tongue will be firm on the correct order of the words or verses. Whoever relies solely on his understanding in memorizing will forget easily, and his/her recitation will be interrupted as his mind wanders away from the meaning of what is being recited (especially if it is a long recitation).
Al Imam An-Nawawi said:
"It has been reported in Sahih Muslim, On the authority of Tameem Ad-Daariy (رضي الله عنه) who said: Allah's Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: "The religion is sincerity" we said: "to whom?" He said: "To Allah, and to His books and to His messengers, and to the leaders of the Muslims and their common folks"
The Scholars have said (رحمهم الله):
The sincerity to the book of Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) is believing that it is the words of Allah and his revelation, there is no speech like it from the speech of any creation of Allah and no one can replicate it or come close to doing so. It also means acknowledging its greatness, giving it its due right in terms of reciting it, perfecting its recitation (tajweed), being humble when reciting it, to remove from it any distortion or repel any attacks from the evil doers. In addition to all that has been mentioned, we must also believe in what has been revealed in it, abide by its rules, understand its sciences and examples, acknowledge its miracles, ponder over its verses, work with its rulings, agree with its similarities and learn its general issues, specific issues, abrogated verses and spread its message.
In conclusion of this point/step, we should learn the tafseer of the verses we are memorizing and we must not stop repeating the verses for repetition is the key to retention.
We ask Allah to increase us all in Iman and make us from those who remember Him much memorize His book, ponder and reflect on its verses and supplicate often, ameen.
The source and main material used in preparing the content of this blog is the book, Ways of teaching the noble Qur'aan and memorizing it by Abu Abdrahman, Jamal ibn Ibrahim AlQirsh (طرائق تدريس القرآن الكريم وحفظه).