Memorisation of the Qur'an: Opening the Research Agenda

Abstract

Muslims around the world devote considerable effort to memorising the Qur'an, as this is deemed to be a highly meritorious endeavour that brings them closer to God. Memorisation of the Qur'an was one of the first, and most important, means by which the Qur'an was preserved by the early Muslim community. Interest in memorisation has continued over the centuries, but it has not evolved into a distinct field of study as has been the case with various sciences particular to the Qur'an, such as, for example, the sciences of qirāʾāt and tajwīd. This paper seeks to establish a distinct, interdisciplinary, academic sub-discipline for the study of issues related to the characteristics and particularities of Qur'an memorisation. The potential contribution to this emerging discipline of other academic fields, such as applied linguistics, psycholinguistics, and educational psychology, will also be discussed.