Is memorizing the Holy Quran a means of increasing one’s intelligence?

Increasing a person’s intelligence is a scientific specialty that is connected to psychological research, which universities, institutes and research centres deal with nowadays. It is a common interest for many researchers, and there is a great deal of effort and many programs aimed at achieving this goal, based on specialized studies and research.

To prove that there is a connection between memorizing the Quran and an increase in the intelligence of the hafiz [the one who memorizes the Quran], that needs to be based on proper scientific studies and research, where they test a certain number of students of Quran memorization centres and evaluate their level of intelligence before they begin to memorize the Quran and after they do so, through the most accurate international measures of intelligence, and then compare that with students who do not memorize Quran, taking into account differences in age and level of education. The outcome after all of that is to be regarded as the answer, so that we can tell people in their own language, and the claim will be based on clear, empirical evidence, and no one will accuse us of making claims on the basis of emotion. We have heard of a specialized study that was carried out in al-Azhar ash-Sharif on this topic, but we have not had the opportunity to acquire details of that study until now.

It is sufficient for us to say here that memorizing and reciting the Quran is one of the greatest means of purifying the heart, and one of the greatest means of attaining blessings. Here we will mention some things that are certain:

Firstly:

Memorizing the Holy Quran is light from Allah, may He be exalted, that He shines into the heart of His slave, and it is sufficient to quote what the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said, that it is “like a citron, the taste of which is good and it smell is good.” Narrated by al-Bukhari (5020) and Muslim (797). And it was narrated that Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “The one who has not learned by heart anything of the Quran is like a ruined house.” Narrated by at-Tirmidhi, 2913; he said: it is authentic. Classed as authentic by al-Albani in Sahih at-Tirmidhi.

Secondly:

Memorizing the Holy Quran is an important means of reflecting, contemplating and pondering, and that is the most important way by which a person may gain understanding of his religion, learning what pleases Allah so that he can implement it and learning what incurs His wrath so that he can avoid it.

Thirdly:

The Holy Quran is a means of attaining happiness, joy, and reassurance in this world and the hereafter. Increasing one’s intelligence cannot be achieved by one whose heart is heedless and filled with worries and impurity, and who is depressed.

Fourthly:

Learning about the most intelligent people of the early eras of Islam among those who memorized the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), and reading the biographies of the most prominent commentators, such as at-Tabari, al-Qurtubi, Ibn Kathir, ar- Razi Ibn Taymiyah and others, will show you that memorizing Quran improves intelligence, for they are the greatest proof of the impact that memorizing the Quran has on increasing one’s intelligence.

Fifthly:

In reality, memorizing the Holy Quran involves reading and a great deal of reflecting. Many contemporary studies are agreed that reading is one of the most important factors of intelligence for the one who does that, so how about if what is read is the noblest and purest of words?

And Allah knows best.