How to Learn Lessons Effectively

An account, a miracle

Learn in this way

Arshad Aslam ‘Attari

Khubayb said: “Grandad! Nowadays I cannot revise for my test, please tell me what to do?” “Son,” Grandad answered, “I will teach you a few revision methods:

1.       Understand the lesson well before revising.

2.       Repeat it, by reciting the lesson aloud.

3.       Fix a time to revise.

4.       Revise when you are relaxed.

5.       Check what you have learnt by writing it out.”

Suhayb said in a worried tone: “Grandad! I am able to remember my notes but how do I preserve it for a long period of time.” Grandad replied smilingly:

1.       “After learning it, look at it again from beginning to end.

2.       What you have learnt, share it with someone else.

3.       Whenever you get a chance, repeat it.

Acting upon these methods will help you remember it for longer, اِنْ شَــآءَالـلّٰـه.”

Umm-e-Habibah joined in: “It has been many days and you have not told us a story.” “Yes! Many days have passed, now a story is in order!” Grandad immediately responded:

“Allah Almighty gave our Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم a miraculous memory and intelligence. Now let’s listen to the story:

One companion relates: “I complained about being unable to remember hadith, saying, ‘Dear Messenger of Allah! I hear many hadith from you, but i forget them.’”

The beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied, “Spread your shawl.” So I spread out my shawl, and the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم joined his hands together in the form of a cup and gestured as if he was pouring something with his hands into the shawl. Then, he صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, “Hold this shawl against your chest.” I did exactly as the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم instructed, and from that time, I have never forgotten anything.”^[1]

Grandad continued, “After this incident, his memory became very powerful. Now can you tell me the name of this companion?” “Grandad!” cried Suhayb, “you did not tell us, so how are we to know?” Grandad said smilingly, “He is that fortunate companion, Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ. His name was Abd Al-Rehman.” Khubayb spoke again, “Yes! You told us about the incident regarding his drinking of milk!” While praising Suhayb, Grandad said, “Excellent! You remembered that incident.”

Khubayb said: “Grandad! This is about the time when our beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was with the noble companions, and they had their memories further strengthened. If we ask the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم for help, will he come to our assistance?”

Grandad replied: “Of course he will help us! In fact, there are numerous accounts which have been written in books.”

Grandad continued this discussion by saying: “Among these accounts is one account of Imam Busiri رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه.” All three children simultaneously remarked: “His Qasidah Burdah is really famous, we recite it every day at school.”

مَوْلَایَ صَلّ وَسَلّمْ دَائِماً اَبَداً                                                     عَلىٰ حَبِيْبِكَ خَيْرِ الْخَلْقِ كُلّهِمِ

Grandad said: “However, dear children! There is a beautiful story behind this Qasidah.

It went something like this, on one occasion, Imam Busiri رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه was extremely unwell and half of his body was left completely paralysed. He was very worried. One day, he wrote this Qasidah and sought help from our beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. On completing this Qasidah, he fell asleep. He saw the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم in his dream and recited this Qasidah in front of him. After listening to the Qasidah, the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم wiped his blessed and miraculous hand over his body and covered Imam Busiri with his own blessed shawl. When the great imam woke up, he was completely cured, and the cloak he was covered with was with him. You do know when this account took place? Khubayb immediately asked: “When is it from Grandad?”

“Dear children! This incident happened about 600 years after the arrival of the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.” “Khubayb said surprisingly: “Grandad! With no medicine or injection, how did they attain cure solely from the passing of those blessed hands?” Grandad answered smilingly: “This is the Prophetic miracle of the generous Messenger صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. Illnesses which doctors cannot cure are cured immediately by the hands of the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.”

Umm-e-Habibah said: “Tell us an incident like this.” Grandad said: “Children, now, it’s time to do your homework, there will be time for more accounts later.” Saying this, Grandad returned to his room.^[2]