What causes forgetfulness?

-  What are the reasons that weaken memory?

Dear Brother / Sister,

Memory is the ability to memorize, learn and remember; it is the ability to preserve what is understood, perceived and learned in the mind and to recall it when necessary. According to medical research, millions of neurons (nerve cells) are embedded in the human brain. God Almighty has granted human beings the ability to learn and store libraries of information in the mind thanks to those neurons that He created as a means. Thus, memory includes learning, which we can call the storage of information in neurons, and remembering, which we can describe as retrieving and using that stored information when necessary.

Memory Geniuses and Forgetful People

While making the brain learn and remember, God, who has infinite power, made some material causes a veil for His actions; He made the perfect equipment, nerve fibers and unconscious cell atoms of the brain means of receiving and storing myriads of information. He gave those who use their memory well and make maximum use of it the ability to learn almost everything they see and read in a very short time and not to forget what they have learned even if a long time has passed.

As a matter of fact, many geniuses of memory were raised in the periods when people were observant of the well-being of their minds and lived in accordance with their nature. Hundreds of Companions such as Abu Hurayra (ra), who memorized something he heard without feeling the need to repeat it a second time, Zayd Ibn Thabit (ra), who learned Hebrew to the extent that he could write letters and translate them within fifteen to twenty days upon the order of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh), were people who learned what they heard only once and never forgot it. Especially the periods of Tabi’un and Tabau Tabi’in were full of people who used their memory properly. For example, Ahmad Ibn Hanbal memorized a million hadiths including sahih (sound), hasan and weak hadiths, which were transmitted with different scripts and texts, even though the content was the same; he wrote his famous Musnad, which contains forty thousand hadiths, by selecting them from among three hundred thousand hadiths.

Unfortunately, as this age has approached, it is almost as if people’s memory has atrophied. People have become unable to memorize even very short texts that they have read twenty times and are unable to understand and learn even very simple subjects. Due to clouded minds, scattered ideas and dirty hearts, not only has the learning period become longer, but also the disease of forgetting quickly has emerged. What is learned today is lost tomorrow. So much so that today it is almost impossible to find a person who does not complain about his memory and forgetfulness. Perhaps many people in every period have expressed the same complaint, but for example, the complaint of one of the Tabi’un was that he could no longer memorize a page after reading it once, while the complaint of today’s people is that they cannot save a text in their memory even if they read it thirty times, or that they cannot remember anything after a very short time.

Mind Pollution

There are many causes that weaken the memory and lead to forgetfulness. Experts working on the brain and memory generally cite the lack of adequate supply of oxygen, glucose and certain enzymes that the brain needs, the disorganization of the work flow due to the rapid depletion of the brain’s energy because of stress, tension, etc., the inactivity of a part of the brain due to concentration on only some issues, and the habit of unsystematic thinking as the causes that come to mind immediately. They also state that sometimes the physiological structure and physical condition of man can lead to memory weakness, and as some branches of the body mechanism become tired in old age, the brain may become unable to perform some of its functions due to them.

However, some Islamic scholars, past and present, have stated that excessive sleep makes the brain sluggish, that a full stomach has a negative effect on the mind, and that sleeping during the early morning hours and looking at haram cause forgetfulness. In addition, they have emphasized the need to keep away from idle pursuits, useless conversations, trashy bits of information and uncontrolled daydreaming as they believe that mind pollution weakens the memory. They have even considered it inadvisable to read tombstones for fear that it might lead to unsystematic thinking and fill the mind with useless information; they have thought that reading tombstones might cause the kind of damage that today’s billboards, car license plates, television screens and newspaper pages cause. It is difficult to understand why, in today’s world where we live in close contact with tens of elements that pollute minds, cloud hearts and weaken memory, it is difficult to understand why one should avoid reading the inscriptions on tombstones so as not to cause forgetfulness but it should not be forgotten that the salafu salihin evaluated the issue from the perspective of their own decent atmosphere.

In my opinion, the most dangerous factors that weaken the memory are those that arouse the sensual feelings and stimulate the animal feelings. Today, the family and social environment are insufficient for the good upbringing of young people; besides the minds are paralyzed by the indoctrination that flows in and out of the environment. Television programs, internet pages, video games, daily news, political polemics, the actions and behaviors of athletes and artists that are reported as if they were great events, lies, fabrications, all kinds of deceptions and sensationalism that are invented for the sole purpose of arousing curiosity, etc. completely occupy the already weakened minds. And when all the dirt that is pumped into the minds provokes the animal feelings and human instincts and hits the sublime feelings like a ton of bricks, the rampant sensual desires and passions leave no room for reading, learning and thinking in the poor generations of our age, and almost dry up the memories completely. Yes, unfortunately, today’s human beings are struggling among the lethal waves of sins such as listening to haram, speaking haram and looking haram.

Haram and Forgetfulness

People of Allah have insisted that looking at haram is a cause of forgetfulness. They have stated that the memory of a person who cannot control his eyes and constantly looks at things that arouse sensual feelings will gradually atrophy. In fact, when Imam Shafii complained to his teacher Waki’ bin Jarrah about the weakness of his memory, that great man asked Imam Shafii to avoid even the smallest sins and said to him: “Knowledge is a divine light, and God Almighty does not bestow His light on the one who is constantly immersed in sins.” Moreover, Imam Shafii probably complained about his memory when he memorized a text not the first time but the second or third time. Besides, it is unthinkable that a man of the spirit like Imam Shafii would knowingly commit a sin.

Nursi states that the disease of forgetfulness is exacerbated by the widespread obscenity in our age. He states that the people who do not avoid looking at haram will also forget what they have learned from the Quran and that the interpretation of the hadith “In the end times, the Quran will be removed from the hearts of hafizes” should be sought in the horrible consequences of this disease.

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh), who warned his ummah not to look at haram, turned the head of Fadl (son of Abbas), whom he had placed on his camel riding pillion, left and right at a time when everyone, men and women alike, were chaste, and when they were returning from Arafat after performing waqfa of hajj; thus, he helped Fadl avoid looking at the women around. It was the age of bliss, the season was the season of Hajj, the rider was the Messenger of Allah and the one whose head was turned left and right to be prevented from looking at haram was Fadl, whose chastity no one could doubt. However, even in a situation in which such a thing was almost impossible, the fact that the Prophet (pbuh) turned Fadl’s face from side to side so that other images would not catch his eye and a stray arrow would not pierce his heart is very exemplary in terms of showing the sensitivity of our Prophet (pbuh) on this issue.

Poisoned Arrows

Our Prophet (pbuh) said, “Glancing is one of the poisonous arrows of Satan...” (Hakim, Mustadrak, 4/314; Mundhiri, at-Targhib wat-Tarhib, III, 63), indicating the necessity of protecting oneself from that poisonous arrow. Addressing firstly and personally to Ali (ra) and secondly and indirectly to all his ummah, he said, “O Ali! The first glance is in your favor, but the second one is against you...” (Tirmidhi, Adab 28; Abu Dawud, Nikah 44); he emphasized that the first glance would not bring any responsibility since it was not intentional, but since the second look was voluntary, it would be recorded as a sin; thus, he attracted attention to the need to block the path leading to haram from the very beginning and not to give way to sins. He also encouraged Muslims to close their eyes to haram by quoting God Almighty’s flattering statement: “If a person refrains from looking at haram out of fear of Me, I will put such a joy of belief in his heart that he will feel the pleasure of it in the depths of his heart.”

In this respect, so as not to fall into distraction and memory weakness due to looking at haram, it is necessary to keep away from the bazaars and markets where sins flow like a flood unless it is a matter of work or a duty related to the service of belief. If it is absolutely necessary to go out, one should act carefully as if walking in a minefield and to be vigilant against Satanic attacks. There are two conditions for achieving it: firstly, before going out to the bazaar, read or listen to something that will affect the heart, bring tears to the eyes and stimulate the spiritual senses; secondly, when going out, try not to be alone as much as possible and be accompanied by one or two friends who are wise. Despite all these efforts, there may still be stains that come from left and right against your will, and mud that pollutes the heart and spirit. In such cases, it is necessary to rush to the prayer rug at the first opportunity and turn to Allah Almighty. Worship such as salah, charity, fasting and supplication will - inshallah - atone for the sins that hit a person involuntarily.

In fact, glancing is a danger that can be prevented and avoided with willpower. With a little effort, one can have the patience not to look at sinful sights. Avoiding a bad sight that catches one’s eye is not so great a burden that can overcome one’s willpower; the willpower is enough to close the eye the first time an evil eye arrow strikes it. Especially if a person thinks that whenever he closes his eyes to haram, he will earn as much thawab as if he had performed a wajib deed, he can avoid sin at that first moment.

However, if he does not immediately turn his gaze away from haram, but immerses himself in it and looks again and again, the possibility of going back is reduced. And if he nourishes and magnifies the scenes flowing from his eyes to his mind with imagination and remembering, he is considered to have left the safe shore completely. After that, it takes much more effort to go back.

“I have set sail on the sea of rebellion,
It does not allow me to go to the shore!”

As a friend of mine expresses in the couplet above, God forbid, that sea of sin will turn the person who has wandered so far away from the shore in its waves and will not allow him to come to the shore again.

Factors That Strengthen Memory

In contrast to the factors that weaken the memory, there are also factors that can strengthen it. They include a regular life, principled work, systematic thinking and constant exercise of the mind. According to experts, the belief that “The brain gets tired if it works very hard” is wrong. The reason why the brain gets tired is not because of overworking it, but because it becomes clumsy due to misusing it or leaving it idle. Yes, the brain does not get tired due to working very hard; on the contrary, it develops and becomes more efficient the more it works. It is not work that tires and atrophies the brain, but idleness, not thinking, not contemplating and not doing work. Just as unused organs atrophy, the memory also atrophies if it is not constantly used in the right way.

Unfortunately, the ever-advancing science and technology render the human mind ineffective and inactive to a certain extent. Today’s students rely on calculators and computers and do not even feel the need to memorize the multiplication table. The inertia resulting from this readiness also prevents the brain faculties from becoming active. Yes, one should certainly make use of scientific and technological means, but he should also take care not to disturb the balance; for example, one should never use a computer for simple tasks lest he should neglect his memory. Moreover, the computer should be prepared and programmed in such a way to facilitate the work of the memory while at the same time providing gymnastics for the mind. One should concentrate on learning rather than memorizing, but it should not be overlooked that memorizing some important texts in some fields is also very useful in terms of training the mind.

On the other hand, experts also emphasize that certain foods have a direct impact on brain functioning. They point out that breakfast improves the brain’s performance and that people who do not have a breakfast habit lose concentration. To overcome forgetfulness and strengthen the memory, they recommend foods such as raisins, which contain glucose, the main fuel for the brain.

Prayer of Memorization

Some people of Salafu Salihin both said some prayers and made it a habit to eat 21 seeded raisins every morning in order to strengthen the memory and reduce forgetfulness. In addition, the people of Allah advised the people who complained of memory retardation and inability to memorize to perform the four-rak’ah prayer described in the following hadith and to say the supplication that follows it:

Once Ali (ra) came to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) and complained that he could not keep the Quran in his memory: “This Quran flies away from my chest. I cannot keep it in my memory.” Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said to him, “When it is the night of (before) Friday, get up in the last third of the night; it is a witnessed hour, and supplication is answered in it. If you cannot get up at that time, get up in the first part of in the middle of the night and perform a four-rak’ah prayer. Read al-Fatiha and Yasin in the first rak’ah, al-Fatiha and ad-Dukhan in the second rak’ah, al-Fatiha and as-Sajdah in the third rak’ah and al-Fatiha and al-Mulk in the fourth rak’ah. When you finish at-Tahiyyat, praise Allah in properly. Send salawat to me and the other prophets. Seek forgiveness from Allah for the believing men and the believing women. Then, say the following prayer:” He asked Ali (ra) to repeat the prayer included in the books with the name “Prayer of Memorization”.

Ali (ra) did it for five or seven nights as the Prophet (pbuh) described and then came to him and said:

“O Messenger of Allah! I was unable to memorize even four or five verses before, but now I can memorize about forty verses. When I recite them, it is as if the Book of Allah is in front of me. In the past, I could not memorize completely a hadith I heard when I repeated it but now when I hear hadiths and narrate them, I do not miss even a single letter.” (Tirmidhi, Daawat, 114)

To sum up, memory, which is the ability to store learned information and recall it when necessary, is one of the greatest favors God Almighty has bestowed upon human beings. This wonderful ability has been created with a great capacity to contain a great deal of information as long as it is used properly.

In order to be grateful for the blessing of memory and to use it in the best way in accordance with its nature, the following is necessary:

- To shake up the mind,
- To close the eyes to haram,
- To abandon unnecessary things,
- Systematic thinking,
- To eat and drink regularly, and not more than necessary,
- Not to sleep more than necessary,
- To work and develop the mind through contemplation,
- To open the blockages in the memory through supplication and dhikr,

- To appeal to Allah, the Ever-Preserving One, to make the memory exceed its capacity, and also to work in an orderly manner such as actual prayer by looking out for the most fertile time periods, at the time of dawn, before the sun rises.

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