Dear Haafiz by Ml. Muhammad Ilyas Patel

“Verily we have revealed the Remembrance (Quraan) and indeed we are its protectors.” (Surah Hijr v9)
All praise is due to Allah Ta‘ala alone for the priceless bounty of the Quraan Majeed. May our lives be sacrificed for the Quraan Majeed.
Those who have been especially chosen by Allah Ta‘ala as a means to protect and safeguard His pure Book are extremely fortunate indeed. These special people are the huffaaz (plural of haafiz). They are a manifestation of Allah Ta‘ala’s Majesty and Power, that Allah Ta‘ala showered His mercy upon them and enabled them to commit the Quraan Majeed to memory. Memorising a book as voluminous as the Quraan Majeed is indeed a miracle — a miracle of the Quraan Majeed which Allah Ta‘ala has made manifest through His special servants.

In the present times we are extremely fortunate that we have many huffaaz in our communities, unlike the situation a few decades ago when huffaaz had to be brought from faraway places to perform the Taraaweeh Salaah. It could be safely said that at this present moment a few thousand students are engaged in the memorising of the Quraan Majeed in South Africa only, let alone the rest of the world. These students will tomorrow be leading the Taraaweeh Salaah in various places.

However, unfortunately many do not fully realize the tremendous responsibility that this task entails. This concise booklet is a feeble attempt to highlight to our young huffaaz their own status as well as the responsibility that lies on their shoulders.May Allah Ta‘ala accept this humble effort and due to His sheer grace and mercy may He make it beneficial to the readers, aameen. The ‘Ulama Kiraam who may peruse through this booklet are requested to kindly point out any errors or inaccuracies so that these could be rectified in the next edition.