Memorization Without Comprehension: A Window onto the ‘Extremities’ of the Capability of Human Brain

Abstract

Muslims across the world memorize the Quran in Arabic for verbatim recall. Memorizers can be native speakers of Arabic, non-native speakers of Arabic, or non-Arabic speakers. The purpose of this study is to investigate expert Quran memorizers on their memorization practices including what they brought to the act of memorization and what, according to them, underlay their success in memorization. Ten memorizers were interviewed about their reflections on their memorization practices. The analysis reveals that while some practices of the Quran memorizers are in line with findings from research literature on memory, there are others which are peculiar to them. The conclusion drawn is that Quran memorizers recite accurately because they do not learn the language. It is further concluded that Quran memorization is a special case, in which a range of extra linguistic factors such as identity, motivation and intention play an important role.