Over the past few days, I’ve met several Qur’an memorizers from across the country—ranging from those who’ve memorized 5 juz to the full 30. From my encounters and conversations with them, a few important observations stood out.

First, if we’re talking numbers, it seems we’ll never run out of Qur’an memorizers. The number of tahfizh boarding schools—or general Islamic schools with a tahfizh specialization—is enormous. Interest in memorizing the Qur’an remains high. These students come from various backgrounds: from traditionalist Nahdliyyin families hoping to secure a fast track to paradise, to Salafi circles that view memorization as part of a purification movement.

Second, while the quantity isn’t lacking, the quality is… troubling. Of the dozen or so high school graduates I interviewed, very few had truly strong memorization—mutqin, as they call it. Often, the memorization is more about meeting the quota and earning the certificate. A certificate might say they’ve memorized 15 juz, but in reality, they can recite only 2 or 3 with confidence.

Third, and most concerning, is that the majority—probably eight out of ten—do not understand what they’ve memorized. Some can’t even translate short chapters. Kamatsali al-himār yaḥmilu asfārā—like a donkey carrying books—it comes to mind more often than I’d like.

I’m not a Qur’anic studies researcher, so I don’t claim to know the national landscape in detail. But I did ask them directly during the interviews why they didn’t understand the meaning of the verses. The most common answer was, “Well, we’re just focused on memorizing the Qur’an, sir.” Or, “At our pesantren, if you want to learn Arabic grammar, you choose the Nahwu track.”

So, based on what I’ve seen and heard, it seems few pesantren intentionally link Qur’an memorization with understanding its meaning. I asked one student, “Do you know the song Sholawat Tombo Ati?” He replied, “Yes, sir.”

I asked him to sing it. Then I said, “Did the first line of that song ever strike you as ironic?”
He blinked, “No, sir. What do you mean?”

I explained, “It says read the Qur’an while reflecting on its meaning… yet here you are, memorizing it without any concern for the meaning.”

I’m not asking for the moon here. If specialization (takhassus) requires them to focus solely on memorization, I get it. But surely, there’s still room to integrate some relevant learning.

For example, they don’t need to dive deep into Arabic grammar (nahwu), but why not at least hold a daily bandongan session with Tafsir al-Jalalayn? Just once a day. That would break up the otherwise relentless schedule of morning, noon, afternoon, and evening Qur’an memorization. A single session of interpretive reading would make a difference.

Hearing a kiai explain the verses they’ve memorized—even if only occasionally—would keep them from being so utterly unfamiliar with the Qur’an’s message.

Perhaps those of you more familiar with the world of tahfizh have your own insights and explanations?

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