The following was written by My Honourable Teacher; Al-‘Allamatul Muhaddith, Shaykh Muhammad ‘Awwamah (hafizahullah) for the benefit of students of knowledge and all others who need it.

Shaykh writes:
The four deeds below are effective in increasing one’s memory and protection from forgetfulness:

1. Pray two rak’ats of nafl salah; in the first rak’ah after Surah Fatihah, recite

فَفَهَّمْنَاهَا سُلَيْمَانَ ۚ وَكُلًّا آتَيْنَا حُكْمًا وَعِلْمًا ۚ وَسَخَّرْنَا مَعَ دَاوُودَ الْجِبَالَ يُسَبِّحْنَ وَالطَّيْرَ ۚ وَكُنَّا فَاعِلِينَ
Fafahhamnaha Sulayman, wa kullan aatayna hukmaw wa ‘ilma, wa sakh-kharna ma’a
.Dawudal jibala yusabbihna wat tayr, wa kunna fa’ilin

Translation:
“We explained the decision [as mentioned in the previous ayahs] to Sulayman (‘alayhis salam) and granted wisdom and knowledge to both of them. We placed the mountains and birds at Dawud’s (‘alayhis salam) service and they all engaged in Allah’s glorification [with him]. We are the ones Who can do [Who can make such things possible].”

– In the second rak’ah after Surah Fatihah, Recite Surah Kawthar. After the Salam, recite the following du’a:

اللّٰهُمَّ افْتَحْ عَلَيْنا حِكْمَتَكَ وَ انْشُرْ عَلَيْنا رَحْمَتَكَ وَ أَنْزِلْ عَلَيْنا بَرَكاتِكَ وَ لا تُنْسِنا ذِكْرَكَ وَ صَلِّ وَ سَلِّمْ عَلىٰ خَيْرِ خَلْقِكَ مُحَمَّدٍ وَّ آلِهِ وَ أَصْحابِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ
Allahummaf tah ‘alayna hikmataka wan shur ‘alayna rahmataka wa anzil ‘alayna barakatika wala tunsina dhikraka wa salli wa sallim ‘ala khayri khalqika Muhammad wa alihi wa as-habihi ajma’in

Translation:
O Allah, open Your wisdom for us, spread Your mercy upon us, do not let us forget Your remembrance, and send blessings and salutations upon Your greatest creation Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam), his family, and all his companions.

2. After reading any book, recite the following du’a:

سُبْحانَ اللهِ وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلهِ وَ لا إِلٰهَ إِلّا الله وَ اللهُ أَكْبَرُ وَ لا حَوْلَ وَ لا قُوَّةَ إِلّا بِاللهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيمِ عَدَدَ كُلِّ حَرْفٍ كُتِبَ وَ عَدَدَ كُلِّ حَرْفٍ يُّكْتَبُ إِلىٰ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ
Subhanallahi wal hamdulillahi wa la ilaha illallahu wallahu akbaru wa la hawla wa la
quwwata illa billahil ‘aliyyil ‘adhim ‘adada kulli harfin kutiba wa ‘adada kulli harfin yuktabu ila yawmid Din

Translation:
All Glory and praise belongs to Allah! There is none worthy of worship besides Allah! Allah is the greatest! There is no might and power except with Allah the Most High (May Allah Ta’ala be praised with this) to the number of letters that have been written and that will be written till the Day of Qiyamah!

3. Before the lesson recite:

اللّٰهُمَّ افْتَحْ عَلَيْنا حِكْمَتَكَ وَانْشُرْ عَلَيْنا رَحْمَتَكَ يا ذا الْجَلالِ وَالْإكْرامِ
.Allahummaf tah ‘alayna hikmataka wan shur ‘alayna rahmataka ya dhal jalali wal ikram

Translation:
O Allah! O Possessor of Grandeur and Honour! Open up Your wisdom to us and spread Your mercy upon us!

4. Recite the following form of salat/durud on Nabiy (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam) frequently between Maghrib and ‘Isha Salahs:

اللّٰهُمّ صَلّ وَ سَلِّمْ وَ بارِكْ عَلىٰ سَيِّدِنا مُحَمَّدٍ وَّآلِهِ كَما لا نِهايَةَ لِكَمالِكَ وَ عَدَدَ كَمالِهِ
Allahumma salli wa sallim wa barik ‘ala sayyidina Muhammadiw wa alihi kama la nihayata
.likamalika wa ‘adada kamalihi

Translation:
O Allah send blessing and salutations upon our Master Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) and his family to the amount of Your limitless perfection and the number of his perfection.
– End of article.

Note: These deeds are proven through experience [and not necessarily from Hadith] to be effective in increasing one’s memory. 

May Allah Ta’ala make it beneficial for all.

See another article on the topic of boosting one’s memory here.

09/08/2020