Question: Is learning a few Juz and forgetting the same sin as becoming Hafiz and forgetting the Qur’an?

Answer: It is mentioned in a Hadith, narrated by Sa'ad bin Waqaas Radhiyallahu Anhu:

مَا مِنِ امْرِئٍ يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ ثُمَّ يَنْسَاهُ إِلَّا لَقِيَ اللَّهَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَجْذَمَ

Translation: A person who recited the Qur'an and then forgets it will meet Allah with part of his body cut off. (Sunan Abi Dawud)

The Hanafi scholars explain that forgetting the Qur'an refers to someone who, after memorising it, is unable to recite it from the Mushaf (Qur’anic text).

Therefore, if a person has memorised a few Ajzaa (parts) or any portion of the Qur'an, or even the entire Qur'an, it is a minimum requirement that they are able to recite that memorised portion from the Mushaf (Qur’anic text). In this way, a person shall be excluded from the Wa'eed (warning of punishment) sounded in the aforementioned Hadith.

However, according to others, it refers to not being able to recite it from memory. Hence, it is safest that one regularly keeps up to his revision/Dhor of what he has by-hearted.

And Allah Knows Best
Darul Ihsan Fatwa Dept.