Unconventional Duha Research Unitary

A Night with the Qur’an

I remember a night when illness left me restless, my thoughts clouded, my body heavy. I lay on the floor, headphones pressed against my ears, letting the Qur’an’s recitation wash over me. Verse after verse, rhythm after rhythm — until slowly, the fog lifted. My breathing steadied. My heart softened. The next day, though I was still weak, I noticed something else: my memory was clearer, as though my mind had been rinsed in light.

This experience is not unique. Across the world, millions of Muslims use Qur’an recitation not only as worship but also as healing: calming anxiety, aiding sleep, even improving concentration.

For centuries, scholars and ordinary believers alike have described the Qur’an as shifāʾ — a healing for hearts and minds. But today, modern science is beginning to provide evidence that listening to, reciting, and memorizing the Qur’an impacts the brain in measurable ways.

1. Memory in the Human Design

Human beings rely on memory for nearly everything we do. Neuroscientists divide memory into categories:

Short-term memory: the mind’s scratchpad, holding information for 20–30 seconds.[^1]

Working memory: the active desk where information is manipulated and processed.
Long-term memory: the vast archive of knowledge, skills, and experiences.

Disruptions to memory — whether through stress, illness, or aging — make even daily life difficult. Hence why educators and psychologists invest heavily in enhancing memory.

But the Qur’an, revealed 1400 years ago, has always been tied to memory. It is perhaps the largest memorization project in human history. Millions, from children to elders, carry it entirely in their hearts.

“Rather, the Qur’an is distinct verses preserved within the chests of those who have been given knowledge.” (Qur’an 29:49)


2. Qur’an and Short-Term Memory: The Evidence
A study from Indonesia (Putra et al., 2018) tested the effect of listening to Qur’an recitation (murottal) on short-term memory. Fifty students were divided into groups: one listened to Qur’an, the other did not. They were then given memory tests using specialized software.

The results were clear: the Qur’an group scored significantly higher (average of 12.6) compared to the control group (11.8).[^2]
Other research reinforces this:
Qur’an listening improved working memory and mood in students compared to silence.[^3]

Qur’an memorization in childhood enhanced attention and recall in academic settings.[^4]
Elderly participants who regularly listened to Qur’an performed better on cognitive function tests and reported improved emotional well-being.[^5]

In scientific terms, Qur’an works as a “cognitive enhancer.” For believers, this is simply Allah’s promise manifest: His words are guidance and healing.

3. How Does It Work?
a) Rhythm and Resonance
Qur’an recitation is rhythmic, measured, and melodic. Neuroscience shows rhythm entrains brainwaves, supporting focus and retention.[^6]

b) Stress Reduction
Cortisol, the stress hormone, disrupts memory. Qur’an listening has been shown to lower stress markers, easing anxiety and creating calm.[^7]

c) Repetition and Neural Encoding
Memorization requires repetition, which strengthens synaptic pathways and shifts data from short-term to long-term memory.
d) Symbol and Meaning
Unlike meaningless syllables, Qur’anic verses carry profound meaning. Research shows meaningful information is retained more effectively than random data.[^8]

4. Qur’an as Shifāʾ: Healing Beyond the Brain
The Qur’an names itself as healing: “And We send down in the Qur’an that which is healing and mercy for the believers.” (17:82)

Classical scholars explained this healing is spiritual and psychological. Ibn al-Qayyim described the Qur’an as a cure for diseases of the heart (doubts, desires, despair).[^9]

Modern studies add:
Patients undergoing surgery who listened to Qur’an required less anesthesia and showed lower anxiety.[^10]

Cancer patients reported better sleep and reduced pain.[^11]
Qur’an therapy has been used clinically to support patients with depression and trauma.[^12]

5. The Symbolic Mind and the Qur’an

The Qur’an calls its verses āyāt (signs). They operate as symbols: a cow may mean a cow — but also symbolize famine (Surah Yusuf).
Neuroscience suggests symbols expand thought capacity, enabling abstract reasoning and dual perception.[^13] Listening to Qur’an immerses the believer in a symbolic world, training both intellect and imagination.
6. Testimonies: When the Qur’an Touches Lives

An elderly woman with dementia could not recall her daughter’s name, yet completed verses of Surah Yasin fluently.
Students under exam stress reported sharper recall after Qur’an listening sessions.
Patients with schizophrenia described Qur’an as an “anchor” when voices overwhelmed them.
Even when the intellect falters, the heart still remembers.

7. Beyond Science: The Qur’an as Companion
Science measures heart rate, brain waves, and scores. But it cannot measure sakīnah — the tranquility Allah promises:
“The people who assemble in one of the houses of Allah, reciting the Book of Allah and studying it together, tranquility descends upon them, mercy envelops them, angels surround them, and Allah mentions them to those near Him.” (Muslim)

Light for the Mind and Heart
In the end, the Qur’an is not only text to study or sound to hear. It is living guidance — shaping memory, calming the mind, and opening the heart.
“O Allah, make the Qur’an the spring of our hearts, the light of our chests, the remover of our sorrows, and the reliever of our worries.”

References
[^1]: Atkinson, R., & Shiffrin, R. (1968). Human memory: A proposed system and its control processes.
[^2]: Putra, P. S., Gumilar, R., Kusuma, S. R., Purnomo, H., & Basumerta, C. (2018). The effect of Qur’an murottal’s audio on short term memory. MATEC Web of Conferences, 154.
[^3]: Aziz, M. et al. (2019). Effects of Quran listening on stress and cognitive performance. Journal of Religion and Health.
[^4]: Al-Said, H. (2017). Memorization of the Qur’an and cognitive development. Islamic Studies Review.
[^5]: Mahjoob, M. et al. (2016). Quran recitation and cognitive function in elderly. Iranian Journal of Ageing.
[^6]: Thaut, M. (2005). Rhythm, music, and the brain. Oxford University Press.
[^7]: Doufesh, H., Ibrahim, F., Ismail, N. A., & Wan Ahmad, W. A. (2014). Physiological responses during Quran recitation. Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback.
[^8]: Craik, F., & Tulving, E. (1975). Depth of processing and retention. Journal of Experimental Psychology.
[^9]: Ibn al-Qayyim, Zād al-Maʿād.
[^10]: Wahid, S. F. et al. (2015). The impact of Qur’an recitation on pre-operative anxiety. Journal of Clinical Nursing.
[^11]: Karim, S., & Noor, N. (2018). Qur’an listening in cancer care. Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences.
[^12]: Yucel, H. (2015). Qur’an therapy in psychiatric practice. International Journal of Islamic Psychology.
[^13]: Vygotsky, L. (1962). Thought and language. MIT Press.