Many of us, including myself, have what I call ‘Brain farts’. The moment when you know you should remember or recall something, yet no matter how much energy you throw at the complication, no success! It is a ‘but it’s on the tip of my tongue’ moment. Or maybe it is a ‘where is my keys’ moment. Maybe it is reciting a surah that you have definitely memorized, yet when you need to recall it, a miserable blank overwhelms your mind. Some, if not all, of these previously mentioned scenarios happen to me, and I know they happen to others. Being the young person I am, I am a little worried that it is happening to me. So, when worried, turn to Allah and seek aid with His friends. I asked Shaykh Nuh what I could do about my memory/concentration problem and he recommended a book that addresses the problem(s) both physiologically, as well as spiritually. The book is written by a Sikh Doctor named Dharma Khalsa, who specializes in Alzheimers/dementia, titled Brain Longevity: The Breakthrough Medical Program that Improves Mind and Memory . His approach can be summarized as follows: exercise, nutritional therapy, stress management, and pharmacology.
He deals with the stress issue through ‘religious/spiritual’ practices. Those without spirituality need to turn to yoga, he says. His nutritional therapy is serious methodology to balance the internal mechanisms of the physical self; the usage of the Vitamin B complex, Ginko Biloba, certain proteins/amino acids, Vitamin C (nearly 1500-2000 mgs a day) etc. After having read this book, I can tell you that I have never seen a western doctor take such a multi-faceted approach to improving the health of an individual. The program works, and there is plenty of anecdotal & scientific evidence to support such a claim. If Shaikh Nuh tells me it works for him, then it must really work, as the man’s memory, recall, and whit is, masha’allah, superb for his age. He also told me a du’aa to repeat, but it is to long for me to type up.
Now that you might take a few moments and search for the book on Amazon.com (or wherever), you need also to pay attention to the words of Imam Az-Zarnuji, the Hanafi Jurist who wrote the book Ta’lim Al-Muta’allim Tariq At-Ta’allum – Instruction of the Student : The Method of Learning. He says regarding Memory and Forgetfullness:
“The most influential factors in [strengthening] memory are industriousness and commitment. Reducing one’s consumption, [increasing] prayer at night, and reading the Quran are also factors for [improving] one’s memory. It is said that nothing increases memory retention more than reading the Quran silently; and reading the Quran silently is most excellent, for [the Prophet] said, “The most excellent among the works of my community is reading the Quran silently.”
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One should also pray much [that God send] blessings and peace upon the Prophet, for he is the mercy to the worlds (Qur’an 21:107). It is said in a poem:
‘I complained to Waki’ of my bad memory. So he directed me to cease from evil doing; For indeed memory is a favor from God and a favor of God is not given to he who sins.’
Using the miswak, drinking honey, eating the incense plant with sugar, and eating 21 red raisins a day on an empty stomach generates good memory, since [these things] cure many sicknesses and illnesses. For everything that diminishes phlegm and bodily fluid increases memory, and everything that augments phlegm induces forgetfulness.
Moreover, among those things that bring about forgetfulness are wrongdoing, committting many sins, harboring worries and anxiety over worldly matters, and being distracted by many occupations and attachments. [...] Worldly anxieties create darkness in the heart, but concen for the Hereafter brings light into the heart. [This light] becomes apparent through Prayer. Anxiety for worldly affaris impedes on efrom doing good, while concern for the hereafter incites one to do good, as does occupying with prayer in a spirit of humility and presence of mind.” ((Pages 47-49, Hamza Yusuf Edition ))
Many of the same concepts mentioned by Imam Zarnuji are also mentioned by Dr. Khalsa. My advice, read both books and you can better the sharpness and speed of your mind.
Oh Allah send your Mercy and Blessings upon our Beloved Sayyid Muhammad, His companions, and followers. Amin!
Assalamoalaikum brother,
I recently purchased Dr Khalsa’s book regarding brain longevity after coming across your website. The book contains very beneficial information regarding the brain and how to make the most out of it. I am quite skeptical about the mind/body (yoga) exercises though. Could you please inform me if these exercises are permissible or haraam for muslims.
Jzakallah
Recently the scholars in Malaysia forbade yoga, and it seems that Yoga is haram.
As I responded to you in your email to me, one simply needs to replace the “yoga” with dhikr and Salah, especially awraad from one’s Shaykh.
Jazakum Allahu Khairan Brother,
Abul Layth
Are you kidding me? Yoga is a form of physical exercise … on what basis would it be haraam? I don’t think people should be so quick to deem things ‘haram’ after all there in much middle ground between haraam and halal and surah bakarah tells us to walk the middle ground. Most importantly I did yoga for a month and it helped me relieve anxiety and reduce my temper … just as belief in Allah does but it also made me physically stronger so why would it be forbidden. Ultimately all ilm came from Allah and sth like yoga could not have been the work of man.
Salamu ‘Alaykum,
Yoga, atleast the non westernised version of it, is in fact a Hindu philosophy. It includes in it the system of “karma” and ties itself into the concept of the samsara circle.
The Prophet (‘alayhi salam) warned, “Whoever imitates a people, is one of them.” [Sunan Abu Dawud]
The scholars who have commented upon this hadith have clarified that this a warning to the believers not to imitate the disbelievers in actions particular to their religion.
The stated goal of “yoga” is self-discipline. A Muslim does not need, nor participate in such practices when Islam offers even a better solution. Such a spiritual state is achieved through the Islamic sciences, especially tasawwuf – reflection, proper islamic meditation, training the soul to arrive at ultimate ma’rifah of Allah; the state of Ihsan.
Bottom line is, the scholars of Malaysia are very aware of what Yoga truly is, and I do not mean the westernised watered down version, especially since they deal with Hindus and their customs in their country.
As for reduction of anger, there are many spiritual exercises the scholars of tasawwuf have for anger problems, and anecdotally I can attest to their immense baraka.
As the Prophet saaid, “the halal is clear and he haram is clear, and everything in between is doubtful…so leave that which causes doubt.”
He ‘alayhis salam also stated, “Leave that which causes doubt for that which does not.”
was-salam