Ma’ar i f Resear ch Jour nal (July – Dec. 2015) Traditional and Modern Methods...91-100 91 Traditional and Modern Methods Used for Memorization of Quran in Turkey Saifullah Bhutto* ABSTRACT The Quran, being the last divine book and guideline for mankind, requires to be preserved until the Day of Judgment occurs. Learning by heart is the most sustainable method of preserving any text because it involves human being as a tool and it assures that this method will continue as long as the humanity itself continues. Muslims have been using this human technique for preserving the Quran from the first day of its revelation and hence the Quran has been surely the most and probably the only memorized book throughout the human history. Turkey’s contribution like any other Muslim country in preserving Quran through memorization is no doubt enormous. The country produces thousands of Huffaz (Memorizers of the Holy Quran) every year with nearly half of them as females. This article analyses the traditional and modern ways adopted for the memorization of Quran in a historic and scientifically advanced country like Turkey. This study on one hand enables us to detect flaws in the system so as to help in improving the system and on the other hand it introduces modern methods used in Turkey to other Muslim countries, which may not be known to them and thus brings in front new ways that may contribute to the betterment of memorization techniques and ultimately the preservation of Quran, the last and only authentic divine guideline for human beings who are engulfed by a number of problems and complications in present age. Key words: Memorization, Hfiz, Quran, Turkey, Methods. A QUICK GLIMPSE AT HISTORY OF HIFZUL QURAN IN TURKEY To have a clear picture of history of Hifz-e-Quran in Turkey we have to beep into the history of Turkey itself. The history of Turkey can be divided primarily into three major eras: Seljuq Era (1037-1194 A.D) The Seljuqs paid a great attention to the services towards Quranic Education with special focus on Hifz-e-Quran. Dar-ul-Huffaz and Dar-ul-Qurra institutions were established for the service of Quran. 1 Huffaz were assigned special duties like in Karatatay Medressa two Huffaz were assigned the duty to read Quran at the time of sunrise and sunset. The Sultans used to keep with them a hafiz called ‘Hassa Hafiz’ at home and during journey. Moreover some Huffaz were assigned the duty to read Quran in front of the graves in royal graveyard. The Hifz (Memorizing of the Holy Quran) was also carried out in mosques, Medressas (Religious Schools), Dar-ul-Hadith and tombs. 2 Ottoman Empire (1299-1923 A.D) The Dar-ul-Qurras established in Seljuq era continued their services in Ottoman Empire as well and were found in almost all areas coming under the authority of * PhD scholar Faculty of Divinity Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey Lecturer Islamic Studies, Quaid-e-Awam University, Nawabshah, Sindh, Pakistan Email: bhuttosaifullah@hotmail.com Date of Receipt: 15-5-2014