Assalamu alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu, I had a question regarding surahs. I happen to dislike a surah (for example, I try to run away from memorizing it or reading it) and then there are other surahs that I love. Is it because that surah is hard or is it because I have been afflicted with a disease in the heart? I'm scared because I don't know if it's a sin or not. When I went for hifdh last year, my teacher told me that according to a hadith, hifdh should begin from Surah Yusuf. I tried to verify the hadith (whether it was authentic or not) but I don't know. I memorized about 3/4 of the surah but I forgot it quickly and now it's been over a year and I still haven't been able to finish it. I love hifdh but I can't get myself to finish that surah. Please advise me. Jazakallahu Khairan.

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His Slave and Messenger. 

Apparently, you saying that you "dislike" a Soorah of the Quran is a mischoice of words and a mistake on your part, because it is inconceivable that a believer like you who seeks and strives to memorize the Noble Quran would dislike any part of it. In fact, disliking the Quran or any part of it constitutes an act of disbelief. Ibn Rajab wrote, "Allaah Almighty condemns those who dislike what He likes or like what He dislikes. Allaah Almight says (what means): {That is because they disliked what Allaah revealed, so He rendered worthless their deeds.} [Quran 47:9] He also says (what means): {That is because they followed what angered Allaah and disliked [what earns] His pleasure, so He rendered worthless their deeds.} [Quran 47:28]" [Jaami‘ Al-‘Uloom wal-Hikam]

Ibn ‘Uthaymeen wrote, "Whoever hates the Sharee'ah of the Prophet or any of the rites of Islam, or any act of obedience or worship prescribed in Islam, is considered a disbeliever and such an act takes him out of the fold of Islam. This is because Allaah Almight says (what means): {That is because they disliked what Allaah revealed, so He rendered worthless their deeds.}[Quran 47:9] Indeed, deeds are not rendered worthless except by acts of disbelief..." [Tafseer Al-Quran]

When someone finds it difficult to memorize a given Soorah of the Quran, he should simply skip it, delay memorizing it and move on to another Soorah. Then, he can return to it in the future and he will be able to memorize it, Allaah willing, if he has firm resolve and sincerity and adopts the apt methodology for memorizing the Quran, which we have underlined in Fataawa 82523 and 85692.

Finding difficulty in memorizing a Soorah of the Quran can be due to reasons related to the nature of the Soorah itself or because the person failed to follow the methodology referred to earlier. Or it could be due to his sins. Committing sins has a grave impact on the heart and can hinder a person's ability to memorize the Quran.

At any rate, you striving to memorize the Holy Quran is commendable because it is one of the greatest righteous deeds that draws one closer to Allaah. It is also a means of attaining the highest ranks. Therefore, you should not hesitate to continue in your efforts and you should not give up. May Allaah guide you to all that is good.

We have not found in the diverse reliable references available to us - which are numerous, by the way – any Hadeeth stating that when someone seeks to memorize the Quran, he should start by memorizing the Soorah of Yoosuf (no. 12). We believe that there is no authentic Hadeeth of this nature, because if there had been one, it would have been well-known.

People usually begin memorizing the Quran from the Soorah of An-Naas (no. 114) and then move upward because it is easier and more encouraging for the person to carry on, especially young children, given that these chapters are short and easy to memorize. Moreover, they are often recited in the prayers.

Allaah Knows best.