# Beyond Memorization: Using Hifz Focus with the Five Fortresses Method
For many Hifz students, the struggle isn't just memorizing the next page; it's holding on to what was memorized last week, last month, or last year. A common story we hear is, "I used to memorize, pass the test with my teacher, and then just move forward, only to find the verses slipping away." This cycle of memorizing and forgetting can be frustrating and demoralizing.
But what if you could build a fortress around your Hifz?
One of our users shared their transformative journey with a powerful memorization system known as "The Five Fortresses" (الحصون الخمسة). This method, which has helped countless students, builds layers of reinforcement through a structured combination of preparation, new memorization, and multi-layered revision.
The beauty of this system is its synergy with the tools built right into Hifz Focus. Here’s how you can use the app to implement your own version of this highly effective method.
Fortress 1: The Weekly Look-Ahead (Preparation)
The user who shared this method said the most important aspect for them was weekly preparation. Before you even start memorizing next week's pages (e.g., pages 10-17), you spend the current week simply reading them. By the time you're ready to memorize, you've already familiarized yourself with the verses seven times, making the memorization process dramatically easier.
How to do it in Hifz Focus:
Teacher's Role**: A teacher can set this up for their student by starting a session and navigating to the **Dour** tab. In the "Lesson Control" card, they can select the page range for the *following week* (e.g., Pages 10-17) and click *"Set Custom Dour".
Student's Role**: The student will now see this "Custom Dour: Pages 10-17" item in their *To-Do List. Every day, they can select it from their dashboard, open the Mushaf, and simply read or listen to the pages. It's a low-pressure way to build familiarity and prime the brain for memorization.
Fortress 2: The New Lesson (Sabak)
This is the core of your daily Hifz work—the new portion you are actively committing to memory.
How to do it in Hifz Focus:
* This maps directly to the New Sabak feature. Your teacher sets your new lesson (e.g., Page 10), and it appears as "Today's Sabak" in your To-Do List.
* Because you've already spent a week preparing with the "Weekly Look-Ahead," you'll find that the verses feel familiar, and memorizing them is faster and more intuitive.
Fortress 3: Recent Revision (The Previous 5-7 Lessons)
This fortress secures the lessons you've just memorized. It involves constantly reviewing the handful of lessons that came just before your current Sabak. This is crucial for moving verses from your short-term to your mid-term memory.
How to do it in Hifz Focus:
Teacher's Role**: When a student makes several mistakes on a new Sabak, the teacher marks it as *"Needs More Practice."
Student's Role**: This lesson automatically appears in the *Practice Queue on the student's dashboard. This queue serves as your dedicated space for solidifying recent lessons until they are perfected.
Fortress 4: Grouped Revision (Connecting the Pages)
This fortress is about linking your individual lessons together into a seamless whole. The goal is to be able to recite larger chunks (like a full quarter-Juz) without hesitation.
How to do it in Hifz Focus:
This happens automatically! As you master lessons and your teacher marks them as "Sabak Memorized,"** Hifz Focus adds them to your *Dour Queue.
* Our system intelligently detects when you've memorized adjacent lessons. For example, if `Baqarah (1-7)` and `Baqarah (8-16)` are both memorized, the app will automatically merge them into a single, larger revision item: `Baqarah (1-16)`. This naturally builds your capacity for reciting long passages.
Fortress 5: Long-Term Revision (The Entire Dour)
This is the final fortress, designed to protect your entire Hifz for a lifetime. It involves a continuous, cyclical review of everything you have ever memorized.
How to do it in Hifz Focus:
* This is the primary function of the Dour Queue. Every lesson you've ever mastered lives here. The app uses a smart scheduling system to ensure that you are constantly reviewing older material.
* When you successfully recite a Dour item, it's "recycled" to the end of the queue with a new due date, guaranteeing you will see it again and keeping your memory sharp.
Start Small, Stay Consistent
The full Five Fortresses method can seem intensive, but you don't have to do it all at once. As our user said, "I don't follow it exactly because it is too much for me but you can start with an easier version and adjust."
Start by incorporating the Weekly Look-Ahead. Use the "Custom Dour" feature to prepare for next week's lesson. This single change can dramatically reduce the friction of memorization and build your confidence. From there, you can lean on the app's built-in Practice and Dour queues to naturally build the other fortresses around your Hifz.