Answered by Shaykh Ilyas Patel, UK

It has been reported by Tirmidhi, Hakim and others that Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) reports that he was once in the company of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) when Sayyiduna Ali (Allah be pleased him) came in and said, "O Messenger of Allah, you are dearer to me than my father and mother. I try to memorize the Qur'an but cannot do so as it vanishes from my memory.”

The Messenger of Allah said, "Shall I tell you of a method which will benefit you as well as those to whom it is conveyed by you? You will then be able to retain whatever you learn."

At the request of Sayyiduna Ali, the Messenger of Allah said, "When the night preceding Friday comes, rise up in its last third portion, if possible, for that would be excellent. This is the best part of the night as this is the time that Prophet Yaqub (peace be upon him) had been waiting when he had said to his sons that he would made me Prophet that the acceptance of a believer's prayer will never be missed."

Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas reports that hardly five or seven Fridays passed when Sayyiduna Ali came to the Messenger of Allah and said, "Previously I used to learn about four ayahs (verses) but I was not able to retain them and now I learn about forty and I can remember them as clearly as if I have the Qur'an open before me. Previously when I heard a Hadith and then repeated it, I could not retain it and now I hear Ahadith and when I narrate them to others I do not miss a single word."