Reading books make you wiser but Slowly and gradually

What’s the Use of Reading If We Can’t Remember Anything?

It’s a question that echoes in the minds of many students, professionals and even lifelong learners: “I study so much, read books, attend lectures, even watch educational videos but when it matters, I forget everything. So what’s the point? Is it all a waste of time?”

This concern is neither new nor uncommon. The frustration of investing hours in study and then forgetting most of it can make the process feel discouraging but there’s a deeper truth about learning that we often overlook.

The Story of the Date, A Lesson in Hidden Learning

Sheikh Salman al-Ouda, in his contemplative book “Zanzana” (The Cell), shares a profound story from his own life. He once approached his teacher and complained: “I read an entire book, but I don’t remember anything from it!”

In response, the teacher gave him a date and said, “Eat this.”

After eating it, the teacher asked, “Did you grow bigger immediately?”

Sheikh Salman replied, “No.”

The teacher smiled and said: “But that date is now a part of you. It’s been digested. Some of it became energy, some turned into flesh, some nourished your skin, hair, nails and even your bones.”

At that moment, Sheikh Salman realized a vital truth about knowledge: “Even if I don’t remember every word I read, each book still leaves something within me. It strengthens my language, refines my thinking, sharpens my expression and subtly shapes my character.”

Not All Learning Is Meant to Be Remembered

Like food nourishes the body invisibly, reading nourishes the mind and soul in ways we might not immediately perceive. You may not recall every paragraph you’ve read but your speech improves, your thoughts become clearer and your emotional intelligence deepens.

Imam Al-Ghazali aptly said: “Knowledge that doesn’t remain in the memory can still purify the heart.”

C.S. Lewis, the famed author of The Chronicles of Narnia, wrote: “What you read doesn’t change you all at once—it becomes part of your framework of thinking, influencing you silently.”

And in the Qur’an, Allah reminds us: “And remind, for indeed, the reminder benefits the believers.” (Adh-Dhariyat 51:55)

Even when we don’t remember every reminder, it continues to influence our soul and behavior.

Learning Works Like Language Acquisition

Consider how children learn to speak. They don’t memorize grammar books or vocabulary lists. They simply absorb language by listening for months. They don’t speak for a long time but when they do, it’s fluent and natural because the knowledge soaked in quietly day by day.

Reading works the same way. You may forget chapter titles or exact facts but the language, ideas, emotions and perspectives seep into your personality. The process may be invisible but it is transformative.

Even Forgotten Knowledge Has Power

Imagine a journalism student who reads extensively about media ethics, reporting styles and conflict-sensitive storytelling. Years later, she may not remember exact quotes or page numbers but her reporting will naturally reflect empathy, fairness, and depth because those books silently shaped her worldview.

Likewise, someone who reads Islamic history may forget the names and dates, but they carry with them lessons in patience, justice and leadership. The knowledge is not gone, it has become internalized.

It’s About Transformation, Not Just Retention

Here’s what happens even when we forget the content:

Vocabulary improves

Sentence structure becomes clearer

Critical thinking sharpens

Moral perspective strengthens

Writing and speaking style elevates

The purpose of reading is not merely to store information like a hard drive. The real aim is internal growth, a process that is slow, silent and powerful.

This is why the Qur’an emphasizes Tadabbur (deep reflection) more than just memorization. Scholars through the ages have encouraged continuous reading, even without perfect recall because reading plants seeds that bloom later in our lives.

Final Thoughts: Keep Feeding the Mind

Just as one meal doesn’t make you healthy, one book won’t change your life but hundreds of meals build a body and a lifetime of reading shapes a soul.

So the next time you forget most of what you’ve read, don’t worry. The benefit has already been absorbed. You’re not wasting time, you’re watering the roots of your intellect and your spirit.

Keep reading. Even when you forget, your mind remembers in ways you may never fully see.