Is using "mental markers" to facilitate remembering the sequence of Quranic verses, such as linking the end of a verse with a word at the beginning of the subsequent verse, considered an innovation (bid'ah) or impermissible?

The use of innovative rules and methods for memorization is not considered an innovation (bid‘ah); rather, these are tools to help students master memorization through the easiest means. Some of these methods include:

1. Maintaining a single Mushaf (copy of the Quran): Using one Mushaf helps to imprint the images of the verses and their positions in the memorizer's mind, thereby facilitating the memorization process. 2. Managing similar verses (mutashabihat): Mental cues: Such as distinguishing the positions of the words "benefit" (النفع) and "harm" (الضر) in the King Fahd Complex Mushaf based on their location (right or left) and the first letter of the word. Connecting verses with meanings: This is done by understanding the relationship between verses, as in linking the verse (إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالإِحْسَانِ - Indeed, Allah enjoins justice and good conduct...) with the preceding verse (وَنَزَّلْنَا عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ تِبْيَانًا لِّكُلِّ شَيْءٍ - And We have sent down to you the Book as clarification for all things...). Differentiating between similar verses based on context: Such as distinguishing between (يَفْعَلُ مَا يَشَاءُ - He does what He wills) in the story of Zachariah and (يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَاءُ - He creates what He wills) in the story of Mary, based on the difference in context. The "Naht" (carving) method: To manage the endings of similar verses, such as taking the first letters of the words (عظيم - 'Aẓīm - great, أليم - Alīm - painful, مهين - Muhīn - humiliating) in Surat Al Imran to form the word "عام" ('Aam - general). Connecting the verse with the name of the Surah: To manage similar verses, such as distinguishing between (وَلَقَدْ صَرَّفْنَا لِلنَّاسِ - And We have certainly diversified for the people...) in Al-Isra and (وَلَقَدْ صَرَّفْنَا فِي هَذَا الْقُرْآنِ لِلنَّاسِ - And We have certainly diversified in this Quran for the people...) in Al-Kahf, by linking the advanced word with a letter from the Surah's name.

There is no harm in using these rules to manage memorization, provided that the meanings of the verses are not distorted or that one does not over-exert oneself in finding connections between them, as the Quran was revealed for various reasons over many years.