Tahfiz education has been well accepted by Muslims in Malaysia. Memorizing the Quran through rote learning can assistin improving the brain ability to process, store information and build memory. In addition, dietary intakes were reportedto contribute in the process of memorizing the Quran and to increase the levels of intelligence (IQ) among huffaz students.This cross-sectional study was conducted to measure and to determine the correlation between IQ and dietary intakeas well as between IQ and the level of trace elements among students in selected tahfiz schools and non-tahfiz school inSelangor. Questionnaires were used to obtain demographic data. Dietary intake was assessed via 3 days dietary record.Levels of trace elements in the nail samples were analyzed by using ICP-MS. Test for intelligence using WASI-II wasconducted to measure the students’ IQ. The results showed that there was a moderate positive correlation between IQ andcarbohydrate (r = 0.425, p < 0.001, a weak positive correlation between IQ and energy (r = 0.260, p < 0.05), vitaminB6 (r = 0.189, p < 0.05), vitamin B12 (r = 0.207, p < 0.05) and vitamin C (r = 0.211, p < 0.05). The levels of traceelements in nail samples showed no correlation with IQ, whereas there were moderate positive correlations between IQand dietary zinc (r = 0.375, p < 0.001) as well as between IQ and dietary iron (r = 0.303, p < 0.001). There was also amoderate positive correlation between IQ and the level of memorization (r = 0.375, p < 0.001). The results of stepwisemultiple linear regression showed that al-Quran memorization influence the level of IQ by 20 %. As a conclusion, dietaryintake of certain nutrients including energy, vitamins and selected trace elements can potentially improve memorizationactivities and also IQ.

Jujube known as ‘Bidara’ in Malay customs is a beneficial plant to humans. Nowadays, it is being domestically produced into varieties of products to fulfill human needs. However, as time passed, Jujube was only seen as a source for business products while ignoring its real benefits. Thus, this paper aimed to illustrate its benefits as stated in the transliterated books of Malay medical manuscripts, with solid support from scientific and Islamic perspectives. As a common ingredient for remedies, jujube has been documented in old manuscripts such as Kitab Tib MSS 2151, Kitab Tib Muzium Terengganu, The Medical Book of Malayan Medicine, and Kitab Al-Rahmah Fi al-Tibb Wa Al-Hikmah. Past journals and articles were analyzed to describe the benefits of jujube from scientific and Islamic points of view which are derived from the Quran and Hadith. In the selected Malay medical manuscripts, jujube was prescribed as a remedy for dysentery, loss of appetite, sore throat, smallpox, and scorpion sting. Scientific findings have broadened the discoveries of its medicinal advantages with the presence of properties such as anti-diarrheal, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antioxidant, anticancer, and antiallergic. Islamic views which are derived from the Quran, Hadith, and scholars’ books mainly circulate its benefits as a cleansing agent, black magic defense mechanism, and medicine for certain illnesses. To conclude, this paper will review the benefits of jujube from the ancient Malay medical manuscript, which is parallel with the Islamic perspective and supported by scientific findings.