Best Duration for Completing the Qur’an According to Authentic Ahadith

The original article is written by Abu Yahya Aman Puri, may Allah preserve him. It has been improved with titles and additional arrangement for ease of reading.

Completing the recitation of the Holy Quran in three days or more is recommended and preferable

Here are its evidences:

Evidence Number 1

The conversation of Hazrat Abdullah bin Amr, may Allah be pleased with him, with the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him:

“صُمْ مِّنَ الشَّہْرِ ثَلَاثَۃَ أَیَّامٍ، قَالَ : إِنِّي أُطِیقُ أَکْثَرَ مِنْ ذٰلِکَ، قَالَ : فَمَا زَالَ حَتّٰی قَالَ : ’صُمْ یَوْمًا وَّأَفْطِرْ یَوْمًا‘، وَقَالَ : ’اقْرَإِ الْقُرْآنَ فِي شَہْرٍ‘، فَقُلْتُ : إِنِّي أُطِیقُ أَکْثَرَ مِنْ ذٰلِکَ، حَتّٰی قَالَ : ’اقْرَإِ الْقُرْآنَ فِي ثَلَاثٍ‘ ۔”

The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: “Fast three days in a month.” He said: “I am capable of more than that.” He kept repeating this until the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: “Fast one day and leave one day.” Then the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: “Complete the Quran in one month.” He said: “I can do more than that,” and kept repeating this until the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him, said: “Complete it in three days.”

Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari: 1978)

Evidence Number 2

Hazrat Abdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:

“لَمْ یَفْقَہْ مَنْ قَرَأَ الْقُرْآنَ فِي أَقَلَّ مِنْ ثَلَاثٍ” “Whoever completes the recitation of the Qur’an in less than three days has not understood it.”

Reference: (Sunan Abi Dawood: 1394, Sunan al-Tirmidhi: 2949, Sunan Ibn Majah: 1347, Fada’il al-Qur’an by al-Nasa’i: 92, and its chain is authentic)

Imam Tirmidhi (may Allah have mercy on him) says about this hadith:

“هٰذَا حَدِیْثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِیْحٌ” “This hadith is Hasan Sahih.”

Evidence Number 3

Hazrat Abdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet (peace be upon him) commanded him to complete the Qur’an in forty (40) days, then said in one month, then in twenty (20) days, then in fifteen (15) days, then in ten (10) days, and finally in seven (7) days, and then he stopped at that.

Reference: (Fada’il al-Qur’an by al-Nasa’i: 94, Mukhtasar Qiyam al-Layl by al-Marwazi, p. 66, and its chain is authentic)

Evidence Number 4

Hazrat Abdullah bin Amr bin As (may Allah be pleased with him) states that he had a conversation with the Prophet (peace be upon him):

“اِقْرَإِ الْقُرْآنَ فِي شَہْرٍ، قُلْتُ : إِنِّي أَجِدُ قُوَّۃً، حَتّٰی قَالَ : ’فَاقْرَأْہُ فِي سَبْعٍ، وَلاَ تَزِدْ عَلٰی ذٰلِکَ‘” “The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: ‘Complete the Quran in one month.’ I said that I can do it in less time, until the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: ‘Then complete it in seven days, do not do it in less than that.'”

Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari: 5054, Sahih Muslim: 1159)

Evidence Number 5

Umm al-Mu’minin Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates:

“وَلَا أَعْلَمُ نَبِيَّ اللّٰہِ صَلَّی اللّٰہُ عَلَیْہِ وَسَلَّمَ قَرَأَ الْقُرْآنَ کُلَّہٗ فِي لَیْلَۃٍ” “I do not know that the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) ever completed the entire Quran in one night.”

Reference: (Sahih Muslim: 139/746)

Evidence Number 6

Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) says:

“اِقْرَئُ وا الْقُرْآنَ فِي کُلِّ سَبْعٍ” “Complete the recitation of the Quran every week.”

Reference: (Fada’il al-Quran by al-Firyabi: 131, and its chain is authentic)

Evidence Number 7

It is narrated from Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas’ud’s son, Hazrat Abdur Rahman (peace be upon him), that:

“إِنَّ أَبَاہُ کَانَ یَخْتِمُ فِي رَمَضَانَ فِي ثَلَاثٍ، وَفِي غَیْرِ رَمَضَانَ مِنَ الْجُمُعَۃِ لِلْجُمُعَۃِ” “My father used to complete the Quran in three days during Ramadan, and on other days, he would complete the Quran from one Friday to the next Friday.”

Reference: (Fada’il al-Quran by al-Firyabi: 132, and its chain is authentic)

Completion of the Quran in Less Than Three Days and the Practice of the Predecessors of the Ummah

Although the Prophetic traditions do not prohibit completing the Quran in less than three days, the practice of the predecessors of the Ummah also indicates that it is permissible. The details of the practice of the predecessors of the Ummah are as follows:

① Sayyiduna Uthman ibn Affan (may Allah be pleased with him)

It is established from the Rightly Guided Caliph Sayyiduna Uthman ibn Affan (may Allah be pleased with him) that he recited the entire Quran in one rak’ah of Witr.

Reference: (Sharh Ma’ani al-Athar by al-Tahawi: 294/1, Sunan al-Daraqutni: 34/2, Hadith: 1658, and its chain is Hasan)

② Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) and Abu Jamrah, the Tabi’i (may Allah have mercy on him)

Abu Jamrah Nasr ibn Imran al-Basri (may Allah have mercy on him), who is a trustworthy Tabi’i Imam, narrates:

“إِنِّي رَجُلٌ سَرِیعُ الْقِرَاء َۃِ، وَرُبَّمَا قَرَأْتُ الْقُرْآنَ فِي لَیْلَۃٍ مَّرَّۃً أَوْ مَرَّتَیْنِ، فَقَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ : لَـأَنْ أَقْرَأَ سُورَۃً وَّاحِدَۃً أَعْجَبُ إِلَيَّ مِنْ أَنْ أَفْعَلَ مِثْلَ الَّذِي تَفْعَلُ، فَإِنْ کُنْتَ فَاعِلًا لَّا بُدَّ؛ فَاقْرَأْہُ قِرَاء َۃً تُسْمِعُ أُذُنَیْکَ وَیَعِیہِ قَلْبُکَ” “I am a person who recites quickly, and sometimes I complete the Quran once or twice in one night. Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: If I recite one Surah, it seems better to me than your deeds. However, if you want to do so, then recite in such a way that your ears hear and your heart understands.”

Reference: (Al-Sunan Al-Kubra by Al-Bayhaqi: 396/2, and its chain is Hasan)

③ Imam Saeed bin Jubair Tabi’i (peace be upon him)

It is narrated about Imam Saeed bin Jubair (peace be upon him):

“إِنَّہٗ کَانَ یَخْتِمُ الْقُرْآنَ فِي کُلِّ لَیْلَتَیْنِ” “He (peace be upon him) used to complete the Quran in two nights.”

Reference: (Al-Tabaqat Al-Kubra by Ibn Saad: 270/2, Sunan Al-Darimi: 3528, Hilyat Al-Awliya by Abu Nu’aym Al-Asbahani: 273/4, and its chain is Sahih)

④ Imam Qatadah bin Du’ama Tabi’i (peace be upon him)

Salam bin Abu Mati’ (peace be upon him) says about Imam Qatadah bin Du’ama Tabi’i (peace be upon him):

“إِنَّہٗ کَانَ یَخْتِمُ الْقُرْآنَ فِي کُلِّ سَبْعِ لَیَالٍ مَرَّۃً، فَإِذَا جَائَ رَمَضَانُ؛ خَتَمَ فِي کُلِّ ثَلَاثِ لَیَالٍ مَّرَّۃً، فَإِذَا جَائَ الْعَشْرُ؛ خَتَمَ فِي کُلِّ لَیْلَۃٍ مَّرَّۃً” “He (peace be upon him) used to complete the Quran in seven nights. In the blessed month of Ramadan, he would complete the Quran in three nights, and when the last ten days of Ramadan would come, he would complete it every night.”

Reference: (Hilyat al-Awliya wa Tabaqat al-Asfiya li Abi Nu’aym al-Asbahani: 339/2, and its chain is authentic)

⑤ Alqama bin Qais Tabi’i (peace be upon him)

Imam Ibrahim Nakha’i (peace be upon him) says about Alqama bin Qais Nakha’i Tabi’i (peace be upon him):

“إِنَّ عَلْقَمَۃَ کَانَ یَقْرَأُ فِي خَمْسٍ، قَالَ : وَقَرَأَہٗ فِي مَکَّۃَ فِي لَیْلَۃٍ” “Alqama (peace be upon him) used to recite the Quran in five days, but in Makkah Mukarramah, he recited the Quran in one night.”

Reference: (Fada’il al-Quran lil-Farayabi: 139, and its chain is authentic; Fada’il al-Quran li Abi Ubaid, p. 182; Al-Thiqat by Ibn Hibban: 208/5, and its chain is authentic)

⑥ Aswad bin Yazid Tabi’i (peace be upon him)

Imam Ibrahim Nakha’i (peace be upon him) narrates about Aswad bin Yazid Tabi’i (peace be upon him):

“کَانَ الْـأَسْوَدُ یَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ فِي شَہْرِ رَمَضَانَ فِي لَیْلَتَیْنِ، وَیَخْتِمُہٗ فِي سِوٰی رَمَضَانَ فِي سِتٍّ” “Aswad bin Yazid (peace be upon him) used to complete the Quran in two nights during Ramadan, and in six days during ordinary days.”

Reference: (Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 500/2; Al-Thiqat by Ibn Hibban: 31/4; Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra by Ibn Sa’d: 136/6, and its chain is authentic)

⑦ Imam Ali Azdi Tabi’i (peace be upon him)

Imam Mujahid bin Jabr Tabi’i (may Allah be pleased with him) states:

“کَانَ یَخْتِمُ الْقُرْآنَ فِي رَمَضَانَ کُلَّ لَیْلَۃٍ” “He used to complete the entire Quran every night during Ramadan.”

Reference: (Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 500/2, Al-Thiqat by Ibn Hibban: 164/5, 165, and its chain is Hasan)

⑧ Saad bin Ibrahim Tabi’i (may Allah be pleased with him)

Imam Shu’bah bin Hajjaj Qushayri (may Allah be pleased with him) states:

“کَانَ سَعْدُ بْنُ إِبْرَاہِیمَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمٰنِ یَخْتِمُ الْقُرْآنَ فِي کُلِّ یَوْمٍ وَّلَیْلَۃٍ” “Saad bin Ibrahim bin Abdul Rahman Tabi’i (may Allah be pleased with him) used to complete the Quran once every day and night.”

Reference: (Al-Tabaqat Al-Kubra by Ibn Sa’d: 364/5, Tarikh Dimashq by Ibn Asakir: 213/20, and its chain is Sahih)

⑨ Abu Haroon Khazzaz Razi (may Allah be pleased with him)

Imam Ibn Abi Hatim Razi (may Allah be pleased with him) says about Muhammad bin Khalid Khazzaz (may Allah be pleased with him):

“کَانَ یَخْتِمُ الْقُرْآنَ فِي یَوْمٍ وَّلَیْلَۃٍ” “He (may Allah be pleased with him) used to complete the entire Quran in one day and night.”

Reference: (Al-Jarh wa Al-Ta’dil by Ibn Abi Hatim: 245/7)

⑩ Imam Abdul Rahman bin Mahdi (may Allah be pleased with him)

Imam Ali bin Madini (may Allah be pleased with him) states:

“کَانَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمٰنُ بْنُ مَہْدِيٍّ یَّخْتِمُ فِي کُلِّ لَیْلَتَیْنِ، کَانَ وِرْدُہٗ فِي کُلِّ لَیْلَۃٍ نِصْفُ الْقُرْآنَ” “Imam Abdul Rahman bin Mahdi (may Allah be pleased with him) used to complete the Quran in two nights, reading half of the Quran each night.”

Reference: (Tarikh Baghdad by Al-Khatib: 247/10, and its chain is Sahih)

⑪ Imam Muhammad bin Ahmad bin Abu Awn (may Allah be pleased with him)

Imam Ibn Hibban writes about his teacher Imam Muhammad bin Ahmad bin Abu Ayyun (peace be upon him):

“وَکَانَ یَخْتِمُ الْقُرْآنَ فِي کُلِّ یَوْمٍ وَّلَیْلَۃٍ مَّرَّتَیْنِ” “You used to complete the entire Quran twice every day and night.”

Reference: (Sahih Ibn Hibban: 4622)

⑫ Hafiz Yahya bin Sharaf Nawawi (peace be upon him)

Hafiz Nawawi (peace be upon him) states:

“وَالِاخْتِیَارُ أَنَّ ذٰلِکَ یَخْتَلِف بِالْـأَشْخَاصِ، فَمَنْ کَانَ مِنْ أَہْل الْفَہْمِ وَتَدْقِیقِ الْفِکْرِ؛ اُسْتُحِبَّ لَہٗ أَنْ یَّقْتَصِرَ عَلَی الْقَدَرِ الَّذِي لَا یَخْتَلُّ بِہِ الْمَقْصُودُ مِنَ التَّدَبُّرِ وَاسْتِخْرَاجِ الْمَعَانِي” “The duration for completing the Quran may vary according to different people. For a person capable of deep reflection and contemplation, it is recommended to recite such an amount that does not affect reflection and extracting meanings. Similarly, for one engaged in scholarly or religious duties, it is recommended to recite an amount that does not interfere with their other affairs. For those not engaged in such duties, it is better to recite as much as possible, but avoiding fatigue and haste. And Allah knows best!”

Reference: (At-Tibyan fi Adab Hamalat al-Quran, p. 61; Fath al-Bari Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari by Ibn Hajar: 9/97; Tafsir Ibn Kathir: 1/81, 82; verified by Abdul Razzaq al-Mahdi)

⑬ Allama Abdul Rahman Mubarakpuri (peace be upon him)

The commentator of Sunan Tirmidhi, Allama Muhammad Abdur Rahman Mubarakpuri (may Allah have mercy on him) says:

“وَلَوْ تَتَبَّعْتَ تَرَاجِمَ أَئِمَّۃِ الْحَدِیثِ؛ لَوَجَدْتَّ کَثِیرًا مِّنْہُمْ أَنَّہُمْ کَانُوا یَقْرَئُ ونَ الْقُرْآنَ فِي أَقَلَّ مِنْ ثَلَاثٍ” “If you study the biographies of the Imams of Hadith, you will find many such Imams who used to complete the recitation of the Quran in less than three days, which indicates that these great Muhaddithin did not consider completing the Quran in less than three days as prohibited.”

Reference: (Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi : 63/4)

The Virtue of Tartil

Reciting with tartil, observing the etiquettes of recitation, is more preferable, as Imam Tirmidhi (may Allah have mercy on him) says:

“وَالتَّرْتِیلُ فِي الْقِرَاء َۃِ أَحَبُّ إِلَی أَہْلِ الْعِلْمِ” “Recitation with tartil is more beloved to the people of knowledge.”

Reference: (Sunan al-Tirmidhi, under Hadith : 2946)

These narrations and opinions clarify that completing the Quran in less than three days is permissible, provided that the etiquettes and understanding are taken into consideration.