Fath al-Rabbani

Benefits: … According to the narration of Abu Dawud, the Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam first commanded the completion of the Qur’an within forty days. From this narration, it is understood that one should complete the recitation of the Qur’an at least once every forty days. As Ishaq bin Ibrahim says: ((We do not like for a man that forty days pass and he has not recited the entire Qur’an in light of this hadith.)) (Tirmidhi)

Imam Ahmad, Imam Ishaq bin Rahwayh, and Imam Abu Ubaid, among others, hold the opinion that the Qur’an should not be completed in less than three days. However, it is established from several of the pious predecessors (salaf salihin) that they completed the recitation of the Qur’an in less than this period. Imam Nawawi said: The preferred view is that this depends on the individual; the person who understands the Qur’an and reflects upon it during recitation, as well as the one who is engaged in acquiring knowledge, other important religious matters, or general interests of the Muslims, for him it is recommended (mustahabb) to recite as much as allows for reflection and contemplation, without causing harm to his other work. However, for the one who does not have such occupations, he should recite as much as possible, taking care not to recite so much that he becomes weary. In any case, our view is that the Qur’an should not be completed in less than three days, because Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Amr radi Allahu anhu was very eager in worship and used to complete the Qur’an every night. Then, when the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam set a limit for his days, he insisted and requested to reduce the days further, yet the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam still said that whoever recites this Book in less than three days will not understand it. Where this hadith sets a time limit for the completion of the Qur’an’s recitation, it also clarifies that completing it in less than three days indicates that the purpose of reciting the Qur’an is understanding it.

But in the present era, especially among non-Arabs, the understanding of the Qur’an has been lost; everyone recites the Qur’an without reflection, and is habituating their children to the same approach. Remember that the Qur’an is a collection of such golden rules and regulations, in the light of which life can be molded in the best way, and rules are not read without understanding, rather, they are understood and then acted upon. The reason for prohibiting the completion of the Qur’an in less than three days is that the reciter will recite without understanding, but unfortunately, even if we complete it in thirty or three hundred days, we still do not understand it.