✦ Completing the Qur’an in Less Than Three Nights Is Not Recommended ✦
By: Imran Ayyub Lahori
✔ Narration of ʿAbdullah ibn ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ (رضي الله عنهما):
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"He does not truly understand (the Qur’an) who recites it in less than three nights."
[Ṣaḥīḥ Abū Dāwūd: 1239 | Book of Ṣalāh: Chapter on How Many Days the Qur’an Should Be Completed | Also in Abū Dāwūd: 1390, 1394]
➊ Limiting to Three Nights:
According to this hadith, completing the entire Qur’an in less than three nights is discouraged because true comprehension and reflection (تفقّه) become difficult when recitation is overly rushed.
➋ Understanding Over Speed:
The emphasis is on reflective reading (تدبر) rather than speed-reading, ensuring that the message of the Qur’an is absorbed rather than just pronounced.
➌ Reference to Scholarly Work:
Further elaboration on this issue can be found in Ibn Ḥazm’s "al-Muḥallā bi’l-Āthār"
[al-Muḥallā: Vol. 2, pp. 96–97] — a detailed discussion regarding the permissible pace of completing the Qur’an.
✔ The Prophet ﷺ instructed that completing the Qur’an in less than three nights lacks proper understanding.
✔ The purpose of recitation is comprehension, reflection, and spiritual benefit, not just completion.
✔ Scholars such as Ibn Ḥazm have affirmed this limit to protect the quality and sincerity of worship.
By: Imran Ayyub Lahori
❖ Hadith on Reciting the Qur’an Too Quickly
✔ Narration of ʿAbdullah ibn ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ (رضي الله عنهما):
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"He does not truly understand (the Qur’an) who recites it in less than three nights."
[Ṣaḥīḥ Abū Dāwūd: 1239 | Book of Ṣalāh: Chapter on How Many Days the Qur’an Should Be Completed | Also in Abū Dāwūd: 1390, 1394]
❖ Explanation & Scholarly Insight
➊ Limiting to Three Nights:
According to this hadith, completing the entire Qur’an in less than three nights is discouraged because true comprehension and reflection (تفقّه) become difficult when recitation is overly rushed.
➋ Understanding Over Speed:
The emphasis is on reflective reading (تدبر) rather than speed-reading, ensuring that the message of the Qur’an is absorbed rather than just pronounced.
➌ Reference to Scholarly Work:
Further elaboration on this issue can be found in Ibn Ḥazm’s "al-Muḥallā bi’l-Āthār"
[al-Muḥallā: Vol. 2, pp. 96–97] — a detailed discussion regarding the permissible pace of completing the Qur’an.
Summary
✔ The Prophet ﷺ instructed that completing the Qur’an in less than three nights lacks proper understanding.
✔ The purpose of recitation is comprehension, reflection, and spiritual benefit, not just completion.
✔ Scholars such as Ibn Ḥazm have affirmed this limit to protect the quality and sincerity of worship.
