Part 6

1 Related by Abu Daawood (1332); Al-Albaanee said, “sahih.”” 1 This ruling was issued by the Permanent Council For Scientific Researches in Saudi Arabia (5413) (4/127)

Chapter -1 The Manners Of Reciting The Qur’an,.. 43

“Recite the Quran, for on the Day of Resurrection, the Quran will come as an intercessor for its people.’ (Related by Muslim)

Its people, as is mentioned in other Ahadeeth, are those who apply its teachings. And the Prophet 2% said,

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“Whoever reads a letter from the Qur’an has one reward for doing so; and every reward (for a good deed) is multiplied ten times.””

(Related by At-Tirmidhee and Ad-Daarimee, with an authentic chain.) And one is not considered to be reciting or reading the Quran unless he utters what he is reading, a ruling that is clearly mentioned by the people of knowledge. And success lies with Allah 3¢.”"

17) The Recommended Period Of Time In Which One Should Finish Reading The Entire Quran

Our pious predecessors had different customs in regard to the time it took them to read the entire Quran. Some would finish it in two months; others, in one month; others, in ten days; and yet others, who constitute the majority, in seven days. This disparity of custom is related by An-Nawawee in his Adhkaar. But there were even some who would read the entire Qur’an in 3 days, and a perhaps smaller group who would complete it in a single day. In regards to this issue, the story of ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Amr # is well-known. He 4 said, ‘The Messenger of Allah #% said to me,

‘Recite the Qur’an in one month,’

to which I responded, ‘I find strength [to finish it in a shorter amount of time].’

Then the Prophet 2% said,

") The Magazine For Islamic Research (issue 51, year 1418 H, pg. 140)

“Then read it in seven [days] but do not increase beyond that (i.e., do not complete it in a shorter amount of timne).’”"")

Some scholars have therefore said that seven days is the shortest amount of time in which one should finish reading the entire Qur’an; other scholars, however, have ruled that 3 days is che lower limit in this issue, mentioning the following Hi. th to support their view. ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Amr .& said, “The Messenger of Allah # said to me,

‘Read the Quran in a month,’

to which I responded, ‘I find strength [in myself to finish reading it in a shorter amount of time].’

The Prophet 3 said,

“Read it in three [days].”"! Imam Ahmad said that the period it takes to finish reading the Quran is not set or limited, but rather depends on the strength and energy of each individual, because it is related that

‘Uthmaan 4 would finish reading it in a single night; the same is related about others from our pious predecessors.

The opinion 1 feel to be strongest is the one held by AnNawawee: the ruling in this matter differs from person to person. If, through contemplation, one is blessed with gaining an understanding of fine or difficult to understand points, he should limit himself to reading at a pace that allows him to achieve maximum comprehension. Similarly, if one is occupied in spreading knowledge, in judging between Muslim litigants, or in other religious duties that have to do with the general population of Muslims, then one should read that amount which allows him enough time to fulfill his other duties. But if one is not

"1 Bukhaaree (5054) 21 Abu Daawood (1391); Al-Albaanee said, “Hasan sahih.”

Chapter -1 The Manners Of Reciting The Quran... 45

from the above-mentioned categories, he should read as much as he is able, without reading so much that ennui or boredom or imprecision in recitation (from lack of concentration) results,

Related Note: Although many supplications for the occasion of finishing the Qur’an are widespread and known among the masses, no proof establishes the legitimacy of a single one from them; or in other words, no authentic hadith mentions a specific supplication that is to be read when one finishes reading the Qur’an. Perhaps the most famous supplication in this regard is the one that is ascribed to Shaikh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah; however, it is not even authentically ascribed to him, and because it is so doubtful that Shaikhul-Islam said it, Shaikh ‘Abur-Rahmaan Ibn Qaasim said that the supplication should not be included in any Fatwa compilation of the Shaikh.

Shaikh Bakr Abu Zaid - may Allah preserve him - wrote a small treatise on the different narrations that mention specific supplications that one should say when he finishes reading the Qur’an. In conclusion, he said,

A summary of the ruling in this issue consists of two matters:

The first matter deals with one reciting the supplication of completing the Qur’an outside of prayer; it is related from our pious predecessors, from the first generation of this Nation, that they would supplicate on the occasion of completing the recitation of the Qur’an. This practice is ascribed to Anas 4 and a group of people from the Taabi‘oon. In one narration, Imam Ahmad ascribed this practice to Abu Al-Haarith and Yousuf Ibn Moosa - may Allah have mercy on them all. Therefore supplicating on the occasion of finishing the Quran is legislated; in fact, Ibn Al-Qayyim - may Allah have mercy on him - said, “It is one of the most propitious of occasions to supplicate and one of the most likely of occasions of having one’s supplications answered.”

The second matter involves an Imam or an individual worshipper saying this supplication during prayer, before or after the Rukoo’ (bowing position), during Taraaweeh (Ramadan Night

prayer) or during any other prayer. Regarding this matter, no narration that has a [verifiable or established] source is related from the Prophet #%; nor is any narration that has a chain related from any of his Companions *...

18) The Sunnah Is To Refrain From Reciting When One Is Overcome By Sleep

This ruling is based on a hadith related by Abu Hurairah 4, in

which the Prophet #8 said,

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tapbicl 6 “When one of you stands during the night, being unable to properly recite the Quran (i.e., it does not flow on his tongue

because he is so sleepy) or understand what he is saying, then let him lie down."

And in the following hadith that is related by ‘Aaisha %, the Prophet 2% explicitly stated the reason why one should not recite the Qur’an when one is ss sleepy or drowsy:

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“Tf one of you becomes es sleepy during prayer, then let him sleep (or rest) until his sleepiness goes away, because if one of you prays while he is sleepy, he might try to ask for forgiveness but curse himself instead,’"*!

This is an important issue that one should not take lightly, for when a person is sleepy or drowsy, he may begin to speak in a confused and garbled manner. So if one is reciting the Qur’an or praying while he is sleepy, he should refrain from reciting and praying, because he might inadvertently supplicate against himself, distort the Quran in his recitation, or say something

Chapter -1 The Manners Of Reciting The Qur’an,.. 47

else that is wrong.

Related Note: When one begins to yawn, he should refrain from reciting the Qur’an, because if he continues to recite during a period wherein he is yawning constantly, his recitation will become garbled or his voice may take on a ridiculous or annoying tone. And Allah’s speech must be preserved from all of that.

19) Once One Begins To Recite The Quran, It Is Recommended To Recite Continuously Without Unnecessarily Stopping Or Pausing

When one begins to recite the Qur’an, it is recommended for him to continue and not pause during his recitation, unless it is for an important matter. To honor Allah’s speech, one should not cut it off during recitation for a worldly affair. It is sad and strange to see some people reciting the Qur’an while they are waiting in the Masjid for the prayer but then cut off their recitation for trifling worldly concerns. Those diversions - such as looking to see who just entered the Masjid - are made attractive by Shaitaan, who does not want for any good to befall a Muslim.

20) It Is From The Sunnah For The Reciter To Make Tasbeeh (i.e., to say, ‘Subhaanallah,’ how perfect Allah is!) At A Verse Of Tasbeeh {i.e., in a verse wherein Allah is glorified), To Seek Refuge In Allah At A Verse Wherein Punishment [For Evildoers} Is Mentioned, And To Ask At A Verse Of Mercy (i.e., when Allah's Mercy and Forgiveness are mentioned)

In the hadith of Hudhaifah 4, wherein he mentioned his prayer with the Messenger of Allah 2%, he % said, “...He then began [reading] Aal-‘Imraan (The Chapter Of ‘Imraan’s Family); he proceeded slowly with his recitation. When he came across a verse of Tasbeeh, he would make Tasbeeh. When he came across a verse of asking (wherein the theme of supplication and Allah’s forgiveness are discussed), he would ask (ie., he # would invoke Allah 4%). And when he came across a verse wherein refuge is sought, he would seek refuge [with Allah]... AnNawawee said, ‘This indicates that these matters are recommended for one who is reciting not just during prayer, but outside of prayer as well.”

21) When One Passes By A Verse Of Prostration, It Is Sunnah For Him To Perform Prostration

In Allah’s Book, there are fifteen verses of prostration (there is a sign pointing them out in copies of the Quran). When one is reciting the Qur’an and comes across one of those verses, it is Sunnah for him to perform prostration and say any of the invocations that are related from the Prophet # for that occasion. For example,