Reading the Quran in Ramadan

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, Bestower of Mercy

“Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Quran, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (between right and wrong). So every one of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting, but if any one is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed period (should be made up) by days later…” (Surah Al Baqarah 2:185)

The month of Ramadan, the blessed month in which the Quran was revealed, is now upon us. To mark the significance of this momentous occasion – the revelation of the Quran – we fast during the day and pray at nights, particularly Laylat al-Qadr, the night the Quran was revealed, as Allah tells us:

“We sent it down during a Blessed Night: for We (ever) wish to warn (against Evil).” (Surah Al Dukhan 44:3)

The reward for fasting and praying in this month is so great, that the Prophet (sallaAllahu alayhi wasallam) states, “Whoever fasted the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith and hoping for reward, then all his past sins will be forgiven, and whoever stood for the prayer on Laylat al-Qadr out of sincere faith and hoping for reward, then all his previous sins will be forgiven.” [Agreed Upon]

And he states, “Whoever prayed at night during it (Ramadan) out of sincere faith and hoping for reward, then all his previous sins will be forgiven.” [Agreed Upon]

These are three opportunities that we have been given to attain forgiveness for all our sins. The spiritual doctors of the heart are in agreement that fasting softens the heart, making it more receptive and humble to the recitation of the Quran. Perhaps this is the wisdom that links together fasting and night prayer, the two most distinctive acts of worship in this month.

It is important to note that our relationship with the Quran in this month should not be limited to just the nightly Tarawih prayers, we must devote ourselves to studying the Quran outside of prayer as well.

Ibn ‘Abbas narrates, saying, “The Messenger of Allah (sallaAllahu alayhi wasallam) was the most generous person, and he would be at his most generous in Ramadan because Jibril would come to him every night and he would study the Quran with him. Truly, when Allah’s Messenger (sallaAllahu alayhi wasallam) would meet Gabriel, he would be more generous than a fleeting wind.” [Agreed Upon]

Additionally, al-Bukhari reports from Fatima that the Prophet (sallaAllahu alayhi wasallam) told her in the last year of his life, “Jibril used to revise the Quran with me once every year, but this year he has revised it with me twice. I do not suspect but that my time has come. And you shall be the first of my household to join me.”

Unfortunately, the majority of us do not have any relationship with the Quran. Since we are in Ramadan, the blessed month of the Quran, and the devils have been chained up, now is the opportunity to change this sad state of affairs.

Given the state of most Muslims today, any discussion about the maximum recommended amount to read daily, in Ramadan or outside Ramadan, would be purely academic. I won’t regale you with all the narrations about how much the Salaf used to recite the Quran during Ramadan, both inside prayer and outside it.

To do as they did is something far beyond any of us given that most of us hardly read the Quran at all. However, as a side note, I would like to share this one account for all of us to ponder:

The Khalifah, Walid b. Abd al-Malik, used to complete the Quran every three days and he used to read it a full seventeen times during Ramadan.

Now, to the real issue, what should do to rectify our situation? For those who are already in the habit of reading the Quran every Ramadan, try and make sure to complete the entire Quran, if you have not been doing so in the past. Also, take this as an opportunity to get into the habit of reading the Quran daily even when Ramadan is over. If you have not been reading the Quran during Ramadan in the past, then decide how much time you can reasonably take out of your schedule to read Quran on a daily basis. Don’t push yourself to do too much, otherwise you’ll end up right back where you started: not reading the Quran at all. Also remember, “The most beloved deeds to Allah are those done regularly, even if they are small.” [Agreed Upon] Therefore, it’s very important that you make a Ramadan schedule that you can stick to.

Is There A Minimum One Should Read? What Do the Scholars Have to Say?

Well, some scholars – such as Imam Ahmad and Ishaq b. Rahuyah – have disliked for a person to not complete the Quran at least every 40 days, based on a hadith of `Abdullah b. `Amr in which the Prophet (sallaAllahu alayhi wasallam) instructed him to recite the Quran in forty days. Another narration gives the minimum as once a month. However, this should not be taken as something obligatory, particularly for those who are not in the habit of reading Quran at all, or are not proficient in reciting the Quran, such as new Muslims. For them to attempt, all at once, to start reading the entire Quran once a month would probably become a barrier to them reading the Quran at all.

Sh. Ghassan al-Barqawi recommended that, as a bare minimum, one should study ten verses a day. He based this on the narration of ibn Mas’ud that the Companions used to learn the Quran ten verses at a time.

How Should One Proceed?

Since the hunger and thirst brought on by fasting softens the heart and makes it more receptive, this is an excellent time to try and read and contemplate the Quran. For that reason, I would highly recommend not merely reading the Quran, but studying it. It was the Sunnah of the Prophet (sallaAllahu alayhi wasallam) to study the Quran nightly with Jibril. It was this sort of thoughtful study of the Quran that had an impact on the quality of the Prophet’s (sallaAllahu alayhi wasallam) deeds. He was already the most generous of all human beings, yet study of the Quran in this month increased him in generosity.

It is important to read the Quran along with a translation, as Allah tells us:

“(Here is) a Book which We have sent down unto thee, full of blessings, that they may mediate on its Signs, and that men of understanding may receive admonition.” (Surah Sad 38:29)

Finally, as a closing advice, do not lose heart. Keep the following hadith in the back of your mind:

“Recite the Quran, for on the Day of Resurrection, it shall come as an intercessor for its companion.” [Muslim]

 

Extract from an Article by Abu Bakr