In Less Than Three Days

The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “He who completes the recitation of the full text of the Quran in less than three days does not understand the meanings of the Quran at all.” [Abu Daud]

Most of us Muslims today aren’t in any danger of completing the recitation of the Quran in less than three days. The Quran is divided into 7 portions (Manaazil, sg. Manzil) for those who wish to complete its recitation in a week and into 30 parts (Ajza, sg. Juz) for those who wish to complete its recitation on a monthly basis. At bare minimum, we should recite at least a few Ayaat everyday. Since the Quran is the nutrition of our soul (Rooh), we must partake of a minimum diet to keep it alive.

This hadith also informs us that to understand the Quran is fundamental. That is why the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said to not read the Quran in such a short period that its meaning is lost.

For those who do not understand the language of the Quran, a reading of its text should be accompanied by a reading of its translation, even if it means decreasing the amount that one recites in Arabic.

To properly understand the commands of the Quran it is important to know how the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) implemented its Ayaat, how the Sahabah acted on them, in which circumstances the Ayaat were revealed, and what the other Ayaat are on the same topic. For this we need to study the Tafseer (explanation, exegesis) of the Quran.

The Quran came to guide us, to light our path to Jannah. Whatever effort we make to understand it will be to our own advantage, saving us from falling into that many potholes and preventing us from losing our way.