Running Away From the Quran
Question: What is your advice - O Sheikh - for those who go without reading the Quran for a month, or even many months, and who have no excuse for such behaviour? However, you will find some of them reading those magazines that contain no benefit for them, and following them up closely!
Answer: It is recommended for every Believing man and woman to recite the Book of Allah often, with due contemplation and understanding. This may be done by using a copy of the Quran or from one's memory. Allah - the Most High - said:
"This is a Book which We have sent down to you, full of blessings, that you may ponder over its Verses, and that men of understanding may remember." [Noble Quran 38:29]
"Indeed those who recite the Book of Allah and offer the Prayer perfectly and spend in charity out of what We have provided for them - secretly and openly - hope for a sure trade-gain that will never perish. That He may pay the their wages in full and give them even more out of His Grace. Indeed, He is Oft-Forgiving, ready to appreciate good deeds." [Noble Quran 35:29-30]
The aforementioned recitation of the Quran includes both reciting and acting upon it. The recitation is to be done with contemplation and understanding of it. Sincerity to Allah is a means of complying with and acting upon the Quran, and its recitation contains a great reward - as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Recite the Quran. For on the Day of Resurrection, it shall come as an intercessor for its companion." This was recorded by Muslim in his Sahih (no. 804). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) also said: "The best of you is he who learns the Quran and teaches it." This was recorded by al-Bukhari in his Sahih (9/66). Another narration states: "Whoever reads one Harf (letter) of the Quran shall receive a good deed and ten good deeds similar to it. I do not say that Alif Lam Mim is a Harf, but Alif is a Harf, Lam is a Harf and Mim is a Harf." [Sahih; Recorded by at-Tirmidhi (no. 2912), who authenticated it, from the Hadith of `Abdullah ibn Mas'ud]. The (peace and blessings be upon him) said to `Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-`Aas: "Complete the recitation of the Quran once a month." He said: I am able to do more than that. So he said: "Then complete its recital once in seven days." [al-Bukhari (no. 5054)] The Companions used to complete the entire Quran once every seven days.
So I advise all the readers of the Quran to increase in their reading of it, with contemplation and understanding it, along with sincerity to Allah in this - with the purpose of learning and benefiting from the Quran. They should read the entire Quran once a month. If, however, they are able to do more than this without any difficulty, then they should complete it in less than this time. However, it is best not o complete it in less than three days, since this is the least amount of time that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned to `Abdullah ibn `Amr ibn al-`Aas. This is because if it is read in less than three days, the person becomes hasty and lacks thought and concentration..." [Fatawa al-Mar'ah (no. 294)]