Approach the Quran
Reading the Whole Qur'an
As-Suyuti said- "It is recommended to constantly read the Glorious Qur'an. Allah, Most High, says,
(…..They rehearse the Signs (verses) of Allah all night long, and they prostrate themselves in adoration.)
(Al `lmran: 113)
Ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said,
"There is no envy except in two: one who, having been given (knowledge of) the Qur'an by Allah, recites it during the night and day (and also acts upon it)... "[1]
Early Muslims differed in the periods in which they used to take to finish reading the whole Qur'an. Some of them used to read the whole Qur'an eight times per day."
However, I think it is impossible to finish reading the whole Glorious Qur'an eight times in a day for the fastest reading of the Qur'an takes approximately more than sixty hours at least. Therefore, I doubt the authenticity of the above narration of As-Suyuti and the soundness of such fast reading.
As-Suyuti continued, saying, "Others used to recite the whole Qur'an four times per day; others used to recite it three times; others used to recite it twice; and others used to recite it once.
`A'ishah, Mother of the Believers, did not approve of such fast reading of the Glorious Qur'an. Muslim ibn Mikhraq reported, "I asked `A'ishah about some men who recite the
whole Qur'an two or three times per night. Thereupon, she declared, "They recite it, yet they do not recite it (properly). Once, I prayed with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) in a night and he recited surat Al-Baqarah, sum: Al `Imran, and surat An-Nisa'. He left no verse telling about glad tidings without invocation and hope (that he would be favored by Allah), nor a verse dealing with threats, without making supplication and seeking refuge (in Allah from this).[2]
Other people used to finish the recitation of the whole Qur'an in two days. Others used to finish it in three days, which is passable. A group of scholars dislike finishing the recitation of the whole Qur'an in less than three days, for `Abdullah ibn `Amr (may Allah be pleased with them both) reported, "He will not understand, who reads the Qur'an in less than three days.'"[3]
Ibn Mas`ud (may Allah be pleased with him) reported, "Don't read the whole Qur'an in less than three (days)."[4]
Abu `Ubayd reported that Mu`adh ibn Jabal disliked reading the whole Qur'an in less than three days. Likewise, Ahmad and Abu `Ubayd reported that Sa`id ibn Al-Mundhir said, "I asked,
'O Messenger of Allah! Should I read the whole Qur'an in three (days)?' 'Yes, if you can,` he replied."
Other people used to read the whole Qur'an in four, five, six, or seven days. Most of the Prophet's Companions (may Allah be pleased with them all) used to recite it in seven days, which is a moderate span of time in this aspect.
`Abdullah ibn `Amr (may Allah be pleased with them both) reported, "My father married me to a lady of a noble family, and often used to ask my wife about me, and she used to reply, 'What a wonderful man he is! He never comes to my bed, nor has he approached me since he married me.' When this state continued for a long period of time, my father told the story to the Prophet who said to my father, `Let me meet him' Then I met him and he asked me, 'How do you fast? I replied, il fast daily.' He asked, `How long does it take you to finish the recitation of the whole Qur'an?' I replied, 'I finish it every night.' On that he said,' Fast for three days every month and recite the Qur'an (and finish it) in one month} I said, 'But I have power to do more than that.' He Said, `Then fast for t/tree days per week} I said, `I have the power to do more than that] He said, 'Therefore, fast the most superior type of fasting, (that is, the fasting of Prophet) Dawud (who) used to fast everv alternate day; and finish the recitation of the whole Qur'an in seven days."[5]
Other people used to finish the recitation of the whole Qur'an in eight, ten, thirty, or sixty days. Abu Dawud reported that Makhul said that the powerful Companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to finish the recitation of the whole Qur'an in seven, thirty, or sixty days, or more.
In his Bustan (the Garden), Abu Al-Layth said that one should finish the recitation of the Qur'an twice per year, if he could do no more than this.
Al-Hasan ibn Zayd reported that Abu Hanifah said, "Whoever reads the whole Qur'an twice every year, has fulfilled its right, for the Prophet (peace be upon him) read the whole Qur'an twice before Gabriel, in the year of his death."
Other scholars hold the opinion that it is disliked to read the whole Qur'an in more than forty days without a justifiable reason. `Abdullah ibn `Amr (may Allah be pleased with them both) asked the Prophet (peace be upon him). "How long should I take to finish the recitation of the whole Qur'an?" "In forty days, " he (peace be upon him) replied.
In his Al-Adhkar, Imam An-Nawawi said, "The preferable stance is that this issue differs according to the circumstances of every person. Accordingly, if one is accustomed to reflecting upon and delving deeply into the meanings of the Qur'anic verses, he is recommended to read what helps him in this regard. If he is concerned with public or official services, he is recommended to read what does not hinder his job. If he is not interested in such matters, he should read as much as he can, provided that there is no boredom, heedlessness, nor incorrect recitation.
[1] Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.
[2] Reported by Abu Dawud.
[3] Reported by Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi.
[4] Reported by Abu Dawud.
[5] Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.