Keeping the Quran Alive Beyond Ramadan
How to complete the Quran every three or two months
At the beginning of every Ramadan, tips and detailed timetables on “how to complete the Quran” trend across Muslim social media accounts and platforms, but as soon as Ramadan ends, you will rarely come across such tips again as if the Quran is recited only during this blessed month. In honor of Ramadan 2022 ( 1443 AH رَمَضَان) that just began, this short article will cover some practical approaches that helped me keep the Quran alive in my life beyond Ramadan.
Tips to complete the recitation of the Quran every three or two months
- Set the right intentions
Actions are to be judged by their intentions. The companions (Sahabas) of Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) used to intend good with each of their actions as a way to earn more bounties from Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). Ibn Katheer (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
“The intention reaches further than the action”.
Therefore, always set clear good intentions for whatever you do. Do not recite the Quran to show off or because of your parents. But, do it intending to connect with the words of Allah, ponder its meanings, learn and follow the lessons it conveys, and, more importantly, seek the mercy of Allah and please Him.
- Start at the beginning of Ramadan
Because of the peace and many blessing of this month, I highly recommend that you take advantage of the detailed action plans on how to complete the Quran that trend on Muslim social media accounts and platforms (here is a great one). However, when Ramadan ends, do not stop — keep going, stick to it, and make it a habit.
- Start small then build up as you progress
If it is your first time having the goal to complete the recitation of the Quran in 30 days, do it in small doable pieces that you will be capable of and build up as you progress. Be patient with yourself because you will stumble around on Ayah and another and it might take you a few more minutes to reach your target at the start but be determined, stay consistent with the schedule you choose to follow, and ask Allah to make it easy for you.
- Make it part of your everyday to-do list
If you end up completing the Quran during Ramadan, by the time the month comes to depart, you are used to reciting one or more Juzz of the Quran daily, which puts you in a better position to carry on this habit you built.
The Quran consists of thirty Juzz; each Juzz has two Hizb. So, say you read one Hizb every day and complete around 10 to 15 Juzz in a month. You carry on from there the following month, and if you have a few Juzz’s remaining by then, you read them in the third month. Before the third month ends, you will be able to complete the recitation of the Holy Quran. Start over then and make this part of your routine. In addition, you will find motivation the more you read the Quran, and some days you might end up reading more than a Hizb without you realizing it, leading you to conclude in two months. I experience this; it only gets more endearing.
The best time to Recite the Quran
The best time is at Fajr (dawn time), as Allah says in the Quran in Surah Al-Isra, Ayah Number 78:
أَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ لِدُلُوكِ ٱلشَّمْسِ إِلَىٰ غَسَقِ ٱلَّيْلِ وَقُرْءَانَ ٱلْفَجْرِ ۖ إِنَّ قُرْءَانَ ٱلْفَجْرِ كَانَ مَشْهُودًۭا which translates to “Establish the prayer at the going of the sun until the darkness of the night and Quran at dawn, Verily, the Quran at the dawn is ever witnessed”.
The benefits of reciting the Quran go beyond this life and I cannot conclude them in one writing. For me, the Quran is a source of light, peace, guidance, inspiration, nourishment, and more in my daily life. I pray we all experience all the benefits the Quran offers even when we cannot put them into words.
In a Sahih Al-Muslim Hadith, Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) said:
“The Quran is a proof for you or against you”.
I pray it comes as proof for us both in this life and hereafter. Aamiin Ya Allah.
I only wrote about the surface approaches that I learned in my journey of keeping the Quran vital in my life. This article by Yaqeen Institute goes deep on how we can tap into the secrets of the Quran, reflect, and unlock its most valuable treasures.
