forty [days]. This is because delaying it for longer than that leads to forgetting the Quran and being negligent toward it; therefore, what we have mentioned is better. This applies when there is no excuse, but with an excuse, there is leeway.
Section: If one recites it in three [days], it is good, based on what was narrated from Abdullah ibn Amr, who said: I said to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): I possess strength. He said: "Recite it in three [days]." Narrated by Abu Dawud. If one recites it in less than three [days], it has been narrated from Abu Abd Allah that he said: I dislike for one to recite it in less than three [days]. This is due to what was narrated by Abdullah ibn Amr, who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "He does not understand who recites it in less than three [days]." Narrated by Abu Dawud. It was narrated from Ahmad that this is not fixed, and it depends on one's level of energy and strength, for Uthman used to complete it in a night, and this has been narrated from a group of the predecessors. Recitation with tartil (measured rhythmic tone) is better than reciting a great deal with haste, because Allah the Almighty said: {And recite the Quran with measured recitation} [Al-Muzzammil: 4]. On the authority of Aisha, she said: I do not know the Prophet of Allah to have recited the entire Quran in a single night. Narrated by Muslim.
al-Darimi 2/471. (49) In: The Chapter on In How Much Time to Recite the Quran, from the Book of Ramadan. Sunan Abi Dawud 1/321. (50) Omitted from: A, M. (51) In: The Chapter on In How Much Time to Recite the Quran, and in: The Chapter on Dividing the Quran into Portions, from the Book of Ramadan. Sunan Abi Dawud 1/321, 322. It was also extracted by al-Tirmidhi, in: A chapter from the chapters on recitations, Aridat al-Ahwadhi 11/65, 66. And Ibn Majah, in: The Chapter on How Long It Is Recommended to Complete the Quran, from the Book of Establishing Prayer. Sunan Ibn Majah 1/428. And al-Darimi, in: The Chapter on In How Much Time to Complete the Quran, from the Book of Prayer. Sunan al-Darimi 1/350. And Imam Ahmad, in: al-Musnad 2/164, 165, 189, 193, 195. (52) Surah al-Muzzammil, 4. (53) In: The Chapter on the Comprehensive [Rules] of Night Prayer and for One Who Sleeps Through It or Is Ill, from the Book of the Traveler’s Prayer. Sahih Muslim 1/514. It was also extracted by Abu Dawud in: The Chapter on Night Prayer, from the Book of Voluntary Prayer. Sunan Abi Dawud 1/309. And al-Nasa'i, in: The Chapter on Mentioning the Difference of Those Who Transmitted the Report of Aisha Regarding It, and The Chapter on the Fasting of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)—may my father and mother be sacrificed for him—from the Book of Fasting. al-Mujtaba 4/125, 169. And Ibn Majah, in: The Chapter on How Long It Is Recommended to Complete the Quran, from the Book of Establishing Prayer. Sunan Ibn Majah 1/428.
