What Are the Etiquettes for Completing Quran Recitation?

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, peace and blessings be upon the Messenger sent as a mercy to the worlds, our Master and Prophet, Muhammad, and upon his family and Companions.

When Allah (Most High) honored us with this great Quran, this eternal miracle, it became obligatory upon us to observe certain etiquettes towards it. Scholars have mentioned many of these etiquettes, especially those related to completing its recitation, including:

1. Weekly Quran Recitation

It is recommended to complete the recitation of the Quran every week, following the practice of the proactive Companions and Successors, and it should not exceed one month.

‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said,

“Recite the Quran in one month.” I said, “I am able to do more.” The Prophet said, “Then recite it in twenty days.” I said, “I am able to do more.” The Prophet said, “Then recite it in fifteen days.” I said, “I am able to do more.” The Prophet said, “Then recite it in ten days.” I said, “I am able to do more.” The Prophet said, “Then recite it in seven days, but do not exceed that.” [Bukhari; ‘Itr, ‘Ulum al-Quran]

2. Quran Recitation Gathering

It is recommended to gather for the completion of the Quran recitation session, which is highly recommended. The Companions and Successors used to observe this practice. Thabit Bunani reported Anas (Allah be pleased with him) would gather his family and household when he completed the Quran and would supplicate for them. [Darimi]

Mujahid ibn Jabr said, “They used to gather for the completion of the Quran recitation and say, ‘Mercy descends.’” [Halimi, Minhaj fi Shu‘ab al-Iman; Nawawi, al-Adhkar; Suyuti, al-Itqan]

Imam Nawawi explained the reason behind this gathering:

“Supplications are answered at the completion of the Quran, and mercy descends. He also mentioned that it is established in the authentic Hadith that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) commanded menstruating women to leave for the Eid prayer to witness the blessings and supplications of Muslims.” [Nawawi, al-Majmu‘ and al-Tibyan fi Adab Hamalat al-Quran]

3. Supplication after Completion

It is highly recommended to supplicate after completing the recitation of the Quran, as confirmed in the hadith:

“Whoever recites the Quran should ask Allah with it, for soon there will come a people who will recite the Quran and ask the people with it.” [Ahmad; Tirmidhi; Tabarani, al-Mu‘jam al-Kabir]

Nawawi stated: Supplication after completion is highly recommended, and there are many narrations supporting it. One should persist in supplication, pray for important matters, pray for the well-being of Muslims and their leaders, and choose comprehensive supplications. [Nawawi, al-Majmu‘ and al-Tibyan fi Adab Hamalat al-Quran; Ibn Jazari, al-Nashr fi al-Qira’at al-‘Ashr]

4. Takbir at Completion

It is recommended to say “Allahu Akbar” or “La ilaha illallah, Allahu Akbar” and some have added “walillahi al-hamd.” The takbir should start from the end of Surat Duha to the end of Surat Nas or its beginning. The takbir should not be connected with the end of the Sura; rather, there should be a pause between them. [Bayhaqi, Shu‘ab al-Iman; Suyuti, Mu‘tarak al-Aqran fi A‘jaz al-Quran;‘I tr, ‘Ulum al-Quran al-Karim]

Ibn Jazari mentioned in Tayyibat al-Nashr regarding the ten readings:

وَسُنَّةُ ‌التَّكْبِيرِ ‌عِنْدَ ‌الْخَتْمِ
صَحَّتْ عَنِ اْلمَكِّيِنَ أَهْلِ العِلْم

The sunna of Takbir at the completion
has been validated by the scholars of Makka.

5. Timing for Completion

It is recommended to complete the recitation at the beginning of the night or day. If one recites alone, completing the recitation during the prayer is better. Some say it is preferable to complete it during the two Rak‘at before Fajr prayer or the two Rak‘at after the Maghrib prayer, with the two Rak‘at before Fajr being the best. [Nawawi, al-Majmu‘ and al-Tibyan fi Adab Hamalat al-Quran; Suyuti, Mu‘tarak al-Aqran fi A‘jaz al-Quran]

6. Fasting

Nawawi mentioned: “The Salaf recommended fasting on the day of completion unless it coincides with a day prohibited for fasting by the Sacred Law.” Suyuti said: “It is recommended to fast on the day of completion, gather one’s family, children, and friends, and supplicate for them, as it is accepted, as authentic narrations indicate.” [Ibid.]

7. Starting New Recitation

It is recommended to begin a new recitation after completing the first one. Nawawi stated: “It is recommended that when one finishes a recitation, they should begin another.” [Nawawi, al-Majmu‘ and al-Tibyan fi Adab Hamalat al-Quran]

He also said: “They argued for it with the hadith of Anas (Allah be pleased with him), that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: ‘The best of deeds are al-Hil and al-Rihla.’ It was said: ‘What are they?’ He said: ‘Starting the Quran and completing it.’” [Nawawi, al-Adhkar and al-Tibyan fi Adab Hamalat al-Quran]

Qastallani added: Among them are those who pray the closing recitation with Fatiha, following the opening recitation, without any separation between them, neither by supplication nor anything else, and this is for two reasons:

First, the hadith of Abu Sa‘id, who said that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:

“Allah, the Exalted, says: ‘Whoever is preoccupied with the Quran instead of mentioning Me and asking Me, I will give him the best of what I give to the petitioners.’ The superiority of God’s words over all other words is like God’s superiority over His creatures.” [Tirmidhi]

The second reason is the realization of the meaning of the solution and traveling mentioned in the hadith. [‘Aqila, al-Ziyada wa al-Ihsan fi ‘Ulum al-Quran]

They call the one who does this “al-Hal al-Murtahil,” meaning the one who starts the new recitation after finishing the previous one and travels to another recitation, continuing their journey to Allah. Therefore, the reader, when starting the new recitation, is likened to a traveler who has left one dwelling and embarked on another, so they are the finisher of the first recitation and a traveler to the next.

Note: Some scholars have discussed the hadith of “al-Hal al-Murtaḥil” due to the wording in one of its narrations. However, Abu Shama stated: “Even if this hadith and its interpretation were authentic, its meaning would be to encourage frequent recitation of the Quran and to maintain consistency in it. Therefore, whenever one finishes a recitation, one should start another, meaning that one should not stop reciting the Quran after completing a recitation but rather make reciting the Quran a habit and a regular practice.” [Ibn Jazari, al-Nashr fi al-Qira’at al-‘Ashr]

Hafiz Dani narrated: “It was recommended that when they finished reciting the Quran, they should recite from its beginning.” [Ibid.]

Ibn Jazari commented: “Regardless, we do not say that reciting Fatiha and the first five verses of Baqarah is obligatory for every reader. Rather, we say, as our scholars such as Faris ibn Ahmad and others said: ‘Whoever does it, it is good, and whoever does not, there is no harm upon him.’” [Ibn Jazari, al-Nashr fi al-Qira’at al-‘Ashr; Bana, Ittihaf Fudala’ al-Bashar; Nawawi, al-Tibyan fi Adab Hamalat al-Quran]

Conclusion

Finally, I say to whoever Allah has granted success in completing the Quran, then starting a new recitation, then another, and another: Congratulations to you for this great reward and abundant recompense. You have made the Book of Allah your Companion on your journey and illuminated the darkness of your heart with the light of its verses. Congratulations to you, for indeed, this is a success by Allah. And O reader of the Quran, as much as you make space for the Quran in your heart, leaning upon it, Allah will expand life for you in your chest. Remember that this success is by the grace and mercy of Allah (Most High) upon you. He (Most High) says,

“Say, (O Prophet,) ‘In Allah’s grace and mercy let them rejoice. That is far better than whatever (wealth) they amass.’” [Quran 10:58]

Allah’s blessings and peace be upon our Master and Prophet Muhammad and his Family and Companions.

And Allah (Most High) knows best.

Shaykh Anas al-Musa, born in Hama, Syria, in 1974, is an erudite scholar of notable repute. He graduated from the Engineering Institute in Damascus, where he specialized in General Construction, and Al-Azhar University, Faculty of Usul al-Din, where he specialized in Hadith.

He studied under prominent scholars in Damascus, including Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Shaghouri and Shaykh Adib al-Kallas, among others. Shaykh Anas has memorized the Quran and is proficient in the ten Mutawatir recitations, having studied under Shaykh Bakri al-Tarabishi and Shaykh Mowfaq ‘Ayun. He also graduated from the Iraqi Hadith School.

He has taught numerous Islamic subjects at Shari‘a institutes in Syria and Turkey. Shaykh Anas has served as an Imam and preacher for over 15 years and is a teacher of the Quran in its various readings and narrations.

Currently, he works as a teacher at SeekersGuidance and is responsible for academic guidance there. He has completed his Master’s degree in Hadith and is now pursuing his Ph.D. in the same field. Shaykh Anas al-Musa is married and resides in Istanbul.