10 Qur’an Reading Ideas

Ideas help us grow. And grow stronger.

Here are Ten Ideas, and if you have any, you’ re most welcome to share. 

1. Reading starts from Listening:

a. The Companions learned how to read the Qur’an from the Prophet sal-lal-laaahu-alaihi-wa-sallam. They keenly observed the glorious Prophet’s manners of reading. They not only imbibed the Prophetic way of recitation but also passed on to posterity.

Today we have countless number of Qur’an Reciters who recite the Qur’an as the glorious Prophet recited. Listen to your favourite Qaari and catch the nuances of recitation, InshaaAllah.

b. Listening is Sunnah:

Not only the companions listened from the Prophet (peace be upon him) even the Prophet sal-lal-laahu-alaihi-wa-sallam used to listen from the companions. Yes, it is Sunnah to listen to the Qur’an Recitation by others.

To make reading enjoyable, have a Mus’haf, a physical copy of the Qur’an, in hand and listen to the recitation. Follow word by word. Subhanallah! This itself is a sublime act of worship.

2. Focus on the purpose:

Every time you open the Book of Allah, ask yourself: Why am I reading the Qur’an? This thoughtful question will act as the springboard to right approach, care and concentration.

Remember that the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his companions never turned to the Qur’an for academic purpose nor did they ever read with the intention of gaining barakah.

Think deeply why the Prophet (May Peace & Blessings be upon him) was described as ‘the Walking Qur’an’ by his beloved wife, Aaishah (R.A)

3. Reading while being heartline and online with Allah: 

At times it so happens that you have the presence of mind but not the heart. Being heartline is the best way to focus on the Qur’anic Recitation.

Reading with the presence of your heart will always keep you stay focused because you know very well that you are online with the One Who Sent Down the Noble Qur’an, and you will never get distracted, inshaaAllah.

4. Reflect on what you read:

Keep this ayah in mind: كِتَابٌ أَنزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ مُبَارَكٌ لِّيَدَّبَّرُوا آيَاتِهِ وَلِيَتَذَكَّرَ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ “[This is] a blessed Book which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded.” Surah Saad 38: 29 

The Best and the most accurate English Translation available today is Saheeh International’s. (Download as PDF or In .exe format or Buy Online or Read Online)

Reflection and Acting upon the Guidance must be the intended outcome of your Qur’an Reading. 

5. Read little but read daily, regularly and consistently:

Allah says in Surah Al Muzzammil فَاقْرَءُوا مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ “so recite what is easy [for you] of the Qur’an”. One meaning of reading “what is easy of the Qur’an” is to read little but read daily.

A day should not pass without reading the Qur’an. If you keep this as your resolve, then you will read daily, regularly and consistently, inshaaAllah.

Having a routine helps you in more than one way. You won’t go to the extremes of reading a lot in one day and forgetting the Qur’an the other day!

6. Create Qur’an Buddies:

It is always good to have a Qur’an Buddy. He can be your friend or relative. It will help you in keeping momentum and also have a sort of competition which is encouraged in the Qur’an.

Allah says in Surah al Mutaffifeen  فَلْيَتَنَافَسِ الْمُتَنَافِسُونَ “So for this let the competitors compete”. Having a Qur’an Buddy creates enthusiasm as well as healthy competition to do things in a better way. It also helps in sharing ideas and helping each other in overcoming weaknesses.

7. Read with a measured recitation:

Page-Turning exercise is No Reading! A good Muslim will never adopt the Fast Food Approach to Qur’an Reading. Never!

One should not recite the Qur’an in supersonic speed.

Allah commands us in Surah al Muzzammil وَرَتِّلِ الْقُرْآنَ تَرْتِيلًا “and recite the Qur’an with measured recitation”. 

You can recite with measured recitation only when you recite slowly or moderately in a measured tone with a beautiful voice.

8. Reading from Memory:

This is the best way to check your retention skill and also to keep up with the memorized portion.

If you read different Qur’anic chapters (surahs) in your Salah, you will have the added advantage of concentrating in Salah.

Reading the same Surahs again and again makes the worship mechanical and ritualistic. Try reading different Surahs or parts of a longer Surah, and feel the difference in Salah, InshaaAllah.

9. Joint Study:

Joint Study is helpful if you want to deeply understand the meaning of the glorious Qur’an. A competent person should lead the group.

Select a Surah or a part of it. Read ayah by ayah in turns in your group. Read the full translation of the selected Surah or part. Have different commentaries of the Qur’an (Tafaseer) Read and discuss what the commentators say. Having extended inputs such as Books on Science or the presence of experts will help the overall group in understanding and appreciating the Qur’anic wisdom.

Care should be taken lest the Joint or Group Study ends up in mere academic exercise. Living by what one learns must be the prime concern.

10. Reading in a month: 

The standard Madinah Mus’haf has 604 pages. The Qur’an has 30 parts, and each part (juz) is divided into 20 pages. So if you read 20 pages in a day, you will complete one full recitation of the Qur’an in one month.

As reading all 20 pages at a stretch is difficult, you can conveniently split into 4 pages before/after each Salah.

5 salah x 4 pg = 20 pg, and 20 pg x 30 days= 600 pages = one month.

Here, again, I would reiterate that the approach must be to understand, reflect and live by the Qur’an, and not on completing the Qur’an Reading for the heck of reading!

11. Make Du’aa

Without du’aa and help from Allah, you and me cannot do anything.

So let us constantly seek Allah’s help so that He guides us accordingly, accepts our Qur’an Readings, forgives our mistakes and let us join the noble ranks of countless millions of Qur’an Reciters who recite with the intention of seeking His pleasure.

May Allah help us all to read His Book in the finest of manner.

Baarakallaahu Feekum. 

Sal-lal-laahu-ala-Muhammad, Sal-lal-laahu-alaihi-wa-sallam.

Click this for Ramadhaan Resources

Related Readings: 

Why am I reading the Qur’an?

Reading the Qur’an in Ramadhaan

Alternatives to Memorizing the Qur’an

One Juz A Day with Nouman Ali Khan

8 Easy Steps to Recite the Entire Qur’an in Ramadhaan