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Fatwa CenterImaam Shaafi'ee reading of Qur'aan during Ramadan
Question
I read somewhere that Imaam Shaafi'ee used to finish reading the whole Qur'aan 60 times during Ramadan. This means that he used to finish it twice a day. This is practically impossible if one is reading the proper way. Moreover, The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said that whoever reads it in less than 3 days will not be able to grasp its meaning.
My question is: How authentic is this story about Imaam Shaafi'ee?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.
The most preponderant opinion is that it is confirmed that Imaam Ash-Shaafi'ee
used to finish the Qur'aan twice a day. This is what his student Imaam Ar-Rab'ee Ibn Sulaymaan, related. Imaam Ath-Thahabi said that this was reported by more than one source. Saying that this is impossible because of the time required cannot be taken for granted. Allaah blesses the time of whomever He wants of His slaves to an extent that one can achieve in a given time what others could not achieve in the same period of time. Allaah bestows His Favours on whomever He wishes. For instance, if one starts reading the Qur'aan very quickly after Fajr prayer and does not stop except to pray, he could complete reading the Qur'aan by 'Asr prayer. Then, if immediately after the prayer of 'Asr, he starts again reading the Qur'aan, he could finish it before the Fajr prayer. In this way the Qur'aan is read twice within 24 hours. Moreover, it should be mentioned that Imaam Ash-Shaafi'ee had great determination and did his utmost in worship. If we know this, then the problem is solved. However, a question remains, whether this act is permissible. It is confirmed in an authentic narration that the Prophet 
said: "The person who reads the Qur'aan in less than three days does not understand what he reads." [Abu Daawood, At-Tirmithi and others] The answer is provided by the scholar Ibn Rajab who said: 'The dislikeability of reading the Qur'aan in less than three days is that one should not make this a habit. As regards the times of excellence like the month of Ramadan and especially the nights during the last ten days when one seeks the Night of Al-Qadr, then it is desirable to read the Qur'aan as much as possible in order to seize the opportunity of this blessed time. The same applies for whoever is in a blessed place like Makkah (for the non-resident who enters it) to seize the opportunity of the time and place. This is the opinion of Imaams Ahmad, Is-Haaq and others
and others, and this is what other Imaams did.'
Allaah knows best.
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