How To Complete The Quran During Ramadan For Working Professionals

Ramadan is obviously the month where engagement with the Qur’an is highly recommended. Many attempt to complete at least one full recitation during the month. 

As many of us are busy professionals, it is sometimes challenging to find time during our work days to recite – some folks use time after Fajr after Asr to do so.

In this section, I will discuss how we can also use the Tahajjud prayers for this purpose in a systematic manner. Since most of us get up early for Suhoor, I highly recommend that you consider this approach, since it does not interfere with our daytime work schedule.   

Reading the Tahajjud prayers has great merit, especially during Ramadan. Our beloved Prophet (PBUH) used to recite the Qur’an at length during Tahajjud prayers. However, since most of us don’t have large parts of the Qur’an memorized, so this may seem like an obstacle. 

Well, where there is a will, Allah (SWT) makes a way.  

As it turns out, unlike other prayers where we have to recite the Qur’an from memory, it is allowable during Tahajjud to recite using a copy (mushaf) of the Qur’an – either physical or digital. That makes it easy for those of us that do not have large parts of the Qur’an memorized. 

Now, let me use some math (I am an engineer after all) to show you how you can accomplish this systematically. There is an authentic hadith on Tahajjud prayers from the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet, the translation of which reads: 

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“The Prophet (ﷺ) said: If anyone prays at night reciting regularly ten verses, he will not be recorded among the negligent; if anyone prays at night and recites a hundred verses, he will be recorded among those who are obedient to Allah; and if anyone prays at night reciting one thousand verses, he will be recorded among those who receive huge rewards” 

My recommendation is during each night of Ramadan except the last 5 odd nights (the nights when we normally perform Qiyam-ul-layl in expectation of Lailatul-Qadr), we read at least 100 verses during Tahajjud prayer. This normally takes about 15 to 20 minutes. Assuming we do this for 25 nights, we are able to complete 2500 verses. 

Now on the last 5 odd nights of Qiyam-ul-layl, we normally stay up longer during the night, so we should attempt to read 1000 verses during these holy nights. This is doable in less than 2 hours. So that gives us 5000 verses, for a total of 7500 verses over 30 nights in Ramadan (or 7400 in 29 nights). That’s more than the 6348 verses in the entire Qur’an. Alhamdolillah! 

For those of you who prefer to perform Qiyam-ul-layl during the last ten nights of Ramadan, well, this approach will help you recite the entire Qur’an during these nights and then some (a total of 10,000 verses). If you are willing to stretch a bit (and recite about 700 extra verses over 30 nights or about 24 extra verses per night), you will be able to complete two full recitations of the Qur’an during Ramadan.  SubhanAllah! 

The above approach not only makes the process very methodical, but it also requires only a small additional investment in time (of about 15 minutes during each night and 2 hours each during the nights of Laiatul-Qadr) outside of work time conflicts. And it provides the immense double benefit of both Tahajjud prayer and Qur’an recitation – both of which are key during Ramadan. 

May Allah (SWT) guide us, grant us his forgiveness and mercy and accept our worship during Ramadan.