Reading the Qur’an is like a journey. Unless you only breeze through the Qur’an instead of reading, you should have noticed the change in your recitation, thoughts and reflections when you read. You find yourself gradually becoming acquainted with the letters and word formations. You find yourself unconsciously memorising some very common clauses in the Qur’an, like جَنَّٰتُ عَدْنٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَٰرُ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدًاۖ, and you find your recitation smoother, easier as you go on especially if you’re just beginning to learn.
The fact is, everyone has their abilities and limits with regards to Qur’an recitation. Some are able to finish the Qur’an ten times in the whole of Ramadan and some only once. Some spend the whole thirty or twenty nine days on Suratul Baqara, and some don’t bother opening Baqara: they start from Naas, end at Naba’i and say “Subhana Rabbika” on it.
It should be noted, however, that no one is to be judged by the amount of Qur’an portions they read, whether it’s very many qor very little. Because there are several people who can finish the Qur’an in three days, but find it difficult to wake up for Solatul-fajr. On the other hand, there are others who spend an hour on Suratur-Rahman, but will flee to the Masjid at the sound of Adhaan.
The last ten days of Ramadan is already here. However, there are people who feel that they’ve wasted the past nineteen days. Perhaps they weren’t serious with their Qur’an recitation, or the performance of good deeds in general. But the fact is, until the last day of this blessed month, it’s not too late.
It’s not too late to call your family and friends to wish them Ramadan Mubarak. It’s not too late to buy dates for someone. It’s not too late to start praying regularly and punctually. It’s not too late to say “Asalam alaykum” to every Muslim you meet on your way. It’s not too late to attend lectures, online or physical. And most importantly, it’s not too late to read the Qur’an.
It doesn’t matter that you don’t finish it. What matters is that you try to read as much of it as possible without rushing or tumbling. Calmly take it step by step, five pages per day, perhaps ten. Just make sure that not a day passes without you opening Allah’s book. Because until Ramadan day 30, it’s not too late to start.
