some of his household one-seventh of the Quran during the day. He would go over his intended recitation in the daytime so that it would be easier for him at night. When he wished to regain his strength, he would refrain from fasting for several days, keeping count of them, and then fast an equal number of days, unwilling to abandon any practice he had maintained when he parted from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.

Some narrators reported three days, and others five, but most reported seven.

Another wording reads:

“‘Recite the Quran in a month.’ I said, ‘I have the strength for more.’ He said, ‘Then recite it in seven days, and do not exceed that.’”

Al-Bukhārī narrated the report in full, and this is his wording. Muslim narrated a similar report, and the other wording is likewise found in his narration.

Another version reads:

“‘Have I not been told that you fast every day and recite the Quran every night?’ I replied, ‘Yes, O Prophet of Allah.’”

It also includes:

“He said, ‘Recite the Quran once every month.’ I said, ‘O Prophet of Allah, I can manage more than that.’ He said, ‘Then recite it once every ten days.’ I said, ‘O Prophet of Allah, I can manage more than that.’ He said, ‘Then recite it in seven days, and do not exceed that.’

“I insisted on a stricter practice, so a stricter practice was imposed on me. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said to me, ‘You do not know; perhaps you will live a long life.’ And I came to experience what the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, had foretold.”

ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAmr also reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Recite the Quran once every three days.”

Narrated by Ahmad and Abū Dāwūd. I say: Al-Bukhārī drew attention to this version, noting that some narrators said, “In three days.” This accords with the report from Saʿd ibn al-Mundhir al-Ansārī, who said:

“‘O Messenger of Allah, should I recite the Quran in three days?’ He replied, ‘Yes.’”

He continued to recite it in that time until he died.