Sukainah the daughter of Shaikh al-Albaani said, “I asked my father, may Allaah have mercy on him, [a question] the summary of which is: I read that when Ramadaan would begin some of the scholars would devote themselves to reciting the Quraan, even though they were people of knowledge who would issue religious verdicts for the masses. So they would even stop giving religious verdicts. Is this correct? Should I single out this month for the Quraan and leave reading hadiths, their explanation and lessons in the dialects of the Quraan and other than that?

So in answer to this he said, “This particularisation has no basis in the Sunnah–but that which is in the Sunnah and is known [from a hadith] reported in the two Sahihs[1] is to increase in the recitation of the Quraan in Ramadaan. As for particularising the month of Ramadaan solely for the recitation of the Quraan to the exclusion of any other act of worship like seeking knowledge, teaching hadith, and explaining them–then that has no basis. Likewise that which is included in this topic is giving in charity, giving sadaqah, being good to the people and … and … etc.

Devoting oneself to recitation has no basis. That which does have a basis is only to increase in it.

[1] From Ibn Abbaas, may Allaah be pleased with them both, who said, “Allaah’s Messenger صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ was the most generous of all the people. And he used to reach the peak in generosity in the month of Ramadaan when Jibreel met him. Jibreel used to meet him every night of Ramadaan to teach him the Quraan. Allaah’s Messenger صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ was the most generous person, even more generous than the fair winds [sent (by Allaah) with glad tidings (rain), in readiness and haste to do charitable deeds]. [Bukhaari, no. 6.]

Imaam an-Nawawi, may Allaah have mercy on him, said, “Our companions said, ‘The Sunnah is to recite the Quraan in abundance in Ramadaan and to study it with someone–that he recites it to someone and someone recites it to him due to the aforementioned hadith from Ibn Abbaas.’” Al-Majmooh Sharh al-Muhaddhab (6/274). And al-Haafidh Ibn Rajab, may Allaah have mercy on him, said about this hadith, “And in it is evidence for the desirability/recommendation to increase in the recitation of the Quraan in the month of Ramadaan.” Lataa’iful-Ma’aarif, p. 169.

Taken from her blog at:

Sukainah bint Muhammad Naasirud-Deen al-Albaani’s Blog

And here’s the Youtube video: