In my country people recite the Quran collectively and rapidly after the Morning and Afternoon prayers. I know they do not do this for the sake of learning. My question is: was the Quran recited that way at the time of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam?

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.

Reciting the Quran collectively after the Morning and Afternoon prayers or after any other prayer is a disliked act and it is considered a religious innovation.

Recitation of the Quran in this way is disliked because it is not part of the Sunnah of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and that of his Companions .

The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, informed us that whoever performs an act in a way that is different from his way and from that of his Companions, the act will not be accepted from him. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

In another narration, he said that whoever invents something in religion that was not originally part of it; his act will not be accepted from him. Reciting the Quran in this way certainly causes disturbance and distraction among those who are reciting it, and this is a second reason for its being disliked.

However, if each person recites the Quran individually, or if they take turns in reciting it and listen to one another, this will be counted as one of the best acts (of Islam). This is supported by the Hadeeth where the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, mentioned that if some Muslims gather in a mosque for the sake of reciting the Quran and studying it, they will be overwhelmed by tranquility, blessed with mercy, surrounded by angels and mentioned by Allaah The Almighty in heaven. [Muslim]

Hence, gathering in mosques for the sake of reciting the Quran is recommended as indicated in the Hadeeth.

The collective remembrance of Allaah The Almighty is also considered a religious innovation; first, because it is a source of disturbance, and second, because it does not conform with the Sunnah of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, or the acts of his Companions .

Allaah Knows best.