Gathering to Complete the Qur’an (khatm) for Blessings

Gathering to Complete the Qur’an (khatm) for Blessings

Question:

Occasionally, my mother will recite a khatm of the Quran with the intention of gaining tawfiq in some matter, or for someone in our family to be helped in overcoming some obstacle. For example, if someone is about to have a critical surgery, she will recite a khatm so that it goes smoothly and works out successfully. She also keeps fasts for this purpose. She would like to know if this is allowed.

Also, can we celebrate the moving into a new house with a khatam (a meeting of people who finish the quran) in order to receive blessings?? It is common practise in people from the Indian Subcontinent. Are we allowed to have food at this gathering??

Answer:

In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,

The recitation of the Qur’an is surely full of blessings and a great act of reward. It can be recited for whatever reason one desires, such as seeking blessings, attaining Baraka, and obtaining success in some matter. Qur’an is a source of guidance for the bewildered, remedy for the ailing, healing for the spiritually diseased and a code of life for whole of humanity.

Allah Most High says:

“We send down in the Qur’an that which is a healing and a mercy to those who believe. To the unjust it causes nothing but loss after loss.” (al-Isra, 82)

And:

“O mankind! There has come to you a direction from your lord (Qur’an) and a healing for the (diseases) in your hearts, and for those who believe guidance and a mercy.” (Surah Yunus, 57)

And:

“Say: It (Qur’an) is a guide and a healing to those who believe.” (Surah Fussilat, 44)

Thus, there is no reason why one should not recite the book of Allah, partly or completely (khatm) in order to receive the assistance and blessings of Allah Almighty. This should also be coupled with respect and acting upon the injunctions of the Qur’an.

This recitation can be carried out individually and also collectively with maintaining the proper Adab and respect for the book of Allah. However, in the case of collective recitation, it is preferable to recite silently.

It is stated in the famous Hanafi reference book, al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya quoting from al-Qunya:

“It is disliked (makruh) for a group of people to recite the Qur’an loudly, for it entails discarding the command of listening to the recitation with attentiveness and remaining silent (m, due to the fact that all the reciters will be reciting simultaneously).” (al-Fatwa al-Hindiyya, 317)

However, Imam al-Halabi states in his Sharh al-Munya al-Kabir:

It is said that there is nothing wrong in reading loudly and collectively, for listening to the recitation is Fard Kifaya, thus this can be achieved by some or one member of the group remaining silent.” (See: Imdad al-Muftiyyin, 1/284)

It is also stated in al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya:

“There is nothing wrong in gathering and reciting Surah al-Ikhlas at the time of completing the Qur’an (Khatm). However, if one member of the congregation recites and the rest listen attentively, then this is better (awla).” (ibid)

Therefore, it is permissible to gather and recite the Qur’an at home or in a Masjid. It is preferable that the recitation is carried out silently. However, to recite loudly is also permissible, and the command of listening to the recitation will be fulfilled by one member of the group remaining silent.

As for the eating of food after the recitation is concerned, there is nothing principally wrong in that. However, care should be taken that the objective of the gathering is not lost, and the intention of attending the gathering is not one of eating food.

Finally, it should be remembered that the recitation should be solely for the pleasure of Allah and gaining reward. It should not be for any worldly motive or for showing off. Many times, such gatherings are no more than a custom where people gather for the sake of it, and more time is spent in other things than actually reciting the Qur’an. If this is avoided, then surely it will be a blessed event.

And Allah knows best

[Mufti] Muhammad ibn Adam
Darul Iftaa
Leicester , UK

Question #: 5768
Published: 05/03/2004

Related Answers