It’s a traditional practice of some Pakistani cultures for people to gather and read Quran on certain special occasions, such as to put barakah in a young couples marriage, or after the funeral of someone who passed away in hopes of giving the dead person ajr. Maulana Sab would you be able to advise the validity of these ‘Islamic’ practices?
Bismillahi Ta’ala
Walaikum Assalam Warahmatullah
Recitation of Qur’an is very meritorious and rewarding. There are many bounties and blessings in this Ibaadah. Such barakat are also enumerated for gatherings which come solely for the purpose of recitation or learning Qur’an. However, one must always keep in mind to make such gatherings or even individual recitals to be free from any kind of customary show off.
While the intention of wanting barakah in new marriage is praiseworthy, it should not be at the expense of a cultural show that will not only be counter productive, but also disrespect for the Qur’an itself. A new married couple may sit together and recite Qur’an with genuine desire to seek barakah in their marriage, and this will be more pleasing to Allah than fulfilling some cultural expectation of the people of gathering and reciting qur’an.
As an example of seeking barakah from Qur’an, consider the recitation of Surah Baqarah in a new home. Recitation of Surah Baqarah for the sake of blessing and barakah especially in one’s home has been greatly emphasized. Ibn Kathir rh. mentions a hadeeth from Sayiduna Abu Huraira rd. that Nabi ﷺ instructed not to make our home barren graves, for indeed Shaytan does not enter any house wherein Surah Baqarah is recited.
Similarly, another narration in Sunan Nasa’i from Sayiduna Abdullah ibn Mas’ood rd. mentions that Shaytan runs from a house wherein Surah Baqarah is heart (its recital).
Mashayekh recommend recital of Surah Baqarah for barakah in one’s home. Similarly, it can be understood that recital of Qur’an has its merits which can be hoped from Allah in all occasions of life.
However, when it comes to specifying particular barakah, such as the entry of Shaytan in the home as stated in the above narrations, then we may not make these up ourselves. At most we can be assured that recital of Qur’an is pleasing to Allah, and barakaat will descend upon recitation. Hence, one could recite Qur’an with this intention and expect some barakah from Allah.
You have also mentioned about customary gatherings of Qur’an Khatam (or Quran Khuwani). For this I have penned down a previous response on such customary gatherings of quran khatams. I will reproduce that below.
…Reciting Qur’an for the deceased as a form of Isaal e Thawab is an acceptable practice. However, I always remind family members and general masses to understand the fundamental basis of Isaal e thawab. The fundamental purpose is not merely relaying rewards to the deceased, rather doing a good act to beseech Allah’s rahmah towards the deceased.
So, the chances of Allah’s rahma descending upon the deceased are directly linked to how genuine one was in one’s good deed. This good deed can be any good action. Reading Qur’an happens to be one of them.
Our cultural norms make it out to be some kind of mandatory requirement for the family members and others, but it is in fact an avenue of beseech towards Allah, just like feeding poor, giving sadaqah, etc etc.
This also means, one ayah of genuine recitation for the right purpose of pleasing Allah outweighs reciting an entire Qur’an for purpose of show, or for purpose of fulfilling some cultural mandate expected one oneself.
In light of this, I rather have my family members genuinely read something for and ask Allah to be favorable towards me when I am dead, instead of holding some gathering as is culturally done.
Secondly, Nabi ﷺ has indicated to us that among the good deeds, the most beloved are those which are continuous, even though they may be small.
This means, a mother , brother , sister or family member reciting simple few ayaat per day, over a general long period will gain better favors from Allah than holding once-off round the clock completion of Qur’an.
Finally, Allama ibn Abideen rh. mentions that one of the primary flaws of such gatherings is that a person tends to do it because others know of it being done by a person. This has elements of riya’, and automatically makes the entire arrangement problematic.
Keep these points in mind, and if the friends read their Qur’an portions from the genuineness of the heart, and intention. We hope Allah will accept their amal and be favorable upon the deceased.
However, if it has elements of riya’, cultural bid’aat, or other such problems then it is far superior to just make it a habit of making isaal e thawab of your normal regular daily recitation, even if it be a few ayaats.
Wallahu A’lam
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mufti Faisal al-Mahmudi