Is it permissible to do Quran Khatam after the death of someone?

Asalaamualykum I have a question my uncle past away a week ago and my family have been doing katum. And I have been told by many that it is not allowed can you please help me as I myself is very confused about this topic and don’t have much knowledge regarding this please could you help me. Jazakhallah’Khair

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

To recite the Quran is indeed a noble act and merits great reward. One may also recite the Quran and pass the reward the deceased.[1]  However, this should be done without following any customs which are prevalent in many places. For example, reciting Quran after forty days of the deceased etc. and regarding them to be compulsory. To follow a custom and regard it as compulsory is bid’ah which is a major sin.[2] The purpose to recite the Quran is to invoke Allah’s mercy and pass the reward to the deceased. By doing an act of bid’ah, the opposite happens and defeats the purpose. We advise that the Quran be recited by individuals on their own and pass the reward on to the deceased. This is in conformity to Shari’ah.  

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Muhammad Haris Siddiqui

Student Darul Iftaa
Melbourne, Australia 

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.