Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Is there any benefit or basis in gathering to recite the Qur’an? Isn’t it just pointless parroting?
Assalamu alaikum,
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful and Compassionate
1. Reading any part of the Qur’an is not mere parroting [= to repeat mindlessly’ WordWeb]. The mere recital of it is a great act of worship, as the numerous texts of the Qur’an and Sunna explicitly show. Reflection and understanding only arise out of frequent recital. Meanings take time to unfold.
2. Gathering to recite the Qur’an is of great merit. This is understood from many famous hadiths, including:
Abu Hurayra (Allah be pleased with him) reports, as part of a longer hadith, from the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) that, “No people gather in a house of the houses of Allah reciting the Book of Allah and studying it among themselves except that serenity descends upon them, mercy envelops them, the angels surround them, and Allah makes mention of them to those with Him.” [Muslim (4867), Tirmidhi (1345), Abu Dawud (1243), Ibn Maja (221), Ahmad (7118), and others]
The scholars are explicit that this hadith is not specific to any one particular way of reciting or studying the Qur’an. Rather, it encompasses all forms of group recital and study, as mentioned by Imam Nawawi and others.
3. Imam Nawawi said in his al-Majmu` Sharh al-Muhadhdhab [2.194-195]:
“The scholars have considered it highly recommended to supplicate after completion (khatm) of the Qur’an, and there are numerous narrations regarding this. One should supplicate repeatedly, and ask for the most important of matters, and make much mention of that which there is good for the Muslims, and their leaders ”
4. The fatwa of great scholars across the Muslim world, including the top scholars of Damascus and elsewhere, is that gatherings of khatm of Qur’an are praiseworthy if free of blameworthy practices, and it is of their continued practice.
5. When one recites the Qur’an, one is rewarded for numerous matters, including:
a) reciting all the Qur’an;
b) the very act of reflecting;
c) the lessons learned and benefits gained.
When one gathers with others to recite the Qur’an, there is no reason why any of these matters would or should be missing. At the same time, there is the reward mentioned in the hadiths for gathering for the Qur’an, of donating its reward [whose validity is established by numerous texts, and is recommended according to all four Sunni schools of fiqh], and for the supplication after it, which has been established through the practice of numerous companions, including Ibn Mas`ud, Anas and others (Allah be pleased with them), as mentioned by Ibn Qudama in his Mughni.
Ibn Abi Shayba mentions, with his chain of narrators from Mujahid (Allah have mercy on him) that, “Mercy descends upon completion of the Qur’an.” [Musannaf, 7.169]
6. There is great merit in donating the reward of one’s Qur’anic recital to the Muslims in need around the world, particularly our brethren in Iraq.
And Allah knows best.
Walaikum assalam,