Question
What is the ruling regarding appointing people to recite specific Paras (Juz) with the intent of finishing a Khatam, but it is not in one sitting?
Will it be permissible in one sitting?
Answer
There is no harm in a number of people voluntarily reciting any portion of the Quraan Sharif individually for the pleasure of Allah Ta’aala or voluntarily reciting and then passing the rewards over to the deceased. However, to specify that certain individuals must participate in a particular gathering and recite a particular Para of the Quraan is incorrect.
ويقرا من القراٰن ما تيسر له ثم يقول : اللّٰهم اوصل ثواب ما قرانا الي فلان او اليهم
(شامي ص243 ج2)
والْأَصْلُ فيه أَنَّ الْإِنْسَانَ له أَنْ يَجْعَلَ ثَوَابَ عَمَلِهِ لِغَيْرِهِ صَلَاةً أو صَوْمًا أو صَدَقَةً أو قِرَاءَةَ قُرْآنٍ أو ذِكْرًا أو طَوَافًا أو حَجًّا أو عُمْرَةً أو غير ذلك عِنْدَ أَصْحَابِنَا لِلْكِتَابِ وَالسُّنَّةِ
(البحر الرائق ص59 ج3)
We are therefore not in favour of these new trends whereby specific Paras are distributed between individuals which they are required to complete, even though the completion of the Khatm or recitation may not be restricted to a single gathering. Many a time, a person feels constrained and pressurized to recite the Para assigned to him and, due to being unable to do so, may resort to lying that he had completed the Para assigned to him, whereas he did not complete it. If he speaks the truth too, he would feel embarrassed to admit this and become conscious of the stigma attached to his inability to fulfil the commitment. There is also a possibility that others in the group ostracize or criticize him for his inability of fulfilling the task that he took upon himself.
Checked and Approved By:
Mufti Muhammed Saeed Motara Saheb D.B.