The Ruling on Collective Quran Recitation at Home: Understanding Bid’ah

Is Collective Quran Recitation at Home an Innovation (Bid’ah)?

Question: What is the ruling on organizing collective recitation of the Quran at home, as it is said that gatherings where Allah is remembered collectively are blessed?

Answer: There is no doubt that reciting the Quran is a source of reward and blessing, and reciting it at home brings mercy and blessings. However, since there is no evidence in Islam for reciting the Quran collectively, the practice of collective Quran recitation (Quran Khawani) is considered an innovation (bid’ah). To understand this issue, we need to understand the religion itself. Religion is about obeying Allah and His Messenger, and any act that lacks this obedience is rejected and invalid. Allah says:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَلَا تُبْطِلُوا أَعْمَالَكُمْ (محمد:33)

Translation: "O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and do not invalidate your deeds." (Muhammad: 33)

It is narrated from Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:

مَن عَمِلَ عَمَلًا ليسَ عليه أمْرُنا فَهو رَدٌّ (صحيح مسلم:1718)

Translation: "Whoever does an act that is not in accordance with our matter (i.e., religion), it will be rejected." (Sahih Muslim: 1718)

From the Quran and Hadith, we learn that any act not proven by the Quran and Hadith is rejected and invalid. This is called bid'ah, and every bid'ah is misguidance, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Every bid'ah is misguidance." (Muslim: 867)

Since there is no evidence for collective Quran recitation at home, in the mosque, or any other place, we should avoid this practice. Those who engage in such practices are committing bid’ah, and instead of earning rewards, they incur sin. This also clarifies that the claim that collective Quran recitation at home brings blessings is against the teachings of the Quran and Hadith.

However, in gatherings where the Quran is taught and studied, tranquility descends. When scholars teach the Book of Allah in mosques or other places, mercy and tranquility descend upon such gatherings. It is narrated from Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

ما اجتمعَ قومٌ في بيتٍ من بيوتِ اللَّهِ تعالى يتلونَ كتابَ اللَّهِ ويتدارسونَه بينَهم إلَّا نزلت عليهمُ السَّكينةُ وغشيتهمُ الرَّحمةُ وحفَّتهمُ الملائِكةُ وذَكرَهمُ اللَّهُ فيمن عندَه (صحيح أبي داود:1455)

Translation: "No people gather in one of the houses of Allah, reciting the Book of Allah and studying it among themselves, except that tranquility descends upon them, mercy covers them, angels surround them, and Allah mentions them to those who are with Him." (Sahih Abu Dawood: 1455)

This Hadith does not refer to the collective recitation of the Quran as practiced in our society but rather to gatherings where the Quran is taught and learned. As the Prophet (peace be upon him) said in another Hadith: “The best among you are those who learn the Quran and teach it.” (Bukhari: 5027)

 Sheikh Maqbool Ahmed Salafi حفظه الله

❪Jeddah Dawah Center, Hayy Al-Salamah – Saudi Arabia❫