Prayer TimesIndeed, reciting the Qur'an is a great act of worship and the best form of remembrance. Through reciting the Qur'an, a person's faith is strengthened. Its reward is so immense that only Allah knows its true measure.
In a hadith narrated from Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him), the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever recites a single letter from the Book of Allah will receive one reward, and each reward is multiplied by ten. I do not say that 'Alif Lam Mim' is one letter, but 'Alif' is a letter, 'Lam' is a letter, and 'Mim' is a letter." (Tirmidhi).
Farwa ibn Nawfal al-Ashja'i (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "I was a neighbor of Khabbab ibn al-Aratt. Once, as we left the mosque, he took my hand and said: 'O servant of Allah! Strive to be as close to Allah as possible! Indeed, you can never draw closer to Him with anything better than His Word (the Qur'an).'" (Hakim).
Reciting the Qur'an is superior even to tasbih, tahmid, tahlil, and takbir. The special virtue of reciting the Qur'an is especially evident in Ramadan, as it was revealed in that month. However, if several people divide the Qur'an among themselves, each reading one or two sections until the entire Qur'an is completed, is the reward the same for all? Does it count as if each of them has completed the entire Qur'an, or does each person receive reward only for what they personally recited?
Usually, people recite the Qur'an individually, or one person recites while others listen. In a hadith from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
"Whenever a group gathers in one of the houses of Allah to recite the Book of Allah and teach it to one another, tranquility descends upon them, mercy envelops them, angels surround them, and Allah mentions them among those who are with Him." (Muslim).
Gathering together to recite the Qur'an is a commendable and rewarding act. Both the reciter and the listener are rewarded. The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would both recite and listen. Allah the Exalted says:
"Recite the Qur'an in a measured tone" (al-Muzzammil, 4), "When its verses are recited to them, it increases them in faith and they put their trust in their Lord" (al-Anfal, 2).
Therefore, for several people to collectively complete the Qur'an is a praiseworthy and rewarding practice. It does count as a khatm. However, each person receives reward for the portion they personally recited. For example, if 30 people each fast for one day, it does not mean each receives the reward of fasting for 30 days. Similarly, if 20 people each pray two rak'ahs, it does not mean each has prayed 20 rak'ahs. Thus, if someone wishes to complete a khatm and receive its full reward, they should recite the entire Qur'an themselves. Nevertheless, one or more people can complete the Qur'an and dedicate its reward to a deceased person.
Hasan AMANKUL
"Munara" newspaper, No. 8, 2021
This content was drafted with AI assistance and reviewed by an editor.