What is the ruling on taking a fee for reciting the Qur'an for the deceased?
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The questioner : The questioner says that when a person dies among us, they give money to someone who recites a mushaf over his grave, or in his house.
The Shaykh : This is also an abomination and consuming wealth unjustly. The questioner says that when a person dies, a reciter is brought to recite the Qur'an, either over his grave or in his house, for dirhams. We say that this is forbidden and not permissible, especially if the dirhams come from the estate that is inherited by those who are weak in mind or young in age, for then it is consuming their wealth unjustly. Allah the Exalted said:[Al-An'am 6:152] Then, this recitation that the reciter performed for the sake of the dirhams is rejected; there is no reward in it. Rather, it is returned to its owner, and Allah the Mighty and Majestic does not accept it, because every act of worship intended for the worldly life is not accepted by Allah. Allah the Exalted said: [Hud 11:15] their wealth is returned to them [Hud 11:15-16].
So this reciter has no reward for his recitation, and thus taking money without compensation is consuming wealth unjustly, and the reciter benefits from it because there is no reward in it for him to benefit from. Therefore, it is not permissible for the family of the deceased to do this, and it is not permissible for anyone to recite for this compensation, because it is consuming wealth unjustly. As for whether a person reciting the Qur'an for a deceased person without a fee is permissible or prohibited, many scholars hold that it is not prescribed and that the reward of the recitation does not reach the deceased, because Allah says:[An-Najm 53:39] Others hold that the reward of the recitation reaches the deceased, but it is not among the prescribed matters; rather, it is among the permissible matters, and that supplication for the deceased is better than dedicating acts of worship to him. They cite as evidence for this the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): Riyad as-Salihin 1383 The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) did not say "or a righteous son who recites for him," or "prays for him," or "circumambulates for him," but he said "or a righteous son who supplicates for him." From this, it is known that supplication for the dead is better than dedicating acts of worship to them. Nevertheless, the stronger opinion among scholars is that the reward reaches them, but it is not among the things that a person is required to do; rather, a person is required to supplicate for his dead. Listen to the saying of Allah the Mighty and Majestic: [Al-Hashr 59:10]
The Shaykh : This is also an abomination and consuming wealth unjustly. The questioner says that when a person dies, a reciter is brought to recite the Qur'an, either over his grave or in his house, for dirhams. We say that this is forbidden and not permissible, especially if the dirhams come from the estate that is inherited by those who are weak in mind or young in age, for then it is consuming their wealth unjustly. Allah the Exalted said:
And do not approach the orphan's property except in a way that is best
وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا مَالَ الْيَتِيمِ إِلَّا بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُWhoever desires the life of this world and its adornments
مَن كَانَ يُرِيدُ الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا وَزِينَتَهَاtherein, and they therein will not be deprived. (16) Those are the ones for whom there is not in the Hereafter but the Fire. And lost is what they did therein, and worthless is what they used to do.
فِيهَا وَهُمْ فِيهَا لَا يُبْخَسُونَ أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ لَيْسَ لَهُمْ فِي الْآخِرَةِ إِلَّا النَّارُ وَحَبِطَ مَا صَنَعُوا فِيهَا وَبَاطِلٌ مَّا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَSo this reciter has no reward for his recitation, and thus taking money without compensation is consuming wealth unjustly, and the reciter benefits from it because there is no reward in it for him to benefit from. Therefore, it is not permissible for the family of the deceased to do this, and it is not permissible for anyone to recite for this compensation, because it is consuming wealth unjustly. As for whether a person reciting the Qur'an for a deceased person without a fee is permissible or prohibited, many scholars hold that it is not prescribed and that the reward of the recitation does not reach the deceased, because Allah says:
And that there is not for man except that [good] for which he strives
وَأَن لَّيْسَ لِلْإِنسَانِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰWhen a man dies, his deeds come to an end except for three things: Sadaqah Jariyah (ceaseless charity); a knowledge which is beneficial, or a virtuous descendant who prays for him (for the deceased).
إذا مات العبد انقطع عمله إلا من ثلاث صدقة جارية، أو علم ينتفع به، أو ولد صالح يدعو لهAnd [there is a share for] those who came after them, saying, "Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith and put not in our hearts [any] resentment toward those who have believed. Our Lord, indeed You are Kind and Merciful."
وَالَّذِينَ جَاءُوا مِن بَعْدِهِمْ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَانِنَا الَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِالْإِيمَانِ وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِي قُلُوبِنَا غِلًّا لِّلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ رَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ
Source
قناة «فضيلة الشيخ محمد بن صالح العثيمين»، 8 - 12 - دروس وفتاوى المسجد الحرام للعام 1406 هـ - الدرس الثامن - الشيخ محمد بن صالح العثيمين — youtube.com (1:18:28)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.