Taking a fee for completing the recitation of the Qur'an for the deceased and reciting the Qur'an for the sick
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner:
When a Muslim dies in our country, his family pays a sum of money to one or more people to complete the recitation of the Qur'an for the deceased. What is your opinion on this?
The Shaykh:
This has no basis. Hiring someone to recite the Qur'an for the deceased has no basis. The reciter receives no reward, or if he recites for a fee, he receives no reward. This is not recommended, nor is it prescribed. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the Companions passed away without doing this. They were the quickest of people to every good and the first to every obedience. Therefore, it is not permissible to use this, namely hiring someone to recite for the deceased after death, or a group to recite during the days of condolence. This is a bid'ah (religious innovation) and has no basis.
The questioner:
And reciting the Qur'an for the healing of the sick is also done for a fee.
The Shaykh:
Reciting near the deceased is a form of kindness to him, not out of arrogance. Rather, some of those present recite so that the dying person may be elevated, perhaps he will make supplication, perhaps he will remember Allah, perhaps he will repent, and he benefits from the Qur'an. This is good.
The questioner:
Yes.
The Shaykh:
If one recites near the sick, not after the sick, no. Yes.
When a Muslim dies in our country, his family pays a sum of money to one or more people to complete the recitation of the Qur'an for the deceased. What is your opinion on this?
The Shaykh:
This has no basis. Hiring someone to recite the Qur'an for the deceased has no basis. The reciter receives no reward, or if he recites for a fee, he receives no reward. This is not recommended, nor is it prescribed. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the Companions passed away without doing this. They were the quickest of people to every good and the first to every obedience. Therefore, it is not permissible to use this, namely hiring someone to recite for the deceased after death, or a group to recite during the days of condolence. This is a bid'ah (religious innovation) and has no basis.
The questioner:
And reciting the Qur'an for the healing of the sick is also done for a fee.
The Shaykh:
Reciting near the deceased is a form of kindness to him, not out of arrogance. Rather, some of those present recite so that the dying person may be elevated, perhaps he will make supplication, perhaps he will remember Allah, perhaps he will repent, and he benefits from the Qur'an. This is good.
The questioner:
Yes.
The Shaykh:
If one recites near the sick, not after the sick, no. Yes.
Source
ندوات الجامع الكبير مع الأسئلة - 50 — archive.org (1:20:27)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.