Hiring a reciter to recite the Qur'an after the death of a patient
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question: When one of us dies, we bring the preacher to recite the Qur'an for five days, and after that we slaughter a sacrificial animal and distribute it among the people. This is a custom we found and we have followed it. What is the ruling on this practice, O honorable Shaykh? May Allah reward you.
Answer: This practice is not a custom, but rather a religious innovation (bid'ah). Hiring a reciter for five days to recite after the death of a patient is among the innovations for which Allah has not sent down any authority. Our pure religion and our purified Shari'ah have shown us what is to be done for the deceased: the deceased is prepared by washing and shrouding, prayer is performed over him, he is buried, supplication is made for him, mercy is sought for him, charity is given on his behalf, and a sacrifice is offered on his behalf during the time of sacrifice. This is what is prescribed regarding the deceased.
As for hiring a reciter to recite the Qur'an for specific days, and slaughtering a sacrificial animal at the end of them, all of this is among the burdens and shackles, and among the innovations and superstitions. These do not benefit the living or the deceased; rather, they are among the harmful and innovative acts. What reward comes from the recitation of a hired reciter? Because this reciter does not recite hoping for the reward of the recitation, but rather recites hoping for the wage that is paid to him, the ordinary wage. Acts of worship are not paid for, and reciting the Qur'an is among the greatest acts of worship, if the reciter's intention is to draw near to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He).
But if he intends a worldly gain through his recitation, then his work is invalid, and he has no reward. So what does the deceased gain from the reward, and the reciter has no reward in that, because he recites for the sake of worldly gain. All of this is among the innovations and superstitions, and among the squandering of wealth in vain.
Answer: This practice is not a custom, but rather a religious innovation (bid'ah). Hiring a reciter for five days to recite after the death of a patient is among the innovations for which Allah has not sent down any authority. Our pure religion and our purified Shari'ah have shown us what is to be done for the deceased: the deceased is prepared by washing and shrouding, prayer is performed over him, he is buried, supplication is made for him, mercy is sought for him, charity is given on his behalf, and a sacrifice is offered on his behalf during the time of sacrifice. This is what is prescribed regarding the deceased.
As for hiring a reciter to recite the Qur'an for specific days, and slaughtering a sacrificial animal at the end of them, all of this is among the burdens and shackles, and among the innovations and superstitions. These do not benefit the living or the deceased; rather, they are among the harmful and innovative acts. What reward comes from the recitation of a hired reciter? Because this reciter does not recite hoping for the reward of the recitation, but rather recites hoping for the wage that is paid to him, the ordinary wage. Acts of worship are not paid for, and reciting the Qur'an is among the greatest acts of worship, if the reciter's intention is to draw near to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He).
But if he intends a worldly gain through his recitation, then his work is invalid, and he has no reward. So what does the deceased gain from the reward, and the reciter has no reward in that, because he recites for the sake of worldly gain. All of this is among the innovations and superstitions, and among the squandering of wealth in vain.