What is the ruling on traveling from Jeddah or Ta'if or the outskirts of Makkah solely to attend the completion of the recitation of the Qur'an? Is this an innovation?

The questioner : The questioner asks: What is the ruling on traveling from Jeddah or Ta'if or the outskirts of Makkah solely to attend the completion of the recitation of the Qur'an? Is this an innovation?

The Shaykh : As for traveling from Ta'if to Makkah or from Jeddah to Makkah for the purpose of praying in al-Masjid al-Haram, this is prescribed, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): Likewise, if one sets out to a mosque that has a circle of knowledge or dhikr (remembrance of Allah) or something similar, there is nothing wrong with it, because one did not set out for the mosque itself, but for the knowledge within it. As for the issue of the khatmah (completion of the recitation), it is a matter of disagreement among scholars as to whether it is prescribed in prayer or not. What is known from our imams is that they consider it among the things done in prayer; for this reason, they complete the recitation of the Qur'an with supplication, even in prayer. If you are in al-Masjid al-Haram, you should follow the imam, even in the khatmah, and not deviate from the Muslims.

The questioner : May Allah reward you.