My question is: We have a custom in Egypt where, after a person dies and is buried, once forty days have passed, we invite one of the shaykhs and pay him a fee to stand at the grave of our deceased friend and recite the Qur'an to him.
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The questioner : As for my question, it is that we have a custom in Egypt where, after a person dies and is buried, once forty days have passed, we invite one of the shaykhs and pay him a fee to stand at the grave of our deceased friend and recite the Qur'an to him. I ask your eminence to inform me: is this permissible or forbidden? And if it is permissible, does the deceased benefit from it or not?
The Shaykh : This is not among the prescribed matters; rather, it is among the matters of religious innovation. Every innovation is misguidance, and the best place in which the Qur'an is recited is the houses of Allah (Mighty and Majestic).
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : That is, the mosques, and also homes, where the Qur'an is recited. As for graveyards, they are not a place for reciting the Qur'an; rather, they are a place for greeting the dead and making du'a' for them, not making du'a' at their graves or making du'a' to them. They are not called upon, nor is du'a' made at their graves. Rather, du'a' is made for them with mercy and forgiveness, because they are in need of that. As for reciting for the deceased, whether at his grave or in another place, for a fee, it is forbidden and not permissible. It also carries no reward, as Allah the Exalted said:[Hud 11:15-16].
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Reciting the Qur'an is among the best acts of worship. If it is directed toward worldly gain and sought for the sake of the world, it becomes invalid and worthless. It does not benefit the reciter; rather, it harms him, and it does not benefit the one for whom it is recited, because there is no reward for him.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : The one for whom it is recited only benefits from the reward. Here, there is no reward because the reciter sought worldly gain with his deed.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Accordingly, hiring a person to recite for the dead or for others is forbidden, and the one for whom it is recited does not benefit from it because there is no reward in it. It also involves wasting money and spending money in a manner other than its proper purpose, especially if it is taken from the deceased's estate, and among the heirs there are minors or those of unsound mind.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : In that case, it is an injustice against them. In any case, the summary is that this action is not permissible.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And the deceased does not benefit from it.
The questioner : May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The Shaykh : This is not among the prescribed matters; rather, it is among the matters of religious innovation. Every innovation is misguidance, and the best place in which the Qur'an is recited is the houses of Allah (Mighty and Majestic).
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : That is, the mosques, and also homes, where the Qur'an is recited. As for graveyards, they are not a place for reciting the Qur'an; rather, they are a place for greeting the dead and making du'a' for them, not making du'a' at their graves or making du'a' to them. They are not called upon, nor is du'a' made at their graves. Rather, du'a' is made for them with mercy and forgiveness, because they are in need of that. As for reciting for the deceased, whether at his grave or in another place, for a fee, it is forbidden and not permissible. It also carries no reward, as Allah the Exalted said:
(15) Whoever desires the life of this world and its adornments - We fully repay them for their deeds therein, 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.
من كان يريد الحياة الدنيا وزينتها نوفي إليهم أعمالهم فيها وهم فيها لا يُبخسون أولائك الذين ليس لهم في الأخرة إلى النار وحبط ما صنعوا فيها وباطل ما كانوا يعملونThe questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Reciting the Qur'an is among the best acts of worship. If it is directed toward worldly gain and sought for the sake of the world, it becomes invalid and worthless. It does not benefit the reciter; rather, it harms him, and it does not benefit the one for whom it is recited, because there is no reward for him.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : The one for whom it is recited only benefits from the reward. Here, there is no reward because the reciter sought worldly gain with his deed.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Accordingly, hiring a person to recite for the dead or for others is forbidden, and the one for whom it is recited does not benefit from it because there is no reward in it. It also involves wasting money and spending money in a manner other than its proper purpose, especially if it is taken from the deceased's estate, and among the heirs there are minors or those of unsound mind.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : In that case, it is an injustice against them. In any case, the summary is that this action is not permissible.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And the deceased does not benefit from it.
The questioner : May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : Yes.