Does Qur’an Recitation Benefit the Deceased? Sharʿī Guidance
📚 Source: Aḥkām wa Masāʾil – Matters of Funerals, Volume 1, Page 262
❖ Question:
Is the reward of Qur’an recitation conveyed to the deceased? In today’s time, people often arrange Khatm al-Qur’an (complete recitation) for the deceased, or someone may recite a rukūʿ or a juzʾ and make duʿāʾ with the intention of Eisāl-e-Thawāb. Is this practice valid according to the Qur’an and Sunnah? Kindly explain.
❖ Answer:
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
✘ The practice of reciting the Qur’an specifically for the deceased, or conveying its reward through recitation of a portion (such as a rukūʿ or a juzʾ) followed by a duʿāʾ of Eisāl-e-Thawāb, is not established in either the Book of Allah (the Qur’an) or the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.
✿ Key Clarifications:
◈ There is no verse in the Qur’an that commands or even suggests reciting the Qur’an with the purpose of conveying its reward to a deceased individual.
◈ Similarly, there is no authentic or explicit example from the Ḥadīth where the Prophet ﷺ or the Companions (Ṣaḥābah) recited portions of the Qur’an and made duʿāʾ for reward to reach the deceased.
✖ Ruling on Present-Day Practices:
The current widespread customs, such as:
✘ Individual or collective Qur’an recitations,
✘ Arranged “Khatm al-Qur’an” for the deceased,
✘ Specifically reading a portion of the Qur’an and then making duʿāʾ for reward to reach the deceased —
These have no basis in Sharʿī evidence and are not supported by any authentic religious text.
✅ Conclusion:
✔ While duʿāʾ for the deceased is legislated and beneficial,
✘ Recitation of the Qur’an for the purpose of transferring its reward to the dead is not proven from the Qur’an or authentic Sunnah,
✘ And thus, such practices should not be considered part of Islamic worship.
هٰذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
This is what I understand, and Allah knows best what is correct.
