Reading Surahs in groups

9-9-2003 | IslamWeb

Question:

My neighbour invites the neighbourhood women to gather and read either Surah Al-Muzzammil or Surah Al-Ikhlas or Darood Ibrahimi for certain number of times such as 1000 or 70 and such. Is this correct? Can we do so? Or, is it an innovation? If it is permissible, what else we can read and its benefits? If this is not a correct thing to do then please give me a detailed answer so that I can make my neighbour understand it too.

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Answer:

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions. Holding Qur'anic recitation gatherings is likeable in Shariah. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: Those persons who assemble in one of the houses of Allah (mosques), recite the Book of Allah and learn and teach the Qur'an (among themselves), tranquility descend upon them, mercy will cover them, the angels will surround them and Allah will mention them in the presence of those who are near him . [ Muslim ] Likewise, gathering for the remembrance of Allah and for invoking blessings upon the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) is very desirable for the Hadith that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: Those people who do not sit but for the remembrance of Allah are surrounded by angels and covered by Mercy, … . [ Muslim ]. Know that the people in such gatherings should recite whatever comes to pass; they should not observe certain Surahs or Ayahs for recitation. Because fixing a certain number, or specific time or particular place or manners is not proved in Shariah. So, it is considered an innovation. However fixing some certain verses to learn by heart is permissible. Finally, you may read the Books of Tafseer, Hadith, biography of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) and other Islamic books, they may bring a lot of benefit to you. Allah knows best.