Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalam-o-alaikum

I wanted to know that if a ladies gathering is held for reading Quran for the purpose of doing Allah`s Zikr, will it be ok or will it be Bida`ah?As reading Quran is one of the best forms of Zikr. It is not done with an intention of finishing the Quran, neither it is stressed that one should read this and this much. Rather it is optional like any one can read any Surah or any part of The Quran. Nothing is fixed and no number is fixed. Only we fix one hour for reading Quran. Afterwards a lady reads some ahadith from Fazail-e-Amaal and then we do Dua.

What is the status of such a gathering in the light of Quran and Sunnah. In which categor will it fall?

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Answer:

Gather to recite quran bida or not

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: What is the status of such a gathering in the light of Quran and Sunnah. In which categor will it fall?

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 2137        Narrated by Abdullah ibn Mas'ud

Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "If anyone recites a letter from Allah's Book he will be credited with a good deed, and a good deed gets a tenfold reward. I do not say that ‘Alif-Lam-Mim’ are one letter, but ‘Alif’ is a letter, ‘Lam’ is a letter and ‘Mim’ is a letter."

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 6.545         Narrated by Uthman

The Prophet (saws) said, "The best among you (Muslims) are those who learn the Quran and teach it."

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 9.502         Narrated by Abu Huraira

The Prophet (saws) said, "Allah, Exalted and High is He, Says: 'I am just as My slave thinks I am, (i.e. I am able to do for him what he thinks I can do for him) and I am with him if He remembers Me. If he remembers Me in himself, I too, remember him in Myself; and if he remembers Me in a group of people, I remember him in a group that is better than theirs; and if he comes one span nearer to Me, I go one cubit nearer to him; and if he comes one cubit nearer to Me, I go a distance of two outstretched arms nearer to him; and if he comes to Me walking, I go to him running.'"

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 257         Narrated by Abdullah ibn Amr

Allah's Messenger (saws) happened to pass by two groups (of muslims) in the mosque and he (saws) said: ‘Both of them are good, but one is superior to the other. One group is supplicating Allah and praying to Him. If He so wills, He will confer upon them and if He so wills He will withhold.  So far as those who are acquiring the understanding of religion and its knowledge and are busy in teaching the ignorant, they are superior. Verily I have been sent as a teacher.’ He (saws) then sat down amongst them.

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 250         Narrated by Al-Hasan al-Basri

Allah's Messenger (saws) was asked about two people of Banu Israel: one of them was a scholar observing prescribed prayer, then sitting and teaching the people goodness; the second one observed fast by day and prayed during the night - which of them was superior. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (saws) said: ‘The superiority of a scholar who observes the prescribed prayer and then sits down to teach people goodness over the worshipper who observes fast during the day and worships during the night, is like my superiority over the lowest in rank amongst you.’

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 249         Narrated by Al-Hasan al-Basri

Allah's Messenger (saws) said: ‘He whom death overtakes while he is engaged in acquiring knowledge with a view to reviving Islam with the help of it, there will be one degree between him and the Prophets in Paradise.’

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 256         Narrated by Abdullah ibn Abbas

Acquiring knowledge in company for an hour in the night is better than spending the whole night in prayer.

Beloved Sisters, if some believers choose to get together to recite, learn, and/or study the Glorious Quran and the dictates of the deen from the guidance of the Glorious Quran and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws)….not only are such gatherings permitted in Islam, such gatherings are absolutely encouraged and blessed by the Lord Most Merciful.

Question: when would such type of gatherings constitute a ‘bidah’ (innovation)?

If some people were to appoint a specific time of the day or night, or a specific day of the month or year….and assume from themselves that the commemoration or celebration of the praises and remembrances of Allah Subhanah are more meritorious on this particular day or night when Allah and His Messenger (saws) have not specified that day or night as ‘holy’…..or one assembles people to praise or glorify Allah Subhanah every time they move to a new house, or a new office, or only when something good happens to them….or one assembles people at the birth or death anniversaries of one’s deceased loved ones, etc….it is such gatherings which one chooses to assemble on self-invented special moments which would definitely constitute a ritual of ‘bida’ in the Sight of Allah Subhanah.

 Sahih Muslim Hadith 1885    Narrated by Jabir ibn Abdullah

That the Prophet of Allah (saws) said in a sermon:  “The best speech is that which is embodied in the Book of Allah, the Al Quran;  and the best guidance is the guidance given by me, Mohamed (saws).   The most evil affairs are the innovations (bida), and every innovation (bida) is an error.”

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 4515  Narrated by Ali ibn AbuTalib

That the Prophet of Allah (saws) said: “If anyone introduces an innovation (bida in religion),  he will be responsible for it.   If anyone introduces an innovation (bida) or gives shelter to a man who introduces an innovation (bida), he is cursed by Allah,  by His Angels,  and by all the people!”

But in the situation which you have described where the believers are gathered for no other purpose than to remember and praise Allah, or recite, learn, and study the Quran and the Sunnah…..Allah is our witness sister, there is no better gathering in this world than such righteous gatherings.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan