Giving and taking something for reciting the Qur’an to listeners

Question

Question: (1) What is the ruling on a hafiz (one who knows the Qur’an by heart) taking money for reciting the Holy Qur’an and the like to listeners — is it haram or halal? Kindly explain in detail, with references. (2) If the people of the mosque or the residents of the neighbourhood, or some particular wealthy man, render a service to the hafiz (give him something) — whether at the completion of the Qur’an (khatm) or in the middle — what is the ruling?

Answer

(1) It is haram, because of the words of the Exalted: [ar]وَلَا تَشْتَرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِى ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا[/ar] “And do not sell My signs for a paltry price” (Surah al-Baqara, 2:41). (2) If on this occasion there is absolutely no custom of rendering a service to the hafiz — nobody gives and nobody takes, but they listen and recite purely for the reward (thawab)

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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