Isal al-Thawab for Oneself During One’s Own Lifetime

Question

A certain man wishes, during his lifetime, to pay a hadiya (gift) for the Qur’an and have five or ten [complete] Qur’ans recited, thereby securing [the reward] for his hereafter. Is such an act valid according to the rulings of the Shari‘a, of fiqh and hadith?

Answer

To have the Holy Qur’an recited by giving a hadiya or payment is impermissible: it brings no reward — rather, it brings sin. If someone recites without taking a hadiya, that is valid. Let him give some copies of the Holy Qur’an to a Qur’an madrasa: as long as the children read from them, the reward will continue.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

Preview. The full text opens with JavaScript enabled.