Sweets for a Khatm of the Qur’an for Isal al-Thawab and the Like

Question

It is a custom here that people have the ‘ulama’, huffaz and some people who know the religious sciences perform a khatm (complete recitation) of the Qur'an, a khatm-i khwajagan (collective recitation of particular devotional formulas) or some other kind of khatm, and have them make du‘a for isal al-thawab (gifting reward) or for their own aims; they also feed the reciters and give them some money. What is the ruling on this custom in the Shari‘a? What is the ruling on taking and giving the money?

Answer

Having a khatm of the Holy Qur'an performed for isal al-thawab and feeding [the reciters] by way of compensation (mu‘awada) is not proper: no reward results from it, rather sin does — ‘Allama Shami ﵀ has stated this explicitly. It is not proper for anyone, whether people of means or the poor, to feed such food or to take money.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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