Q: On the last night of Ramadan in 1400 A.H., the Imam (the one who leads congregational Prayer) finished the recitation of the whole Qur’an. He said that the reward of this Khatmah (completing of one reading of the whole Qur’an) is dedicated to our Prophet Muhammad. What is the opinion of the Shariýah (Islamic law) on this?
A: It is not permissible to dedicate the reward of any act of worship or Khatmah to the Messenger (peace be upon him).
The Salaf (righteous predecessors) from the Sahabah (Companions of the Prophet, may Allah be pleased with them) and those after them did not do so. The acts of Ibadah (worship) are Tawqifiy (bound by a religious text and not amenable to personal opinion). The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, ‘Anyone who does an action which is not in accordance with this matter of ours (Islam), will have it rejected. ‘ The Prophet (peace be upon him) is rewarded for every righteous act performed by his Ummah (nation) just as they are, because it was he who guided and directed them to this. It has been authentically reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, ‘Anyone who guides to good will have a reward like that of the one who does it.’ (Related by Muslim in his “Sahih [Book of Authentic Hadith]” on the authority of Abu Mas’ud Al-Ansary [may Allah be pleased with him])
May Allah grant us success! May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions!
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