Reciting Quran as a group

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the Name of Allah Most Merciful Most Kind

Short Answer

The Hanafi scholars differed over reciting Quran in a group. Some said it is Makruh (disliked) whereas others disagreed. Therefore, both opinions should be respected. It would be more cautious to avoid it. However, it is not permitted to condemn those who do it.

Explanation

وَمَا اجْتَمَعَ قَوْمٌ فِي بَيْتٍ مِنْ بُيُوتِ اللهِ، يَتْلُونَ كِتَابَ اللهِ، وَيَتَدَارَسُونَهُ بَيْنَهُمْ، إِلَّا نَزَلَتْ عَلَيْهِمِ السَّكِينَةُ، وَغَشِيَتْهُمُ الرَّحْمَةُ وَحَفَّتْهُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ، وَذَكَرَهُمُ اللهُ فِيمَنْ عِنْدَهُ

(Sayidina) Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: No people gather in a house from the houses of Allah to recite the Book of Allah and study it together except that tranquillity descends upon them, mercy envelops them, and the angels encircle them. And Allah (Most High) mentions them to those who are with Him. (Sahih Muslim, 2699 – 38).

The Hadith above seems to permit the recitation of the Quran in a group. Since it speaks about people coming together and reciting the Quran. However, it is not explicit regarding the fact that the people are all reciting audibly at the same time. Therefore, some room for difference of opinion is present.

 

Commentary

Imam Muslim narrated the above in his Sahih collection under the chapter heading: بَاب فَضْلِ الِاجْتِمَاعِ عَلَى تِلَاوَةِ الْقُرْآنِ وَعَلَى الذِّكْرِ (Chapter regarding the virtue of gathering for Quranic recital and Dhikr). This demonstrates that he felt gathering for Quranic recital was an act of virtue. Imam al-Nawawi spoke about the issue of reciting Quran in a group in his commentary of Sahih Muslim.

وَفِي هَذَا دَلِيلٌ لِفَضْلِ الِاجْتِمَاعِ عَلَى تِلَاوَةِ الْقُرْآنِ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ وَهُوَ مَذْهَبُنَا وَمَذْهَبُ الْجُمْهُورِ وَقَالَ مَالِكٌ يُكْرَهُ. (المنهاج شرح صحيح مسلم بن الحجاج)

This is proof for the virtue of gathering for the recitation of the Qur’an in the Masjid. Which is our position and the position of the majority. But Malik said it is disliked (Makruh). (Imam Abu Zakariyah al-Nawawi 676H, Sharh Sahih Muslim).

The fact that Imam al-Nawawi mentioned a difference of opinion indicates that he was speaking about reading Quran in a group such that everyone is reading loudly. Otherwise, why would anyone disagree with it. How is it conceivable that Imam Malik believed people gathering to recite Quran silently is Makruh? Rather it seems the concern is everyone reciting audibly together.

قال النووي: فيه دليل فضل الاجتماع على تلاوة القرآن في المسجد يعني: جماعة. (شرح سنن أبي داود)

Al-Nawawi said: In it is proof for the virtue of gathering for the recitation of the Qur’an in the Masjid. Meaning, collectively. (Imam Ibn Rislaan 844H, Sharh Sunan Abi Dawud).

In the Nass (text) above, Imam Ibn Rislan clarifies that Imam al-Nawawi was speaking about collective recitation. Therefore, we can conclude that he was asserting that the majority of scholars considered it permissible. Where as Imam Malik disagreed.

Hanafi

We find a similar discussion and disagreement within the Hanafi Madhab regarding the recital of Quran in a group. There were scholars who felt it is Makruh for everyone to recite together since the obligation of listening to the Quran will be overlooked. Where as others did not agree that it is Makruh.

قال بعض مشايخنا: تكره قراءة القرآن جملة. (المحيط البرهاني في الفقه النعماني)

Some of our Shaykhs have said: It is disliked to read the Qur’an collectively. (Imam Burhan al-Deen al-Bukhari 616H, al-Muheet al-Burhani).

 

عن القنية يكره للقوم أن يقرؤوا القرآن جملة لتضمنها ترك الاستماع والإنصات وقيل لا بأس به. (حاشية الطحطاوي على مراقي الفلاح)

Al-Qunyah: It is disliked for a group to recite the Qur’an together. Since it necessitates abandoning listening and attentiveness. And it is said that there is nothing wrong with it. (Imam Muhammad bin Ahmad al-Tahtawi 1231H, Haashiyah al-Tahtawi ala Maraaqi Al-Falah).

The Nusoos (texts) above, make it clear that Hanafi scholars considered reciting Quran in a group altogether Makruh. However, they both make it clear that this is not agreed upon. In the first Nass (text) he mentioned that some of the scholars hold this view. In the second he clarified that another opinion exits. Although he alluded to that opinion being weak.

The other view

وَفِي الْقُنْيَةِ وَلَا بَأْسَ بِاجْتِمَاعِهِمْ عَلَى قِرَاءَةِ الْإِخْلَاصِ جَهْرًا عِنْدَ خَتْمِ الْقُرْآنِ وَلَوْ قَرَأَ وَاحِدٌ وَاسْتَمَعَ الْبَاقُونَ فَهُوَ أَوْلَى. (مجمع الأنهر في شرح ملتقى الأبحر)

In al-Qunyah: There is no harm in them coming together to recite (Surah) al-Ikhlas loudly, at the completion of the Qur’an. However, if one person recites and the rest listen, that is better. (Imam Shaykh Zada 1078H, Majma’ al-Anhur).

وَلَا بَأْسَ بِاجْتِمَاعِهِمْ عَلَى قِرَاءَةِ الْإِخْلَاصِ جَهْرًا عِنْدَ خَتْمِ الْقُرْآنِ، وَلَوْ قَرَأَ وَاحِدٌ وَاسْتَمَعَ الْبَاقُونَ فَهُوَ أَوْلَى. (الفتاوى الهندية)

There is no harm in them coming together to recite (Surah) al-Ikhlas loudly, at the completion of the Qur’an. However, if one person recites and the rest listen, that is better. (al-Fataawa al-Hindiyah).

In these Nusoos, we find the permissibility of reciting the Quran in a group. Such that it is collective and loud. However, the Imams recognised that one person reciting and the others listening is superior.

Conclusion

The issue with reciting the Quran in a group is when they are all reciting and not listening to a single reader. Whereas, if one person is reciting and everyone else is listening, then there is no issue. Imam al-Nawawi mentioned that the majority deem this permissible, but Imam Malik disagreed.

Hanafi scholars differed on this issue too. Since, they give much importance to listening to the Holy Quran when it is recited. Thus, some considered collective reading Makruh. Whereas others disagreed. Thus the more cautious approach would be to have one reciter and the others listening. However, reading together is not unequivocally reprehensible.

And Allah Most High Knows Best.

–Answered by Shaykh Noorud-deen Rashid (15.09.2024)

See also:

Is it permitted to attend dhikr gatherings majlis dhikr

Is it permitted to listen to the Quran whilst working

How to respect difference of opinion.

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