Doing nafil ibaadaat individually

Q:

1. Is it permissible for males to gather at a place on one or more occasions e.g. Masjid, Madrassah or other venue for a weekend to recite the Qur'an; the purpose being to make complete recitation of the Qur'an easy for people, who might not otherwise recite the Qur'an. The analogy to be drawn to substantiate this practice is that of congregational Fardh Salah, which is performed in congregation in order to make it easy for us to perform Salah. Similarly, congregational Dhikr is performed in order to make it easy for one to perform Dhikr.

2. If the aforementioned is permissible, is it permissible to have a requirement of the gathering that one may only leave when they have completed recitation of the Qur'an? Being a student of the Deen, please enlighten with the necessary Shar'i proofs/evidence as to whether such gatherings are permissible, bearing in mind the intention and secondly taking in to account the stipulation mentioned in point (2) above.

NB: My concern regarding this issue is that a gathering of this nature begins to be regarded as necessary or obligatory, which if my understanding is correct, would then make such a gathering impermissible.

A: It is best that nafl ibaadat be done individually, not collectively.

And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

 

Answered by:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)