A group started a Qur‟aan Khatam practice via whatsapp.

Answer

Firstly, the whatsapp group is not permissible. These are generally gheebat groups and timewasters, hence they are 'brothers of the shayaateen' according to the Qur'aan Majeed. On the assumption that this specific group is not a gheebat group, then too the method of doling out the Qur'aan Majeed smacks of riya (show/ostentation). It is frivolous and the imposition of a specific Ajza to specific persons is bid'ah.

If one of the group members does not recite his/her juz, for example, he/she will either suffer pangs of conscience or he/she will trade the lie of having recited it. If someone feels it difficult to recite the Juz, then too he/she will feel obliged to recite in view of the undertaking given. These are haraam impositions.

Furthermore, the whatsapp stunt is not the way of organizing a Masnoon act of Isaal-e-Thawaab. It is not something new. It existed since the inception of Islam. The correct way is NOT to ask anyone – NOT to lobby people –NOT to solicit them for rendering acts of Isaal-e-Thawaab. Whoever wishes to recite the Qur'aan Majeed for the Isaal-e-Thawaab of anyone, he/she should do so of his/her own accord. This is not an issue to canvass. It is not a political stunt to influence others to perform acts of Isaal-e-Thawaab for one's parents or relatives.

A frivolous, gheebat medium is being used to make bid'ah impositions on people. It is the application of indirect pressure to induce others to submit to one's desire. Thus, the sincerity of the reciters is severely compromised or even negated while the organizer's sincerity is wrecked with riya.

No one, whether relatives or friends, should be canvassed for reciting the Qur'aan Majeed as Isaal-e-Thawaab for one's deceased relatives. If the persons who are indirectly pressurized to recite have true feelings for the mayyit, there would not be a need to impose on them via the gheebat medium. Ibaadat should not be advertised. This whatsapp khatam is a mockery and a riya stunt.