They read Qur’aan before Taraaweeh prayer then complete it in the prayer

 

We are in America. There is a Qur’aan circle after iftaar, from 7.15 until 7.30, then they pray ‘Isha’, followed by Taraaweeh. In the Qur’aan circle, one of the Muslims reads Qur’aan, using a microphone so that both men and women can hear. The plan is to read 12 pages, then to complete 8 pages in Taraaweeh, so that in one night they can complete one juz’ and thus complete the whole Qur’aan by the end of the month. Is gathering to read the Qur’aan in this manner Sunnah or is it bid’ah? 


Is it better to read Qur’aan to the congregation during Taraaweeh or in a Qur’aan circle?.

Praise be to Allaah.

There is nothing wrong with you having this gathering. For
one person to read Qur’aan whilst the others listen is something that is
prescribed in sharee’ah; the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) and his companions did that. 

It was narrated that Ibn Mas’ood (may Allaah be pleased with
him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said
to me: “Recite Qur’aan for me.” I said: “O Messenger of Allaah, should I
recite it to you when it was revealed to you?” He said: “I like to hear it
from someone else.” So I recited Soorat al-Nisa’ to him, until I reached
this verse (interpretation of the meaning): 

“How (will it be) then, when We bring from each nation a
witness and We bring you (O Muhammad) as a witness against these people?”

[al-Nisa’ 4:41] 

He said, “That’s enough
for now.” And he turned to me with his eyes flowing with tears. 

Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 4763; Muslim, 800. 

Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz said: 

It is prescribed for the Muslims during this blessed month to
study the Qur’aan together, day and night, following the example of the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) with whom Jibreel
used to study the Qur’aan every year in Ramadaan, and he studied it with him
twice in the last year of his life, and with the aim of drawing closer to
Allaah, and pondering the meanings of the Book of Allaah in order to benefit
from it and act upon it. This is the way of the righteous salaf and the
believers, male and female, should occupy themselves with the Qur’aan,
reciting it, pondering its meanings and referring to the books of tafseer in
order to benefit from it and learn more. 

Majmoo’ Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn Baaz,
11/319, 320. 

It is better when reading
Qur’aan to also learn the rulings of the Qur’aan, and understand it
meanings. So if you add to reading some tafseer (commentary) on what you
read or on part of it, then you will combine many good things, such as
following the Sunnah, studying the Qur’aan together, teaching the Muslims
and helping them to ponder the Qur’aan. 

If this completion of the Qur’aan is done in Taraaweeh prayer
that is better than it being done outside the prayer. 

Shaykh al-Islam [Ibn Taymiyah] said in al-Fataawa al-Kubra
(2/297): 

The command and
encouragement to recite Qur’aan applies more to the one who is praying than
to anyone else, for reciting the Qur’aan in prayer is better than reciting
it outside of prayer. The reports which speak of the virtue of the one who
recites Qur’aan refer to the one who is praying more than anyone else. End
quote. 

If it is difficult for the people to complete the Qur’aan in
the prayer, they can combine two good things: studying the Qur’aan before
the prayer, and reciting the rest during the prayer, as you are doing. 

It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with
him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) was the most generous of people, and he was at his most generous
during Ramadaan when Jibreel would meet with him. He would meet him on every
night of Ramadaan and study the Qur’aan with him. And the Messenger of
Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was as generous as
the wind in doing good. 

Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 3048; Muslim, 2308. 

Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him)
was asked: 

Can it be understood from the fact that Jibreel (peace be
upon him) studied Qur’aan with the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) every night in Ramadaan, that it is good to complete the
Qur’aan (in this month)? 

He replied: 

It may be understood that it is mustahabb to study the
Qur’aan and that the believer should study it with those who will benefit
him and help him, because the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) studied with Jibreel (peace be upon him) for a reason, because
Jibreel was the one who had brought it from Allaah, so he was the emissary
between Allaah and the Messengers. 

Undoubtedly the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) would benefit from his study with Jibreel, such as learning the
variant recitations (huroof) of the Qur’aan and the meanings intended by
Allaah. If a person studies with someone who will help him to understand the
Qur’aan and help him to pronounce it properly, this is what is desirable,
just as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) studied
it with Jibreel. The point is not that Jibreel was better than the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), but Jibreel was the
messenger who brought it from Allaah and conveyed to the Messenger
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) that which Allaah had commanded
him, namely the Qur’aan and its pronunciation and meanings. So the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) benefited from Jibreel in
these ways. This does not mean that Jibreel was better than the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), for he is the best of mankind
and is better than the angels. But there was a great deal of goodness in
their studying the Qur’aan together, for the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) and for the ummah, because it was studying
what had come from Allaah in order to benefit from what had come from
Allaah. 

There is another benefit in that, which is that studying
together at night is better than doing so during the day, because this study
used to take place at night, and it is known that the night is better for
studying than the day because one is better able to focus and concentrate
then. 

Another benefit is that studying together is prescribed in
sharee’ah, and it is a righteous deed even if it is done at times other than
Ramadaan, because it benefits both parties. Even if there are more than two,
it doesn’t matter, because each of them can benefit from his brothers and
they can encourage one another to read. It may be that a person would not be
motivated to read if he sits on his own, but if he has a companion or
companions to study with him, that will encourage him to read, as well as
the benefits they will all share of studying and learning together. 

It may be understood from that that the imam’s reading the
whole Qur’aan to the congregation during Ramadaan is a kind of this studying
together, because it enables them to listen to the whole Qur’aan. Hence Imam
Ahmad (may Allaah have mercy on him) liked the one who was leading them in
prayer to complete the Qur’aan with them. This is akin to the practice of
the salaf who used to like to hear the whole of the Qur’aan, but this does
not mean that he should hasten and rush and not be deliberate in his reading
and humble, focused and at ease in his prayer. Rather paying attention to
these matters is more important than reciting the entire Qur’aan. 

Majmoo’ Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn Baaz,
11/331-333 

Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him)
was also asked: 

Many imams are keen to complete the Qur’aan in Taraaweeh and
they strive to let the congregation hear the entire Qur’aan. Is there
anything wrong with that? 

He replied: 

This is a good deed, so the imam may recite a juz’ or less
each night, then read more during the last ten nights so as to complete the
Qur’aan. This applies if it is easy for him to do so and will not cause any
hardship… The great scholar Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him)
wrote a chapter in his book Jala’ al-Afhaam fi’l-Salaati wa’l-Salaam ‘ala
Khayr al-Anaam, in which he described how the salaf were keen to
complete the Qur’aan; we advise you to read this chapter in order to learn
more. 

Majmoo’ Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn Baaz,
11/333, 334. 

See also the answers to questions no.
46088,
1505,
4039. 

And Allaah knows best.