QUESTION:
Is it permissible to host a Jalsah to honour a person who has completed Hifdhul Quraan, or any other Deeni achievement? If it is permissible to do so, can Naats and speeches be rendered as part of the program?
ANSWeR:
Firstly, one should remember that being blessed with memorization of the Quraan-e-Majeed and acquiring the knowledge of Deen is a great bounty of Allah Ta’ala. Hence, if a Jalsah is held with the intention of celebrating this great bounty of Allah Ta’ala (in gratitude for the bounty), and at the same time serving as a means of encouragement to others (to become Huffaz or Ulama), then doing so will be permissible with the proviso that the Jalsah is kept within the confines of Shariah and without indulging in any form of extravagance. It will be meritorious to invite close family members, relatives, friends and poor people for the occasion. Such a function is proven from the practice of Hadrat Umar Radiallahu Anhu which we have recorded below:
It is recorded in Durr-e-Manthoor that Hadrat Umar Radiallahu Anhu learnt Surah Baqarah over a period of 12 years and when he accomplished this great task then he slaughtered a camel (and fed the people).
عَن ابْن عمر قَالَ: تعلم عمر الْبَقَرَة فِي اثْنَتَيْ عشرَة سنة فَلَمَّا خَتمهَا نحر جزورا ( الدر المنثور 1/54)
However, all actions should be carried out with Ikhlaas purely for the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala while any action carried out with the intention of show and pride will not be accepted in the court of Allah Ta’ala, rather one will be involved in an act that is Haraam. Hence, sincerity and having the correct intention is essential when hosting Jalsahs as explained above, otherwise leave attaining reward, one will be involved in sin by hosting such functions as explained above.
There is no problem with pious Ulama holding discourses to educate the Ummah and connecting them with Allah Ta’ala. Similarly, recitation of Nazms with good meanings and Naats in praises of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam is in order. However, these should not be rendered by beardless, young boys, and should not be accompanied with any musical sounds. The subject matter of these Nazms and Naats should be translated for the English-speaking people, and these are not rendered for entertainment but rather carry an important message behind it.
Also, if hosting Jalsahs in our era have become a customary practice or considered as necessary or obligatory on every occasion (of completion of Quraan Sharif or on completion of Bukahri Sharif or Qiraat), then discarding such a practice will be necessary. In such an instance food may be prepared and secretly distributed amongst the poor, or to the students of the institute where the student graduated, or some sweetmeats may distributed amongst the Asaatizah. We do hope that the above explanation clarifies the matter.
[Re:- Fataawa Mahmoodiyyah Pg.304 Vol.5]
ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai
Date:- 04 Rabi-ul-Aakhir 1445 / 20 October 2023