Question:
Are there any evidences or examples from previous generations regarding the khatam Quran event (the completion of reciting the whole Quran) as held annually every Ramadhan?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
Always reciting the Quran is a great commandment in the month of Ramadhan as well as in any other months. The reason is Ramadhan is the month in which the Quran is revealed. This is according to a statement of Allah SWT:
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدَىٰ وَالْفُرْقَانِ
“The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion.”
Surah al-Baqarah (195)
Referring to the above question, the act of gathering during the khatam Quran ceremony is a sunnah of the scholars for they would assemble their families or friends for the event. This is in accordance with the athar of the previous salaf. Among them is an athar from Anas bin Malik RA:
كَانَ أَنَسٌ إِذَا خَتَمَ الْقُرْآنَ، جَمَعَ وَلَدَهُ وَأَهْلَ بَيْتِهِ فَدَعَا لَهُمْ
“As for Anas, when he completed his recitation of the whole Quran, he would gather his children and families to supplicate together with them.”
Narrated by al-Darimi (3517)
Furthermore, in another athar from al-Hakam, he said:
بَعَثَ إِلَيَّ مُجَاهِدٌ قَالَ: إِنَّمَا دَعَوْنَاكَ أَنَّا أَرَدْنَا أَنْ نَخْتِمَ الْقُرْآنَ وَإِنَّهُ بَلَغَنَا أَنَّ الدُّعَاءَ يُسْتَجَابُ عِنْدَ خَتْمِ الْقُرْآنِ ، قَالَ: فَدَعَوْا بِدَعَوَاتٍ
“Mujahid was sent to me.” He said: “We came to call for you for we wanted to complete our recitation of the whole Quran and indeed, supplications are granted during the khatam of the Quran.”
Narrated by al-Darimi (3525)
According to both of the above athars, Imam al-Nawawi stated that it is sunnah to attend the khatam of the Quran event. (See al-Tibyan, 125) It is sunnah to attend the khatam of the Quran ceremony is also stated by Syeikh al-Humaidhi in his book. (See Jamal al-Qurra’, 149)
Conclusion
To conclude, we would like to state that it is sunnah to attend the khatam of the Quran ceremony and one should increase his supplications for this is one of the times that supplications are granted. Lastly, may Allah SWT honour all of us with the Quran and makes us be from among ahl al-Quran. Amin.