Question:

Most people gather men and women and allot a juz each of the Quran Majeed to recite. Sometimes they call the children of the orphanage to recite Quran and then gift the reward to the deceased family members of the host. This is not a sin right? Is it permissible to feed the children after the reading (of the Quran)?

Answer: حامدا ومصليا

To recite the Quran Majeed and gift the reward is beneficial (Isaalus Thawaab). However to invite and gather people to recite in such a manner (as mentioned above) and then feed the people does not have a basis in Shariah. This food will be considered wages in exchange for the recitation, which is prohibited in Shariah.  This has been branded as an innovation (bidah) in the books like “Fatawa Baz-zaa-ziy-yah”, “Raddul Muhtaar” and others. Since this recitation was in exchange for wages there will be no rewards for it, rather this recitation was a sin.

والله سبحانه وتعالى اعلم

(Late Grand Mufti of India and Greatest Khalifah of Hazrat Shaikh Muhammad Zakariyah Khandalvi,) Faqeehul Ummat Mufti Mahmoodul Hasan Gangohi عليهما الرحمة

Fatawa Mahmoodiyyah 5/303-304 (New Maktabah Mahmudiyah Publication)