Is Assigning Qur’an Reading and Tafsir to Children Every Year an Innovation (Bidah)?
Question
During our winter break, every year, we assign the whole Quran to all kids in our extended family. They read their assigned part from the Qur’an and prepare a tafsir of one ayah from their portion. At the end of winter break, we gather and the kids present their tafsir in front of the whole family. We conclude by making dua for all relatives and the Muslim ummah.
Is what we are doing every year considered a new innovation in Islam (bidah), or is it permissible to continue this practice?
Answer
Alhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain.
What you described combines Qur’an recitation, learning its meanings, teaching children, family gathering, and supplication. These are all acts that are firmly rooted in the Sharia. The question is whether organizing them annually in this manner turns them into a blameworthy innovation.
1. The Shar‘i Principle
Allah says:
“This is a blessed Book which We have sent down to you, so that they may reflect upon its verses and that people of understanding may take heed.” (Surat Sad 38:29)
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The best of you are those who learn the Qur’an and teach it.” (Bukhari)
These texts establish that reciting the Qur’an, reflecting on its meanings, and teaching it to others, especially children, are from the most virtuous acts in Islam. There is no restriction in the Sharia on organizing these acts collectively or setting a time to facilitate them.
2. Understanding Bidah Correctly
Bidah in Sharia refers to introducing a new act of worship that has no basis in the Qur’an, the Sunnah, or established principles of Islam, and treating it as part of the religion itself.
What you are doing is not introducing a new act of worship. Rather, you are organizing well known acts of worship and goodness in a structured way to encourage learning and participation. The Prophet ﷺ himself encouraged teaching according to ability and circumstance, and the Companions used various methods to teach the Qur’an without restriction to one format.
The yearly repetition does not make it bidah. Setting a schedule or choosing a convenient time, such as winter break, is an organizational matter, not a religious claim that this time has special sanctity.
3. Practice of the Scholars and the Ummah
Throughout Islamic history, scholars and communities organized Qur’an circles, lessons, public readings, and gatherings for learning and dua. Many of these were held regularly, weekly, monthly, or annually, depending on circumstances.
As long as such gatherings are not believed to be obligatory, nor considered superior in themselves to other times, they fall under permissible means of facilitating worship and education.
Teaching children to explain even one ayah of tafsir is especially praiseworthy, as it trains them to engage with the Qur’an thoughtfully and confidently, and strengthens family bonds around faith.
4. Relevant Usul Principle
الوسائل لها أحكام المقاصد
Means take the ruling of their objectives.
Since the objective here is learning the Qur’an, understanding it, teaching it, and making dua, which are all legislated and encouraged, the means used to achieve them, such as assigning portions and meeting annually, take the same permissible and praiseworthy ruling.
Another relevant principle is:
الأصل في العادات الإباحة
The default ruling regarding customs is permissibility.
Organizing family activities and educational programs falls under customs, not acts of worship themselves, and is permissible unless explicitly prohibited.
Final Ruling
What you are doing is not bidah. It is a praiseworthy and beneficial practice that falls under teaching the Qur’an, reflecting on its meanings, strengthening family ties, and making dua. As long as you do not believe this gathering is obligatory or that it has special religious status in itself, it is completely permissible to continue every year.
May Allah place barakah in your efforts and raise your children upon love of the Qur’an.
And Allah knows best.