Gathering to read Qur’an for the dead or for celebration not for learning and teaching.

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.

May Allah guide you to his obedience and enable you to hold tight to the Sunnah. Know that there are many matters that were innovated in religion without proof.  Among these innovated matters is to gather in a particular way with the presence of a Sheikh or another person to read the Qur'an on a dead person, then jointly (in congregation) make a supplication for the dead, and other innovated matters and rituals which have absolutely no evidence in Shariah.

What is permissible in religion, though, is to make a supplication for the dead and to ask Allah to forgive him.  It is confirmed in a Hadith that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) buried one of the companions and then said (to the companions who were present): “Seek forgiveness for your brother and ask Allah to make him firm as he is being questioned now.” [Reported by Al-Hakim and it is an authentic Hadith]

The same thing applies to reading the Qur'an individually in one’s house or in the Mosque intending that its reward reaches the dead person.  Some people of knowledge forbid this act giving as evidence the verse of Allah: {And that man can have nothing but what he does (good or bad),}[53:39].

However, some other people of knowledge are of the opinion that it is permissible, according to the general evidences regarding the reward which reaches the person after his death, and this is the correct opinion, Insha Allah.  However, this good deed should be without that type of rituals that a lot of people perform, like gathering and arranging for a Qur'an reciter in exchange of money and so on.

As regards reading the Qur'an at the beginning of gatherings or permissible festivals and the like, there is no harm in it, because it is a way of remembrance and admonition which should be the first thing the audience hears.

Allah knows best.