What it means
ختم (khatm) refers to a funeral memorial gathering, specifically one organized around the recitation of the Quran for the soul of the deceased. The word is borrowed from Arabic, from the root خ-ت-م, which means to seal, finish, or complete. In Arabic the noun ختم (khatm) names the act of completing a full recitation of the Quran. In Persian everyday use, ختم has broadened to mean any memorial gathering held after a death, whether or not a full recitation takes place. People say رفتم ختم (raftam khatm) the way they would say they attended a funeral reception. A close synonym is مجلس ترحیم (majles-e tarhim), though ختم is more colloquial.
How to use it
- ختم مادرشون سهشنبهست (khatm-e mâdareshun se-shanbe-st) “Their mother’s memorial gathering is on Tuesday.”
- دیروز رفتم ختم (diruz raftam khatm) “I went to a memorial gathering yesterday.”
- ختم قرآن گرفتن (khatm-e qor’ân gereftan) “They held a Quran completion ceremony.”
- مجلس ختم توی خونهشون بود (majles-e khatm tu-ye khune-shun bud) “The memorial gathering was at their home.”
Cultural note
In Iranian practice, a ختم is one of the most important social obligations surrounding death. Failing to attend the ختم of a neighbor, colleague, or acquaintance is considered a serious breach of respect. The gathering serves multiple purposes: communal prayer, Quranic recitation, eulogies, and collective support for the bereaved family. Guests typically bring no gifts but offer verbal condolences, and the family provides food and tea. The word ختم is so commonly used that it has become the default informal term for any post-death gathering, regardless of its precise religious format.