Showing respect for the Qur'an
Fatwa No: 86065

Question

I know someone who asked these questions and she wants a clear evidence in the answer. It's so important be convinced as she's a new Muslim, so please answer me quickly. 1) Can a menstruating woman touch the Qur'an? What's the proof? What about wearing gloves? 2) Is it Haram to place anything on top of the Mus-haf? What's the proof? 3) Is it Haram to put a sticker with Allah's Name on it at the end of a bed? Again the proof.

Answer


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. 1) For the Fatwa about a menstruating woman touching the Qur'an, please read Fatwa: 81639. As for touching the Qur'an while wearing gloves or any other cover when the person is in a state of impurity, it is according to the Maliki and Shafi'e schools, unlawful. And we think this opinion is safer and more appropriate. But, the Hanafi and Hanbali schools are of the opinion that the person who is in a state of impurity can touch the Qur'an if wearing gloves or any other cover that prevents direct physical contact provided the screening thing is independent from the Qur'an book itself. In this case, these schools believe that what is touched is the screening thing not the Qur'an book. 2) Putting anything on the Qur'an even books of interpretation (Tafseer) or Hadith books is contradictory to the Greatness and Sublime status of the Qur'an that one should respect. As for the rule of such act, it differs according to the state. Now, if it is out of disdain and disrespect then it is prohibited and may lead to Kufr. However, if the person did not do so with the intention of disrespecting the Qur'an or the like, then this is dislikeable. Here are some of the opinions of the scholars about this issue: (a) The author of Hashiyat Nihayat Al-Muhtaj said: Putting the Qur'an or part of it and putting something to eat or drink like bread and salt and eating from that should be considered are unlawful, as it includes a disrespect and disdain of the Qur'an . The author of Tuhafat Al-Muhtaj said: It is prohibited to put anything like bread and salt on the Qur'an or part of it and eat from it because that is tantamount to dishonoring the Qur'an . Qalyubi and Umairah said: It is forbidden to put food and eat it on papers on which the Qur'an is written . Ibn Nujaim said in Natha'ir: Putting the pen case on the Qur'an while writing is dislikeable . 3) If putting the sticker with Allah's Name on the end of the bed can cause any disrespect of such a sublime Name like sitting on it, stepping on it or putting an impure cloth on it then this is unlawful. But if this sticker will not be disrespected in any way, then there is no objection in that, although it is better to avoid it in order to avoid any possible unconscious disdain for it. Allah knows best.

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