Giving the Qur'an translation with Arabic text to non- Muslims ‎
Fatwa No: 88190

Question

Is it permissible to give the Qur'an with English translations in it to non-Muslims?

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.

As for giving Qur'an (Arabic text) with translation to a non-Muslim, it is not allowed as the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) used to forbid Muslims from traveling with Qur'an to enemy lands lest it should fall into enemy hands.

Imam Al-Nawawi reported from Imam Malik and others that they disliked dealing with Dinars and Dirham that contained Allah's Name. Muslim jurists do not allow an impure Muslim to touch the Qur'an. This ruling applies to a non-Muslim with a greater reason, since they are ritually impure as Allah said:" Verily, the Mushrikûn (polytheists, pagans, idolaters, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allâh, and in the Message of Muhammad - - are Najasun (impure)." (At-Tawbah 9:28) 

What we said is true with the Qur'an that contains Arabic text. However, it is allowed to give the non-Muslim Islamic literature, although it contains some verses of the Qur'an. The evidence for this permission is that the Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) wrote a letter to Caesar in which he mentioned this verse: " Say (O Muhammad - ): "O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians): Come to a word that is just between us and you, that we worship none but Allâh, and that we associate no partners with Him, and that none of us shall take others as lords besides Allâh. Then, if they turn away, say: "Bear witness that we are Muslims." (Aali Imran 3:64)

It is also allowed to give the translation of Qur'an without the Arabic text.

Allah knows best.

 

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