Reciting the Qur'an from the computer Fatwa No: 89130
- Fatwa Date:30-12-2004
My question is that when you are read Qur'an on the computer do have to follow the same manners that would follow if you were reading it in hand, i.e. the same dress, Wudu including sisters being on the cycle at that time.
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.
Reciting the Qur'an from a computer is like reciting from memory, therefore one has to be pure from major defilement but it is acceptable to read without having ablution, because touching the mouse or the key board or even the computer screen is not considered as touching the Qur'an. Therefore, it is permissible for a person to recite the Qur'an from a computer without having ablution but it is not permissible for a menstruating woman or a woman in confinement period to do so, and the same thing applies to reciting from memory. This is according to the majority of scholars who are of the view that it is forbidden for a woman in menses to recite the Qur'an while in her period. However, a group of scholars are of the view that it is permissible for her to do so, and this is the opinion of Imaam Maalik's School, and according to one of the narrations of Imaam Ahmad and according to one of the texts of Imaam Ash-Shaafi'ee. Here in Islamweb our view is according to this second opinion. As regards clothing, then it is not a condition for a person who is reciting the Qur'an to be dressed in a given manner or to cover his Awrah (those parts of the body which Islam mandates to be covered). However, among the etiquettes that the scholars stated is that when a person recites the Qur'an it is likeable for him to be dressed in his best clothes.
Allaah knows best.