Assalamualaikum Wa rahmatullah: My question is whether I can keep the holy Quran in the pocket of my casuals so that I can read it whenever i find free time. But some people in our locality have objected to this saying that the Quran will be very close to the penis if we keep it in the casuals and hence it is an insult for the holy Quran. please give reply to me about this matter. jazakallah Khairan.

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 do not know any religious impediment in carrying a Mus-haf in pocket if it is safe from destruction, laceration, and disrespect. Just keeping it in pocket is not considered as disrespect. We did not know any scholar, after having searched, who prohibits it, even though the scholars issued Fataawa ruling entering a toilet with the Mus-haf is either disliked or prohibited. If carrying it in the pocket was prohibited, they would have issued a Fatwa prohibiting it.

As for it being close to one’s private parts if it is kept in the pocket, we don’t think that this is considered disrespect, as long as there is barrier between the Mus-haf and one’s private parts. The scholars have allowed putting the Mus-haf in something like fur and the like and place it on shoes. They also allowed putting the Mus-haf on saddlebag and place it not considered as disrespect. It is proved that the Prophet recited the Quran from her clean mouth while he was lying in the lap of Aa’ishah, while she was menstruating.

However, if one fears that keeping the Quran in his lower pocket might lead to its disrespect, then he should keep it in the upper pocket of his shirt if he has the pocket there.

Allaah Knows best.