Inspiring Messages

Necessary to have wudhu?

Shaykh Abdul Raheem

Question:

Is it necessary to have wudhu when reciting the Quran on a mobile, a tablet, or a computer etc.

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Answer:

1, Hazrat mufti Ahmed Khanpuri Saheb damat barakaatuhum says "Yes, it's wajib to have wudhu when holding any such item which portrays the Quran."

This is because the phone turns in to the item which is opened in it, ie a calculator, a camera, a calendar etc so when Quran is opened in it, it becomes a mus'haf and it takes the rulings of a mus'haf. Since it is wajib to have wudhu to touch the mus'haf, it will be wajib to be in the state of wudhu to touch the mobile etc.

This is the fatwa of Darul Uloom Deoband as well.

لا يمسه الا المطهرون

"None should touch it except those who are cleansed"

2, Al fatawa Al Islamiyyah state that while it would not be permissible to touch the screen upon which the letters of Quran appear, it would be ok to hold the gadget in the hand and read without touching the screen.

This can be done by using a stylus pen, or scrolling the pages on the computer screen with a mouse.

They say that the gadget is like a 'ghilafe munfasil' a separate covering. Ghilafs are of two types; one is the one which is sewn with the mus'haf and it always stays attached to it. The other is seperate from the mus'haf. It is wrapped in the covering, and when one wants to recite the Quran, one takes it out of the covering and puts the covering on one side. This is ghilafe munfasil.

The fuqahaa have said that it is permissible to hold the hold the Quran with ghilafe munfasil even when one does not have wudhu. So the gadget is a totally separate thing, it also holds many other materials in it's memory. Therefore, one may hold it in the hand but one should avoid touching the screen without wudhu.

3, 'Aap ke masaail' states that it would be permissible to touch the screen without wudhu as well. They take the view that the original letters are in the memory. What appears on the screen are not original letters. Secondly, the the letters are covered by the glass screen, so it would be permissible to touch the screen as well.

Out of the three opinions, the first is 'Ahwat' a cautious one. The second is 'Awsat' the middle one.

NB: Quran is the book of Allah. Allah has called it a noble Quran انه لقران كريم"

It should be treated with nobility, honour and respect. One should be mindful of all the etiquettes mentioned by imam nawawi rahmatullahi alayhi in 'At-tibyaan fi adaabe hamalatil Quran'. Shaykh Zakaria rahmatullahi alayhi has also quoted them in 'Virtues of the Quran'

To derive maximum benefit from tilawat, one should perform wudhu, apply some perfume, pray 2 rakat Salah, sit facing the qibla, recite with total concentration that these are the words of Allah which I am reciting.

One should recite with tajweed, pronouncing every letter correctly, stretching where a letter needs to be stretched, pausing where pause is recommended.

Where jannat is mentioned, ask Allah for jannat, where jahannam is mentioned, seek Allah's protection from it's azaab.

One should Recite with a nice tune and try to cry while reciting.

One should not put the mus'haf on the floor, one should not stretch legs towards a mus'haf.

When completing tilawat, one should say "sadaqallahul azeem, subhanakallahuma wa bi hamdika ash'hadu an la ilaha illa anta astaghfiruka wa atoobu ilayka"

One should kiss the mus'haf and place it on a respectable high place.

May Allah give us the ability to honour the Quran and to derive maximum benefit from tilawat. Ameen