Respecting the Quran (Hadith No. 2629)

Bismillah.

Hadith no. 2628 (below) is a repeat. Read it here.

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 232 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “There is a (compulsory) Sadaqa (charity) to be given for every joint of the human body (as a sign of gratitude to Allah) everyday the sun rises. To judge justly between two persons is regarded as Sadaqa, and to help a man concerning his riding animal by helping him to ride it or by lifting his luggage on to it, is also regarded as Sadaqa, and (saying) a good word is also Sadaqa, and every step taken on one’s way to offer the compulsory prayer (in the mosque) is also Sadaqa and to remove a harmful thing from the way is also Sadaqa.”

Today’s Hadith:

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 233 :
Narrated by ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar (radiallaahu `anhu)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) forbade the people to travel to a hostile country carrying (copies of) the Quran.

The Qur’aan is the best book that mankind has ever known, because it is the Word of the Lord of the Universe, which was brought down by the trustworthy Spirit [i.e., Jibreel] to the heart of the noble Messenger, to bring mankind forth from darkness into light, and guide them to the straight path. It is the Book whose miracle abides, the proof of which is constantly renewed; Falsehood cannot come to it from before it or behind it, (it is) sent down by the All Wise, Worthy of all praise (Allaah) [cf. Fussilat 41:42]

Muslims are to follow a certain etiquette when it comes to the Quran. As for the conditions related to purity when reading/touching the Quran, that will not be under discussion here. This post focuses on the aspect of respect when it comes to the copy of Quran (Mus-haf).

There is no difference of opinion among the scholars concerning the fact that the Qur’aan must be respected and protected.

Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in Al-Majmoo’ (2/85):

Putting it on the Ground..

Shaykh ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Jibreen (may Allaah preserve him) was asked:

What is the ruling on putting the Qur’aan on the clean ground or on the prayer mat?

He replied:

It is better to put it in a high place so that it will be exalted in both the literal and metaphorical sense. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “Exalted (in dignity), purified” [‘Abasa 80:14]. If you need to put it down, then put it down in a place that is raised up, even if only a little. If that is not possible then it is permissible to put it on the ground, on a clean carpet and the like. The Qur’aan should not be put down in a low place or a place that is impure or on the dirt, because that is showing disrespect towards it. But if a person needs to put it down on a clean carpet, there is nothing wrong with that, so long as one is keen to exalt it both literally and metaphorically.

Fataawa Islamiyyah (4/15).

Using it as a Pillow..

Ibn Muflih (May Allaah have mercy on him) said:

It is makrooh to use the Mushaf as a pillow. This was stated by Ibn Tameem, who mentioned it in al-Ri’aayah. Bakr ibn Muhammad said: Abu ‘Abd-Allaah said it is makrooh to place the Mushaf beneath one’s head and sleep on it. Al-Qaadi said: Rather that is makrooh because it is humiliating it and failing to respect it, as he is treating it like any other object.

Ibn Hamdaan favoured the view that it is haraam and stated that definitively in al-Mughni and al-Sharh. The same applies to all books of knowledge, if they contain Qur’aan, otherwise it is only makrooh.

Ibn ‘Abd al-Qawiy says in his book Majma’ al-Bahrayn: It is haraam to recline on the Mushaf and on the books of hadeeth and on anything in which there is any Qur’aan, according to consensus. End quote

Al-Adaab al-Shar’iyyah (2/393)

Carrying it in the Pocket..

It says in Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah (4/60): One of us carries the Mushaf in his pocket, and he may enter the washroom carrying it. What is the ruling on that, please advise us?

Answer: carrying the Mushaf in one’s pocket is permissible, but it is not permissible for a person to enter the washroom carrying a Mushaf; rather he should put the Mushaf in a suitable place, out of respect and veneration for the Book of Allaah. But if he has no choice but to take it in with him, for fear that it may be stolen if he leaves it outside, then it is permissible for him to take it in with him, out of necessity. End quote.

But if the Mushaf is carried in the back pocket of one’s pants, and that will lead to sitting on the Mushaf when a person wants to sit down, then it is not permissible — in that case — to put it in the back pocket. The least that can be said concerning that is that it is makrooh. In fact more than one of the scholars stated clearly that something less serious than that is haraam, namely putting the Mushaf beneath one’s head like a pillow.

Overdoing it..

The Muslim should not go to extremes in respecting the Qur’aan. People have gone to extremes in this matter and have made it too burdensome, as it was narrated that one of them said: “For thirty years I have not entered a room in which there is a Mus-haf without having wudoo’.” And if one of them is in a room in which there is a Mus-haf he would not sleep all night lest he break wind in a room in which there is a Mus-haf!

These actions are clearly contrary to the way of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and his companions (may Allaah be pleased with them). They lived in small, cramped rooms, but that did not prevent them from sleeping in their houses, or having intercourse with their wives, or staying without wudoo’ for a while, even though there were Mus-hafs in their houses. When the Qur’aan was collected, it was kept in the houses of many of them.

[IslamQA]

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