Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

 

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalamuelikum,

These days thanks to technology we can have the copy of Quran-AL-Kareem in the electronic format on the smart Phones.

 

Now my questions are as follows :

1)    Is it permissible to carry Quran-Al-Kareem on Phones, especially since we take phone everywhere we go , even to answer the call of nature.

2)      Can we read the quran without Wudu esp while in Journey since it is on the Phone.

3)      Can we hear the recitation (thanks to MP3 Mobile Phones) without wudu.

Thanking you and looking forwad to your reply in light of Quran and Sunnah.

 

Your Bro in Islam,

 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

 

Answer:

 

Mobile phone quran wudu

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

 

Q-1: Is it permissible to carry Quran-Al-Kareem on Phones, especially since we take phone everywhere we go , even to answer the call of nature.

Although some scholars have voiced their opinion against it, the majority of the contemporary scholars and jurists in Islam are of the opinion that if some phrases or Surahs of the Glorious Quran are stored in the ‘chip-memory’ of the mobile phone and one happens to carry the phone to the privy for any reason, there is absolutely no harm.  They base their argument on the fact that some portions of the Quran are also stored in the memory if one’s brains. 

 

But if one’s mobile phone ‘screen’ displays an Aayah of the Glorious Quran, one should abstain from taking that mobile to the toilet, or alternatively change the screen to another format. And Allah Alone Knows Best.

 

Q-2: Can we read the quran without Wudu esp while in Journey since it is on the Phone.

Q-3: Can we hear the recitation (thanks to MP3 Mobile Phones) without wudu.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 56 Surah Waqiah verses 77-79

77      That this is indeed a Qur'an, most honorable

78      In a Book well-guarded

79      Which none shall touch but those who are purified.

 

Although the above aayah is meant to state how the Glorious Quran is honored by the noble Angels in the heavens;  the scholars have opined that just as the Quran is honored in the heavens by the Angels,  so should it be honored by the believers on the earth…. And thus, one, who sincerely believes in Allah and the Last Day, should touch the Glorious Quran only when one is pure and clean, and preferably when in the state of wudu.

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 5 Surah Maidah verse 6:

6        O ye who believe! When ye prepare for prayer wash your faces and your hands (and arms) to the elbows; rub your heads (with water); and (wash) your feet to the ankles.

 

The only acts in Islam whereby the wudu is absolutely obligatory and a pre-condition is when one is about to offer a prayer or while circumambulating the Holy Kaaba; if these two rites are performed without the wudu, it would nullify the rites. 

 

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 229   Narrated by Ali ibn AbuTalib

Abdullah ibn Salamah said: ‘I, accompanied by other two persons, one from us and the other from Banu Asad, called upon Ali. He sent them to a certain territory (on some mission) saying: ‘You are going to a sturdy and vigorous people; hence display your power for religion.’ He then stood and entered the toilet. He then came out and called for water and took a handful of it. Then he wiped (his hands) with it and began to recite the Qur'an. They were surprised at this (action).  Thereupon he said: ‘The Messenger of Allah (saws) came out from the privy and taught us the Quran and took meat  with us. Nothing prevented him from (reciting) the Quran except sexual defilement.’

 

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 3751  Narrated by Abdullah ibn Abbas

The Messenger of Allah (saws) came out from the privy and water was presented to him. They (the people) asked: ‘Should we bring you water for ablution?’  He (saws) replied: ‘I have been commanded to perform ablution (only) when I get up for prayer.’

 

Sahih Muslim Hadith 725      Narrated by Abdullah ibn Abbas

The Messenger of Allah (saws) came out of the privy, and he was presented with some food, and the people reminded him about ablution, but he (saws) said: ‘Am I to say prayer that I should perform ablution?’

 

In light of the above guidance of the Quran and the Sunnah, although it would be preferred to touch or recite the Glorious Quran while in the state of wudu, there is no obligation and no harm if one were to touch or recite it even when not in the state of wudu or ablution.  But one should strive to abstain from touching or reciting the Quran when one is in the state of ‘janaba’ or major ceremonial impurity.

 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

 

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

 

 

Burhan