How Should the Qur’an Be Handled According to Hanafi School?

Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Question: Assalamu alaykum

How should the Qur’an be handled according to Hanafi school?

Answer:  Walaikum assalam,

I hope you’re doing well, insha’Allah.

One. It is obligatory to be in ritual purity to touch the Qur’an. [Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah] Ibn Abd al-Barr, the great Maliki jurist and hadith master, relates general agreement of the great autorities across Sunni Islam regarding this. [al-Istidhkar Sharh al-Muwatta’]

Two. Out of caution and respect, some scholars recommended using a cover for the Qur’an—to protect it, keep it clean, and so on. This is from respect and manners, and is not an obligation.

Three. It is obligatory to have deep respect (ta`dhim) of the Qur’an, as it is a central symbol of religion.

Allah Most High urges: “Whoever shows respect to the symbols of Allah, that is truly from mindfulness of hearts.” [Qur’an, 22:32]

Four. Placing the Qur’an in an elevated place is an expression of this deep respect (and therefore praiseworthy), but not obligatory. What is required to avoid is to place it in a place expressive of disrespect (such as placing it on the ground, or low on a shelf where one places or stretches feet towards.]

And Allah is the giver of success and facilitation.

[Shaykh] Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Faraz Rabbani is a scholar and researcher of Islamic law and Executive Director of SeekersHub Global After ten years overseas, Shaykh Faraz returned to Canada in the Summer of 2007. In May 2008 he founded SeekersHub Global to deal with the urgent need to spread Islamic knowledge—both online and on the ground—in a reliable, relevant, inspiring, and accessible manner. He has been repeatedly listed as one of the world’s 500 most influential Muslims (The Muslim500).