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:

As salam alaikum brother,

I want to gift a Quran to one of my Christian brother who works with me. Is it okay if I give him a Quran with original Arabic text? I heard from someone that only English translation shall be given to a non-muslim and not original Arabic text.

Please reply as soon as possible

Jazak Allah.

(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:

Gift Quran to Christian

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 no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: Is it okay if I give him a Quran with original Arabic text? I heard from someone that only English translation shall be given to a non-muslim and not original Arabic text.
Allah says in the Holy Quran: Chapter 16, Surah An-Nahl Ayat 125:

Invite to the Way of your Lord with wisdom and excellent admonition and argue with people in the best manner. Your Lord knows best who has gone astray from His Way and who is Rightly guided.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 22 Surah Hajj verse 78:

78 And strive in His Cause as ye ought to strive (with sincerity and under discipline): He has chosen you and has imposed no difficulties on you in religion; it is the cult of your father Abraham. It is He Who has named you Muslims both before and in this (Revelation); that the Messenger may be a witness for you, and ye be witnesses for mankind! So establish regular Prayer, give regular Charity, and hold fast to Allah! He is your Protector the Best to Protect and the Best to Help!

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 6 Surah Anaam verses 19-20:

19 Say (O Prophet (saws)): "What thing is most weighty in evidence?" Say: "Allah is Witness between me and you: this Qur'an hath been revealed to me by inspiration that I may warn you and all whom it reaches. Can ye possibly bear witness that besides Allah there is another god?" Say: "Nay! I cannot bear witness!" Say: "But in Truth He is the One Allah and I truly am innocent of (your blasphemy of) joining others with Him.”

20 Those to whom We have given the Book (the Jews and the Christians) know this (Quran) as they know their own sons! Those who have lost their own souls refuse therefore to believe.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 27 Surah Naml verses 76-77:

76 Verily this Quran doth explain to the Children of Israel most of the matters in which they disagree.

77 And it certainly is a Guide and Mercy to those who believe.

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: ‘Relate from me, even if only one ‘Aayah’!’

Dear and Beloved Brother in Islam, not only ‘is it okay’, but it is a commanded duty and a responsibility on every believer laid upon them by Allah and His Messenger (saws) to invite our fellow brethren to the Truth of Al-Islam! Allah is our witness, there is no better way to invite someone to Islam than to encourage him to read and understand the Glorious Quran, which Allah Subhanah has sent as a Message to all mankind!

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 185:

185 Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Quran as a guide to mankind, and also clear (Signs) for Guidance and a Criterion (between right and wrong).

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 10 Yunus

1 Alif Lam Ra. These are the Ayats of the Book of Wisdom (Al-Quran).

2 It is a matter of wonderment to men that We have sent Our Inspiration (Al-Quran) to a man from among themselves? That he should warn mankind (of the impending danger) and give the good news to the believers that they have before their Lord the lofty rank of Truth, (but) say the Unbelievers: "This is indeed an evident sorcerer!"

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 17 Israa

89 And We have explained to mankind in this Qur'an every kind of similitude: yet the grater part of men refuse (to receive it) except with ingratitude!

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 18 Kahf

54 We have explained in detail in this Quran for the benefit of mankind every kind of similitude: but man is in most things contentious.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 39 Zumar

41 Verily We have revealed the Book (Al-Quran) to thee in Truth for (instructing) mankind. He then that receives guidance benefits his own soul: but he that strays injures his own soul. Nor art thou set over them to dispose of their affairs.

Dear and Beloved Brother, propagate the Truth of Islam with whatever is at your disposal: your character, your deeds and dealings, your piety, your righteousness, and above all with the Glorious Quran.

Your Statement: I heard from someone that only English translation shall be given to a non-muslim and not original Arabic text.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 1.6 (part) Narrated by Abdullah bin Abbas

Heraclius (the king of Christian Byzantine) then asked for the letter addressed by Allah's Messenger (saws) which was delivered by Dihya to the Governor of Busra, who forwarded it to Heraclius to read. The contents of the letter were as follows: "In the name of Allah the Beneficent, the Merciful (This letter is) from Muhammad the slave of Allah and His Messenger to Heraclius the Ruler of Byzantine. Peace be upon him, who follows the Right Path. Furthermore I invite you to Islam, and if you become a Muslim you will be safe, and Allah will double your reward; and if you reject this invitation of Islam you will be committing a sin by misguiding your Arisiyin (peasants). (And I recite to you Allah's Statement:)

'O people of the Scripture! Come to a word common to you and us that we worship none but Allah and that we associate nothing in worship with Him, and that none of us shall take others as Lords beside Allah. Then, if they turn away, say: Bear witness that we are Muslims (those who have surrendered to Allah).' (Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale Imran Verse.64).

There is absolutely no harm in giving a copy of the Glorious Quran to a non-muslim brother, so that he may understand the Message of the Lord of the Worlds.

The Messenger of Allah (saws) himself quoted Quranic Verses in Arabic in his letters which were delivered to non-muslims inviting them to the Truth of Al-Islam!

Ask the brother who forbade you to give a copy of the Glorious Quran to provide his evidence from the Quran and the Sunnah for his prohibition of giving the Quran in Arabic to a non-muslim brother! And if he cannot provide you with evidence from the Quran and the Sunnah, know with certainty that he has invented this prohibition himself!!!

Allah is our witness, this Message of our Lord is for all mankind and it is the commanded duty and responsibility of every believer who sincerely believes in Allah and the Last Day to propagate this Truth to anyone who is willing to listen to good caution.

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