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:

May Allah bless you and gvies you more hikmat and knowledge.

kindly guide me for the following Question in the light of Quran and Sunnah.

I'm working in an islamic organisation where we conduct daily Quran classes for ladies. we have almost 200 ladies in daily regular class. so for eye contact  a teacher sit on chair or on stage  and the students sit on floor behind desks in rows in Quran class. Some people don't like this sitting arrangement and they consider this against Quran's respect. Kindly guide us .we haven't such type of intention. this is only our need. Is it allowed for a teacher to sit on chair and teach Quran to students who sit on floor?

If not then also guide us for appropriate way. Is it allow or not that a person sit with Quran at the back of another person? Is it against respect of Quran?

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Answer:

Teacher sit on chair to teach Quran

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.

Sahih Muslim Hadith 164 Narrated by Abdullah ibn Mas'ud

The Messenger of Allah (saws) observed: ‘He who has in his heart the weight of a mustard seed of pride shall not enter Paradise.’ A companion (amongst his hearers) said: ‘Verily a person loves that his dress should be fine, and his shoes should be fine, etc.’ He (the Prophet (saws)) remarked: ‘Verily, Allah is Graceful and He loves Grace. Pride is disdaining the Truth and contempt for the people.’

If one insists on sitting on a higher platform than others merely because of pride and arrogance, then indeed such an act would be absolutely impermissible in Islam and absolutely detestable in the Sight of Allah Subhanah.

But if one is addressing an assembly and climbs, or stands, or sits on a platform higher than the gathered assembly only so that the people can see or listen to them…there is absolutely no harm. During the Friday mid-day congregational prayer, it was the routine of the Messenger of Allah (saws) to climb a raised platform or ‘mimbar’ and deliver his sermon, so that the gathered believers would be able to see him.

Your Question: Is it allowed for a teacher to sit on chair and teach Quran to students who sit on floor?

As long as there is as pride or arrogance involved, there is no prohibition in Shariah for a teacher to sit on a raised platform which would enable them to see his/her students and the students to see their teacher.

Secondly, there is absolutely no such condition or restriction in Shariah that one cannot stand or sit on a position higher than where a copy of the Glorious Quran happens to be placed!

Your Question: Is it allow or not that a person sit with Quran at the back of another person?

There is absolutely no condition or restriction in Shariah that one cannot stand or sit with one’s back facing a copy of the Glorious Quran.

Your Question: Is it against respect of Quran?

Without an iota of a doubt, the Glorious Quran is the Very Words of Allah Subhanah, the Creator of the heavens and the earth and all that exists in between….and the believers who have professed belief in Allah and the Last Day must hold this Blessed Book in utmost honor and respect which it truly deserves.

Disrespect and dishonor of the Glorious Quran is not gauged by whether it happens to be placed above or below one’s physical position….but rather by the obedience or disobedience of its wise guidance.

If one physically places a copy of the Glorious Quran in the highest or loftiest of positions in their houses, but their every act and every deed is in transgression of the guidance of the Glorious Quran…..such a person would indeed have truly dishonored and disrespected the Book of Allah Subhanah!

Thus my beloved sister in Islam, the respect and the honor of the Glorious Quran is not determined by where one chooses to physically place it….but rather where one chooses to place its wise guidance and teachings in their hearts and in their deeds!

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