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:

for a quran written in english would you need to perform wudhu before you read it? 

(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:

Wudu before 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.

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, regardless of whether the copy is in the original Arabic text or a translation in any other language, 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