To what extent is the story true about the woman who spoke only with the Quran, a narration attributed to Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak, and does it have an isnad? Who was the first to mention it? Did Sheikh Al-Uthaymeen explicitly state that it is historically inaccurate? And to what extent is her action permissible Islamically, if its isnad is authentic?

Summary of the Fatwa:

Firstly: The widely circulated story about the woman who spoke only with the Qur'an has a weak chain of transmission (isnad) and is not authentic in any way. It has been narrated through various chains of transmission from Abdullah ibn Dawud al-Wasiti, who is weak, and from Al-Asma'i with a chain that includes an accused and an unknown narrator. It was also attributed to Ibn al-Mubarak without a chain of transmission. Sheikh Abdul Aziz al-Sudhan has clarified the falsity of this story due to many reasons, including the lack of its isnad, Ibn al-Mubarak's not condemning this act, and the clear artificiality in the construction of the questions and answers.

Secondly: This act is not permissible in Islamic law. The Qur'an is the word of Allah, a guide, and a mercy, and it is not permissible to use it as a substitute for human speech to fulfill worldly needs. Scholars have stated that using the Qur'an for purposes other than that for which it was revealed is an act of disobedience. Ibn Aqil went further, saying that whoever does so considers the Qur'an to be like a physical mushaf used for worldly purposes, such as a pillow. It is not permissible to make the Qur'an a substitute for speech except in the context of citing its verses as evidence for corresponding events, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) did when he used the Qur'an as evidence regarding the trial of wealth and children.