Back to search

Is it forbidden to carry the Qur’an and read from it without ablution, knowing that a believer is always pure?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

It is not permissible for a Muslim to touch the Mushaf (copy of the Quran) while in a state of impurity (without Wudu), according to the majority of scholars, due to the Hadith: "No one should touch the Quran except one who is pure." It is permissible to move it using an intermediary, but it is not permissible to touch it directly unless one is in a state of ritual purity, free from both major and minor impurity. It is permissible for someone in a state of minor impurity to recite the Quran from memory. However, a person in a state of major ritual impurity (Junub) should not recite the Quran, neither from the Mushaf nor from memory, until they perform Ghusl (ritual bath), based on the Prophet's (peace be upon him) saying: "This [recitation] is for one who is not Junub. As for the Junub, no, not even a single verse." The Hadith "Indeed, a believer does not become impure" indicates the ritual purity of a Muslim, both alive and dead, and that their sweat, saliva, and tears are pure, whether they are in a state of minor impurity, major impurity (Junub), menstruation, or postnatal bleeding. Impurity (Hadath) is a state that affects the body, preventing prayer and similar acts for which ritual purity is a prerequisite; it is not a physical impurity.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

Read the full answer on Ftawy