Surah 0 Quran   Etiquette

Show notes for Youtube Video (Link)

Summary of traditional etiquette  for respecting the Quran:

1. Physical Handling

  • Ablution (Wudu): Perform ritual washing before physically touching the Arabic text.

  • Right Hand: Use your right hand to hold, carry, or pass the book.

  • Cleanliness: Clean your mouth before reciting, and never take the text into bathrooms.

2. Placement & Storage

  • Elevate It: Place the Quran on a stand (Rahl), cushion, or lap—never directly on the floor.

  • Always on Top: In any stack of books, the Quran must sit at the very top.

  • High Storage: Store it on a high, clean shelf when not in use.

3. Recitation Etiquette

  • Begin Mindfully: Start with the traditional opening prayers (Isti'adhah and Bismillah).

  • Recite Slowly: Read with clear, measured pronunciation (Tartil), avoiding rushing.

  • Show Respect: Listen attentively and avoid talking, eating, or laughing while it is being read.

4. Proper Retirement

  • Bury or Burn: Never toss damaged pages in the trash. Wrap and bury them in clean soil, or burn them respectfully and bury the ashes.

Digital Apps: Reading on a phone or screen does not require wudu to touch the device, though approaching the text with respect remains recommended.

Rules only apply to original Arabic text?


The Original Arabic (The Mus-haf)

The full set of strict rules—specifically the requirement for ritual purity (Wudu) to touch it—applies strictly to copies containing the original Arabic text. In Islamic theology, only the original Arabic is considered the literal, direct Word of God.

Translations & Study Qurans

Books containing only a translation (in English, Spanish, etc.) or study Qurans where the translation/commentary far outweighs the Arabic text are considered explanations (Tafsir) or interpretations of the Quran's meaning rather than the Mus-haf itself.

  • Wudu Requirement: You do not need Wudu (ritual washing) to physically touch or hold a translation.

  • General Respect: The general etiquette—keeping it off the floor, not placing items on top of it, treating it with care, and disposing of it respectfully—still applies.

Rule of Thumb: If it contains the original Arabic text alone, the full traditional rules apply. If it is primarily a translation, anyone can handle it without Wudu, though it should still be treated with dignity and care.


References and citations for above rules:


1. Physical Purity & Handling

  • Washing Before Touching (Wudu):

    • The Quran (Surah Al-Waqi'ah 56:77–79): States that the Quran is a noble book that "none touch except the purified." Major Islamic scholars interpret this to mean readers must perform ritual washing before touching the Arabic text.

    • Hadith (Prophet's Teachings): Prophet Muhammad sent a letter to the people of Yemen instructing, "No one should touch the Quran unless they are in a state of purity."

  • Using the Right Hand:

    • Hadith: Historical accounts record that Prophet Muhammad always preferred using his right hand for honorable and sacred tasks, which scholars apply to holding the Quran.

2. Elevated Placement

  • Keeping It High:

    • The Quran (Surah Al-Hajj 22:32): Teaches that honoring sacred symbols shows deep faith.

    • Scholar Consensus (At-Tibyan by Imam an-Nawawi): Classical scholars agreed it is forbidden to place the Quran on the floor or set other books on top of it, as doing so shows a lack of respect for God's word.


3. Recitation Rules

  • Asking for Protection First:

    • The Quran (Surah An-Nahl 16:98): Directs readers: "When you recite the Quran, seek refuge in Allah from Satan."

  • Reading Slowly & Listening Quietly:

    • The Quran (Surah Al-Muzzammil 73:4): Commands readers to recite slowly and clearly.

    • The Quran (Surah Al-A'raf 7:204): Commands listeners to pay quiet attention whenever the Quran is recited publicly.

4. Proper Disposal

  • Burning or Burying Old Copies:

    • Historical Record (Sahih al-Bukhari): When the third leader of Islam, Uthman, created a standardized version of the Quran, he ordered older damaged copies to be burned respectfully so the sacred words wouldn't be trampled on or thrown away like trash.

5. Arabic vs. Translations

  • Islamic Law Consensus (Usul al-Fiqh): Scholars define the Quran specifically as the divine words revealed in Arabic. Because translations are considered human explanations rather than the literal word of God, you do not need ritual washing (Wudu) to touch an English translation.


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Vocabulary this video: Assalam Alaikum   Peace be upon you

Injil the Gospel

Surah chapter

Wudu ritual cleaning (ablution)

Haram forbidden

Halal permitted

Isa Jesus

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