Reciting the Qur'an on a laptop or phone without wudhu

Q: I had a question regarding whether or not one is allowed to read the Qur'an through his phone without wudu? I have the PDF version of the Qur'an on my laptop and I wanted to read it in school. I don't have wudhu all the time so is it possible if I can read the Qur'an through my laptop or phone without wudhu, or is compulsory to have wudhu?

A: Yes, however you should refrain from touching the words of the Qur'an which are reflected on the screen.

NOTE: Though the above may be permissible, however we strongly discourage the downloading of the Qur'an on the mobile phone or laptop and reciting from it. Through reciting the Qur'an in this manner, the honour and sanctity of the Qur'an will no longer be maintained. Especially in these times where pictures of animate objects are taken and stored on the mobile phone and many sins perpetrated through it. Hence, in order to uphold the rights of the Qur'an and show it the respect and honour it deserves, we strongly encourage that one recite the Qur'an in the original way through looking into the Qur'an and reciting it in the state of wudhu.

And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

 

Answered by:

Mufti Zakaria Makada

Checked & Approved:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)