Calling someone a Haafiz of the Quraan Majeed if he cannot write the Quraan Majeed

Q: 

1. If one cannot write the Quran from memory, can they be considered a Hafiz? 

2. If one does not know the meaning of the Ayahs of the Quran and Tafsir, can they be considered a Hafiz?

A: 

1. Yes, as long as he can read it from memory. Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) himself used to read it from memory though he could not write. And there could not be a haafiz greater than Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam). 

2. Yes.

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

Answered by:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)