Muslims Don’t Need to Perform Ablution (Wudhu) Before Touching the Quran

Many Muslims believe that they must perform ablution (wudu) or be in a “purified” state, e.g. not be menstruating, in order to touch the Quran. However, the Quran never mentions this requirement. Muslims often cite verses 56:77-79 as proof of the requirement to be pure in order to touch the Quran.

إِنَّهُ لَقُرْآنٌ كَرِيمٌ فِي كِتَابٍ مَّكْنُونٍ لَّا يَمَسُّهُ إِلَّا الْمُطَهَّرُونَ

Indeed, it is a noble Qur’an, in a book well-protected; None touch it except the purified. (56:77-79)

Statement vs command

The first issue is that many Muslims think that the statement “none touch it except the purified” is a command. Everywhere else in the Quran God gives commands by telling people to either do this or don’t do that. As you can see, the statement “none touch it except the purified” is not a command but rather a statement of fact.

What book is well-protected?

Many people assume that the book that is well-protected mentioned in verse 56:78 above is the Quran. If that were true, then the subsequent verse (56:79) would be invalid since anyone who is impure, however one wants to define impure, could obviously touch a Quran while they are impure. Therefore, the book that is well-protected can’t be the Quran.

In order to determine what book is well-protected, we must examine all verses in the Quran which deal with this subject.

Umm Al-Kitaab (Mother of the Book)

In verses 13:39 and 43:2-4, we find the mention of a book called Umm Al-Kitaab (Mother of the Book).

يَمْحُو اللَّهُ مَا يَشَاءُ وَيُثْبِتُ ۖ وَعِندَهُ أُمُّ الْكِتَابِ

Allah eliminates what He wills or confirms, and with Him is the Mother of the Book. (13:39)

وَالْكِتَابِ الْمُبِينِ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَاهُ قُرْآنًا عَرَبِيًّا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ وَإِنَّهُ فِي أُمِّ الْكِتَابِ لَدَيْنَا لَعَلِيٌّ حَكِيمٌ

By the clear Book, Indeed, We have made it an Arabic Qur’an that you might understand. And indeed it is, in the Mother of the Book with Us, exalted and full of wisdom. (43:2-4)

From the above verses, we find proof that there is a master book called “The Mother of the Book” which is in the presence of God and that the Quran is in it.

Luh-e-Mahfuz / Guarded / Protected Tablet

In verses 85:21-22, we see mention of a protected tablet (Luh-e Mahfuuz).

بَلْ هُوَ قُرْآنٌ مَّجِيدٌ فِي لَوْحٍ مَّحْفُوظٍ

But this is an honored Qur’an. [Inscribed] in a guarded tablet. (85:21-22)

Based on these verses, it becomes clear that there is another book or tablet which serves as a master source that is with God and cannot be corrupted. All messages and scriptures have emanated from this master book.

Correct meaning of 56:77-79

Now that we know about the mother of the book and that the Quran came from it, if we revisit verses 56:77-79, we find that the book that is well-protected that only the “purified” can touch must mean the Mother of the Book that is with God Himself.

إِنَّهُ لَقُرْآنٌ كَرِيمٌ فِي كِتَابٍ مَّكْنُونٍ لَّا يَمَسُّهُ إِلَّا الْمُطَهَّرُونَ

Indeed, it is a noble Qur’an, in a book (a separate book called the Mother Book or Guarded Tablet) well-protected; None touch it except the purified. (56:77-79)

Isn’t the Quran also protected?

Using verse 15:9, many Muslims believe that the Quran is well-protected.

إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَ

Indeed, it is We who sent down the reminder (Arabic: dhikr) and indeed, We will be its guardian (Arabic: haafizhun). (15:9)

Some Quran translations translated the word “dhikr” as “Quran” when it actually means “reminder.” ‘Dhikr’ in Arabic means to remember, to recollect, to remind, to preserve something in memory. Therefore, this verse states that the “remembrance” of the Quran will be protected. This is understandable as we know that the Quran has always been memorized in its oral transmission. Though there are slight differences between Hafs and Warsh transmissions of the Quran, the differences are insignificant with regard to the message of the Quran. The Quran was never revealed as a physical book but rather as an oral narration that was later written down. In verse 36:69, we see proof that the Quran was not only recited from memory at the time of the prophet as a reminder (dhikr) but its physical form as a written book also existed at the same time.

وَمَا عَلَّمْنَاهُ الشِّعْرَ وَمَا يَنبَغِي لَهُ ۚ إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌ وَقُرْآنٌ مُّبِينٌ

And We did not give Prophet Muhammad knowledge of poetry, nor is it befitting for him. It is not but a reminder (Arabic: dhikr) and a clear Qur’an. (36:69)

Conclusion

Based on the above analysis, we see proof that verses 56:77-79 do not mean that one must perform ablution or not be menstruating in order to touch the Quran. Likewise, there is no other verse in the Quran that requires purity in order to touch the Quran.