710. Can I Read The Qur’aan Without Wudhu?

By Asma bint Shameem 

It is *highly recommended* to have wudhu when reciting the Qur’aan. 

However it is *not mandatory*.

There’s nothing in the Qur’aan or authentic Sunnah to prevent a person from *“reading”* the Qur’aan when he does not have wudhu.

Shaykh Saalih Al-Fawzaan said:

“It is permissible for a person to recite the Qur’aan without having wudhu if he recites from his memory. This is since nothing prevented the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam from reciting the Qur’aan except for Janaabah(sexual impurity). He Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam would recite the Qur’aan whilst in a state of wudhu and without it.”

Shaykh ‘Abd al-Rahmaan ibn Naasir al-Barraak said:

“It is well known that it is NOT ESSENTIAL to be free from minor impurity when reciting Qur’aan from memory, or even from major impurity, but purifying oneself before reciting Qur'aan, even from memory, is better, because it is the Word of Allaah and it is more respectful towards Him to only recite it when in a state of purity.”

However, do keep in mind there’s a *difference* between *READING* the Qur’aan without wudhu and *TOUCHING* the Qur’aan without wudhu or in the state of impurity. 

So it’s allowed to *“read”* the Qur’aan without wudhu. 

In fact you can even read it during your menses. (There’s no evidence in the Sharee’ah that we cannot read the Qur’aan during Menses)

As for *touching* the Qur’aan without wudhu, there’s a difference of opinion among the scholars. 

The majority of the scholars say that wudhu is a MUST when touching the Qur’aan. 

But others say that there’s no evidence to prove that. 

Obviously it’s *much BETTER* that we have wudhu when we touch the Qur’aan to be in the safe side. 

That’s why there’s no problem to READ the Qur’aan from a *cellphone* or other electronic devices because that’s NOT the Mus-haf. 

Shaikh al-Fawzaan said regarding this issue:

“It does not require wudhu because the cellphone is not a Mus-haf and does not take the rulings of the Mus-haf. Also for the one reading from his heart, it is allowed for the one who has minor impurity. As for major impurity, then he does not read the Qur’aan. Not from the Mushaf nor from his heart until he makes ghusl.”

What about the Aayah from Surah al-Waaqi’ah?

Yes there’s an Aayah in the Qur’aan that says:

“None touch it except the purified.” (Surah al-Waaqi’ah: 78-79)

But the ulama explain that this refers to the Qur’aan that’s preserved in al-Lawh al-Mahfoodh, the Preserved Tablet. And not the Qur’aan (Mus-haf) that we have.  

In any case, the aayah is *NOT a “command”* from Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala; rather it’s just a *“statement of fact”.*

Someone asked Shaikh al-Albaani about this Aayah and said:

“Does the word al-Mutahharoon (the purified) refer to the believers or those who have wudhu?”

Shaykh al-Albaani said:

“The intended meaning of it is neither this nor that. Rather it refers to the angels and it is a statement from Allaah the Mighty and Majestic concerning the angels; and it does not refer to this Qur’aan [in our midst]. It refers to that which is in the Preserved Tablet. So none can touch the mus-haf, which is in the Preserved Tablet except the purified and they are the angels brought near [to Allaah]…As regards the mus-haf that is in our midst [today], it can be touched by the righteous and the evil doer, the believer and the disbeliever. Therefore, our Lord is not referring to mankind absolutely regardless of whether they are righteous or evil doers. 

Rather, what He meant, as we have stated, is the angels….

There are narrations from some of the Companions that they used to avoid touching the Qur’aan without wudhu. This action of theirs indicates that what is best for someone who intends to touch the Qur’aan or read the Qur’aan [is to perform wudhu].”(Silsilah al-Huda wan-Noor, Tape 001, fatwa no. 08)

So do try and have wudhu when you touch and read the Qur’aan, unless it’s difficult etc. 

And if you’re on your menses, then turn the pages with gloves or a pencil etc. 

What about books of tafseer and other such books

As for duaa books, tafseer books etc., the ulama say you can touch these books because along with the Qur’aan, they also contain other than that which is the Qur’aan. 

So the rulings dont apply. 

 Proof:

The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam would send letters to the disbeliever rulers inviting them to Islaam. 

These letters had Bismillaahir- Rahmaan-nir-Raheem written on it, along with the rest of the message that the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam sent these rulers.

 

The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam knew that these disbelievers will touch the letter although they’re not ‘pure’. Yet he wrote Allaah’s Name on them. 

And there are other proofs. 

And Allaah knows best.

709. Is Your Fasting Complete?

By Asma bint Shameem

What if you hire someone to do something for you, but they only do PART of the job and leave the rest incomplete? 

Will you recompense them fully for a job completed? 

 

And what do you think a teacher would say if a student turns in only some of his homework and fails to do the rest of it? Will he get full marks for it? 

 

And what about a child who is supposed to clean his whole room, but he only cleans HALF of it? Do you think he did what was required of him? Would you reward him for a job well done? 

The answer to all of the above is an obvious NO. 

That's because they did not complete what they were supposed to do and only did part of it. And thus they do not deserve to be fully rewarded. 

 

*Similarly, my dear sister, is the case when you fast but you don't wear hijaab.*

Do you realize, dear sister, that by not wearing hijaab, you are only doing PART of the job and not doing whole of it? 

You see, just as much as fasting is a fardh (obligation) on you, in like manner, the hijaab is *also, just as equally*, FARDH on you. 

The One Who made the FAST an obligation on you and me is the same Rabb, Who also made the HIJAAB an obligation on you and me. 

Allaah says: 

"And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts and not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent, and to draw their veils all over Juyoobihinna (i.e. over themselves) and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands, or their fathers, or their husband's fathers, or their sons, or their husband's sons, or their brothers or their brother's sons, or their sister's sons, or their (Muslim) women, or the (female) slaves whom their right hands possess, or old male servants who lack vigor, or small children who have no sense of feminine sex. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And all of you beg Allaah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful" 

[al-Noor 24:31] 

 

There are so many other ayaat and so many authentic ahaadeeth that clearly order believing women to cover themselves. 

 

Do you not want to be one of them? 

Don't you want to obey the One who created you, gave you life, food, health, family, friends and everything that you know and don't know of ??!!

 

Masha Allaah, you work SO hard in Ramadhaan!

You wake up for suhoor, you fast all day, you take care of your family. 

You cook, you clean, you do all your chores. 

You are tired yet you stand at night for Taraaweeh. 

You're exhausted, yet you take time out to read the Qur'an. 

May Allaah accept all your good deeds and sincere effort. 

But, my dear sister, do you realize that by not observing hijaab, you only get part of the reward of all your hard work and not 100 percent of it? 

 

Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen said:

"If a woman does not wear hijaab, then she is disobeying her Lord thereby, but her fast is still valid, because sins, including not wearing hijaab, do not invalidate the fast, but they detract from its reward, and may cause it to be lost altogether." 

Realize, dear sister, that not wearing hijaab is a major sin and sins may take away some or all of the reward, and the fasting person may be left with nothing from his fast apart from hunger and thirst. 

 

The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said: 

"It may be that the fasting person gets nothing from his fast apart from hunger, and it may be that the one who prays qiyaam at night may get nothing from his qiyaam but a sleepless night." 

(Ibn Majah-authentic) 

 

And he (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: 

"Whoever does not give up false speech and acting upon it, Allaah has no need of his giving up his food and drink."  (al-Bukhaari)

Imagine! All that hard work.....all that effort you put into fasting, and some of it or even all of it may be lost!

What a terrible loss indeed! 

And just because you didn't cover yourself the way your Rabb, your Creator, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, ordered you to. 

 

Do remember, that the purpose of fasting is not just to give up food and drink, but to *attain piety*. 

The real aim is to *stay away from sins* and those deeds that displease Allaah. 

And to *train oneself to OBEY Allaah and SUBMIT to Him.*

 

Allaah says:

"O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may attain piety" 

[al-Baqarah 2:183] 

 

So submit to Allaah fully. Obey Him in wearing hijaab, just like you obey Him in fasting and praying. 

Don't let the Shaytaan keep you away from getting full reward for all your hard work in Ramadhaan. 

Let your fasting motivate you to obey Allaah and keep away from that which He has forbidden. 

 

Use this perfect chance for you to start wearing hijaab....

No, not from tomorrow.....but from today.

Don't say you're not ready.

Do it NOW. 

BEFORE Ramadhaan starts. 

*What a beautiful way to start a beautiful month....with the obedience of Allaah!*

*Objection*

Some sisters might say...

“Hijaab is my choice, my right, my life.”

CORRECTION Sister!

It’s NOT your choice, your right, your life. 

Hijaab is your DUTY, Allaah’s COMMAND and your AAKHIRAH!

Do remember, my dear sister:

"And whosoever obeys Allaah and His Messenger, he has indeed achieved a great achievement (i.e. saved from Hell-fire and admitted to Jannah)" (al-Ahzaab 33:71)

And Allaah knows best.

708. Ramadhaan Fidyan Rules

By Asma bint Shameem 

Fasting is fardh on all adult, sane Muslims. 

But if a person is too old or too sick with no hopes of recovery, then Alhamdulillaah our Deen is easy and he does not have to fast.

Rather, he or she should give fidyah (expiation) for it and feed one poor person for each day of fasting he misses. 

Allaah says:

“and [Allaah] has not laid upon you in religion any hardship” (al-Hajj 22:78) 

And Allaah says:

“O you who believe! Observing As-Sawm (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqoon (the pious).184. [Observing Sawm (fasts)] for a fixed number of days, but if any of you is ill or on a journey, the same number (should be made up) from other days. 

And as for those who can fast with difficulty, (e.g. an old man), they have (a choice either to fast or) to feed a Miskeen (poor person) (for every day). But whoever does good of his own accord, it is better for him. And that you fast is better for you if only you know” 

(Surah al-Baqarah 2:183-184)

Ibn ‘Abbaas Radhi Allaahu anhumaa said: 

“It refers to old men and old women who are not able to fast, so they should feed a poor person for each day.” (al-Bukhaari 4505) 

Fidyah is only given in compensation if someone cannot fast due to chronic sickness or old age or weakness. 

It cannot be given to make up your missed fasts due to menses or travel or temporary sickness. 

Fidyah is given as FOOD. 

Wherever Allaah specifically mentions giving *food*, then it must be *food*. 

Allaah says: 

“And as for those who can fast with difficulty, (e.g. an old man), they have (a choice either to fast or) to FEED a Miskeen (poor person) (for every day). But whoever does good of his own accord, it is better for him. And that you fast is better for you if only you know”

[al-Baqarah 2:184]

That’s the basic principle. 

You should feed one poor Muslim for each day you missed of fasting. 

You can either feed one person for thirty days or you can feed 30 people for one day, or feed 3 people for 10 days, etc. 

Also you can give them the raw material to cook, or you can cook yourself and give them the food. 

How much to give as fidyah?

The majority of the scholars are of the opinion that the fidyah is one “mudd” of foodstuff, i.e., one quarter of a saa‘. 

But others said it is half a saa’. That is equivalent to 1 and 1/2 kilograms of the local staple food.

So you can feed either lunch OR dinner.

That’s what Anas Radhi Allaahu anhu did  

“After Anas Radhi Allaahu anhu grew old, he gave food for one year or two years, feeding one poor person for each day, giving him bread and meat, and he did not fast.”  (al-Bukhaari)

The scholars of the Standing Committee said:

“If the doctors determine that there is no hope of recovery from this sickness from which you are suffering, and because of which you are not able to fast, then you must feed one poor person for each day, giving half a saa‘ of the local staple food, such as dates and the like, for past and future months. If you give dinner OR lunch to a poor person for the number of days that you owe, that will suffice.” 

(Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa’imah 10/198)

Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen said: 

“With regard to the manner of feeding, one has the choice between giving each poor person half a saa’ of food such as rice and the like (i.e., approximately one and a half kilograms) or making food and inviting the poor to eat.”

(Fataawa al-Siyaam p.111)

And Shaikh ibn Baaz said about an old woman:

“She should feed one poor person for each day, giving half a saa’ of the local staple food, such as dates, rice, etc, which is equivalent to approximately one and a half kilograms. This was stated by a number of the companions of the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam such as Ibn ‘Abbaas Radhi Allaahu anhumaa.”

If she is poor and is unable to feed a poor person, then she does not have to do anything.” (Majmoo’ Fataawa Ibn Baaz 15/203). 

The purpose of fidyah is to FEED the poor. 

So as long as you’re *feeding one poor person per each day you missed*, then you’ve fulfilled your obligation. 

But in case you don’t know anyone that’s poor or it’s difficult to give fidyah as food to someone, then the scholars say that you can give some person or some organization ‘money’ so that *they* can buy the food and deliver it to the poor on your behalf. 

If you have to give fidyah in the form of money, it should be according to where YOU live.  

So in the US or Canada it’s around $15 per day for each day of fasting you missed. 

When to pay fidyah?

There’s no specific time to pay the fidyah. You can pay it in the beginning or middle or end of Ramadhaan. 

But according to ibn Taimiyyah, it is better to pay it as soon as possible because it is good to hasten with good deeds. 

 Shaykh Abd ar-Rahmaan al-Barraak said:

“It is permissible to delay the fidyah until after Ramadhaan, but to be on the safe side it may be done at the end of the month.”

Can we pay fidyah ahead of time?

Shaykh Ibn Baaz said:

“This expiation (fidyah) may be given to one person or more than one, at the beginning of the month or in the middle or at the end.” (Majmoo‘ Fataawa Ibn Baaz 15/203).

And Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan said:

“It is permissible to give charity (fidyah) for days in Ramadhaan on which a person did not fast because of chronic illness or old age. 

It is permissible to offer expiation for the entire month in advance, at the beginning of the month; and it is permissible to delay doing so until the end of the month; and it is permissible to pay the fidyah in the middle of the month. 

It is permissible to give it all in one go and it is also permissible to give it piecemeal.”

And Allaah knows best

707. Why Do We See Bad Dreams In Ramadhaan?

By Asma bint Shameem

You can still get bad dreams in Ramadhaan, even though the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said that the devils are chained in Ramadhaan.

What this means is that the most evil ones, the ‘bigger’ shayateen are locked up. 

As for the Qareen devil (companion devil), then he is not chained up. 

Proof 

When Safiyyah radhi Allaahu anhaa came to the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam while he was in itikaaf and two men of Ansaar passed by so they quickened their pace, then the prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam called them and said: “she is Safiyyah”so they wondered at what he said. 

The the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said: 

“I was afraid lest Shaytaan should instill something (evil) in your hearts.” (al-Bukhaari)

And this incidence took place in Ramadhaan.

So just because it’s Ramadhaan that does not mean that ALL Shayateen are locked up. 

So make sure you make wudhu before you go to sleep and read the bedtime adhkaar. 

And of course pray your five daily prayers in time, and stay away from all sins especially music.

And Allaah knows best.