from the Book "Ahkām wa Masā'il Kitāb o Sunnat ki Roshni Mein" by Shaykh Mubashar Ahmad Rabbānī
Is it permissible to place the Noble Qur’an or other Islamic and heavenly scriptures on the ground?
Some individuals do not pay attention to this matter and place the Qur'an, etc., on the ground near where they are sitting. Is this permissible according to Islamic law?
Whether it is the Noble Qur’an or any other Islamic religious book, it is obligatory upon us to show respect and honor to it. We must keep it in a high place out of reverence.
Sayyidunā ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما narrated:
A group of Jews came and invited the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to come with them to Wādī Quf. The Prophet ﷺ accompanied them to their school.
They said: "O Abū al-Qāsim! One of our men committed adultery with a woman from among us. Please pass judgment between them."
They placed a cushion for the Prophet ﷺ and he sat on it. Then he said:
«ائتوني بالتوراة»
"Bring me the Torah."
When it was brought, the Prophet ﷺ removed the cushion from beneath himself and placed the Torah upon it and said:
«آمنت بك وبمن أنزلك»
"I believe in you and in the One who revealed you."
Then he said:
"Bring me the most knowledgeable person among you."
A young man was brought forward.
(Then the hadith continues with the incident of stoning being mentioned.)
Shaykh al-Albānī رحمه الله has graded this narration as ḥasan. It is considered ḥasan due to the chain involving Hishām ibn Saʿd.
From this ḥadīth, it is evident that the Prophet ﷺ honored the revealed book (the Torah) by placing it on a cushion, rather than directly on the ground.
So how much more deserving is the Glorious Qur’an, the greatest of all divine books and the most majestic speech of Allah ﷻ, that it be treated with the utmost reverence?
Hence, placing the Qur’an on the ground is not permissible and is contrary to its due honor. It should always be placed on a raised and clean surface in order to avoid any form of disrespect or dishonor.
❖ It is obligatory to show due respect to the Qur'an and all Islamic books.
❖ They must not be placed on the floor, especially near where one is sitting.
❖ They should be placed on an elevated spot to prevent dishonor.
❖ The practice of the Prophet ﷺ confirms the necessity of showing great reverence to heavenly scriptures.
❖ Question:
Is it permissible to place the Noble Qur’an or other Islamic and heavenly scriptures on the ground?
Some individuals do not pay attention to this matter and place the Qur'an, etc., on the ground near where they are sitting. Is this permissible according to Islamic law?
✿ Answer:
Whether it is the Noble Qur’an or any other Islamic religious book, it is obligatory upon us to show respect and honor to it. We must keep it in a high place out of reverence.
Sayyidunā ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما narrated:
A group of Jews came and invited the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to come with them to Wādī Quf. The Prophet ﷺ accompanied them to their school.
They said: "O Abū al-Qāsim! One of our men committed adultery with a woman from among us. Please pass judgment between them."
They placed a cushion for the Prophet ﷺ and he sat on it. Then he said:
«ائتوني بالتوراة»
"Bring me the Torah."
When it was brought, the Prophet ﷺ removed the cushion from beneath himself and placed the Torah upon it and said:
«آمنت بك وبمن أنزلك»
"I believe in you and in the One who revealed you."
Then he said:
"Bring me the most knowledgeable person among you."
A young man was brought forward.
(Then the hadith continues with the incident of stoning being mentioned.)
Reference: Abu Dāwūd, Kitāb al-Ḥudūd, Bāb fī Rajm al-Yahūdiyyayn, Hadith: 4449
Shaykh al-Albānī رحمه الله has graded this narration as ḥasan. It is considered ḥasan due to the chain involving Hishām ibn Saʿd.
❖ Key Lessons:
From this ḥadīth, it is evident that the Prophet ﷺ honored the revealed book (the Torah) by placing it on a cushion, rather than directly on the ground.
So how much more deserving is the Glorious Qur’an, the greatest of all divine books and the most majestic speech of Allah ﷻ, that it be treated with the utmost reverence?
Hence, placing the Qur’an on the ground is not permissible and is contrary to its due honor. It should always be placed on a raised and clean surface in order to avoid any form of disrespect or dishonor.
✔ Conclusion:
❖ It is obligatory to show due respect to the Qur'an and all Islamic books.
❖ They must not be placed on the floor, especially near where one is sitting.
❖ They should be placed on an elevated spot to prevent dishonor.
❖ The practice of the Prophet ﷺ confirms the necessity of showing great reverence to heavenly scriptures.
