Written by: Sheikh Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani (may Allah protect him)
Question:
Can a person recite the Qur'an without wudu (ablution)? Since it is mentioned in the hadith: "No one should touch the Qur'an except a pure person (ṭāhir)." Please provide correct guidance.
Answer:
A person can recite the Qur'an without wudu because there is no clear and authentic hadith that prohibits a person from reciting the Qur'an without wudu. In fact, the command to recite the Qur'an is found within the Qur'an itself, where Allah says:
"Recite from the Qur'an whatever is easy for you."
[Surah Al-Muzzammil: 73:20]
This verse does not specify that one must be in a state of wudu to recite. The hadith you referred to, "No one should touch the Qur'an except a pure person (ṭāhir)," is authentic when considering the various chains of narration. However, its interpretation is clarified in a hadith found in Sahih Bukhari. In this narration, the Prophet (peace be upon him) entered a gathering of the companions, where Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) was present. Abu Huraira quietly left the gathering and later returned with water dripping from his head. The Prophet (peace be upon him) remarked:
"SubhanAllah! A believer never becomes impure."
[Sahih Bukhari, Book of Ghusl, Chapter on the Sweat of a Junub and That a Muslim Does Not Become Impure: 283]
This indicates that a believer is always considered pure, and thus, the meaning of "ṭāhir" in the hadith refers to a believer, implying that a disbeliever should not touch the Qur'an, but a believer can, whether in a state of wudu or not.
Additionally, there is a narration in Sahih Bukhari reported by Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that when the Prophet (peace be upon him) woke up, he wiped his eyes and recited the last ten verses of Surah Al-Imran. Then, he went to a hanging water skin, performed wudu, and began to pray.
[Sahih Bukhari, Book of Wudu, Chapter on Reciting the Qur'an After an Event That Invalidates Wudu: 183]
Imam Bukhari, in light of this narration, established the chapter: "Reciting the Qur'an after an event that invalidates wudu." It is known that the Prophet (peace be upon him) was sometimes without wudu, and as reported in an authentic hadith in Sahih Muslim:
"The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) would remember Allah in all situations."
[Sahih Muslim, Book of Menstruation, Chapter on Remembrance of Allah in All Conditions: 373]
Reciting the Qur'an is a form of remembering Allah, and these evidences show that it is not obligatory to have wudu to recite the Qur'an. However, it should not be misunderstood that one should habitually recite the Qur'an without wudu. It is recommended to perform wudu before reciting the Qur'an whenever possible, as it is more virtuous to do so.
Question:
Can a person recite the Qur'an without wudu (ablution)? Since it is mentioned in the hadith: "No one should touch the Qur'an except a pure person (ṭāhir)." Please provide correct guidance.
Answer:
A person can recite the Qur'an without wudu because there is no clear and authentic hadith that prohibits a person from reciting the Qur'an without wudu. In fact, the command to recite the Qur'an is found within the Qur'an itself, where Allah says:
"Recite from the Qur'an whatever is easy for you."
[Surah Al-Muzzammil: 73:20]
This verse does not specify that one must be in a state of wudu to recite. The hadith you referred to, "No one should touch the Qur'an except a pure person (ṭāhir)," is authentic when considering the various chains of narration. However, its interpretation is clarified in a hadith found in Sahih Bukhari. In this narration, the Prophet (peace be upon him) entered a gathering of the companions, where Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) was present. Abu Huraira quietly left the gathering and later returned with water dripping from his head. The Prophet (peace be upon him) remarked:
"SubhanAllah! A believer never becomes impure."
[Sahih Bukhari, Book of Ghusl, Chapter on the Sweat of a Junub and That a Muslim Does Not Become Impure: 283]
This indicates that a believer is always considered pure, and thus, the meaning of "ṭāhir" in the hadith refers to a believer, implying that a disbeliever should not touch the Qur'an, but a believer can, whether in a state of wudu or not.
Additionally, there is a narration in Sahih Bukhari reported by Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that when the Prophet (peace be upon him) woke up, he wiped his eyes and recited the last ten verses of Surah Al-Imran. Then, he went to a hanging water skin, performed wudu, and began to pray.
[Sahih Bukhari, Book of Wudu, Chapter on Reciting the Qur'an After an Event That Invalidates Wudu: 183]
Imam Bukhari, in light of this narration, established the chapter: "Reciting the Qur'an after an event that invalidates wudu." It is known that the Prophet (peace be upon him) was sometimes without wudu, and as reported in an authentic hadith in Sahih Muslim:
"The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) would remember Allah in all situations."
[Sahih Muslim, Book of Menstruation, Chapter on Remembrance of Allah in All Conditions: 373]
Reciting the Qur'an is a form of remembering Allah, and these evidences show that it is not obligatory to have wudu to recite the Qur'an. However, it should not be misunderstood that one should habitually recite the Qur'an without wudu. It is recommended to perform wudu before reciting the Qur'an whenever possible, as it is more virtuous to do so.