Avoid Placing The Mushaf Upon the Ground
Translated Exclusively for Sisters Upon Al-Istiqaamah
Hadeeth
“A group of Jews came and called the Messenger of Allah to Quff. So he visited them in their school. They said, ‘O Abul Qasim, one of our men has committed fornication with a woman, so pass judgment concerning them. They placed a cushion for the Messenger of Allaah, and he sat on it. Then he said, ‘Bring the Torah.’ It was brought, and he took the cushion from beneath him and placed the Torah on it and said: ‘I believe in you and in Him Who revealed you.’...”[1]
Explanation of the hadeeth
“A group of Jews came and called the Messenger of Allah to Quff.”
Quff is a name of a valley in Madinah.
“Then he said, ‘Bring the Torah.’ It was brought, and he took the cushion from beneath him and placed the Torah on it...”
“That which is apparent is that the Prophet placed the Torah upon the cushion out of respect for it, and this is supported by his words: ‘I believe in you and in Him Who revealed you.’”[2]
Benefits From the Hadeeth
“If it was legislated to place the Torah upon the chair then the Quraan is more deserving to be placed upon a chair as it is superior to the Torah.”
Fataawa of the Scholars
Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Ibraheem stated:
“As for placing the Mushaf upon the ground, then (the most correct stance) appears to be that it is not impermissible, actually that it is not even disliked. However, placing it in a higher place is perhaps preferable because this is considered a sign of having total respect for it and honour.”[3]
Shaykh Abdul Azeez Ibn Baaz stated:
“It is better to place the Mushaf in an elevated place like upon a chair, a shelf on the wall or something similar. Yet, if he places it upon clean ground and his intent is not to degrade the Mushaf but (this is done) due to a need like if he was praying and he could not find an elevated place or he wanted to prostrate the prostration of recitation, then-Allaah Willing- there is nothing wrong with this. I am not aware that there is anything wrong with this...
We do not know of any proof that prevents the Quraan being placed upon clean, pure ground if there is a need to do this.
If it was legislated to place the Torah upon the chair then the Quraan is more deserving to be placed upon a chair as it is superior to the Torah.”[4]
http://www.binbaz.org.sa/mat/11339
Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Saalih al-Uthaymeen said:
“As for placing the Mushaf upon pure, clean ground then this is acceptable and there is nothing wrong with this because this is not considered mistreatment of the Quraan or disrespect. Many people do this when they are praying and they are reading from the Mushaf, and when they prostrate they place it in from front of themselves. This is not considered to be mistreatment and it is not viewed as disrespect...”[5]
As Ibn Baz stated:
“If it was legislated to place the Torah upon the chair then the Quraan is more deserving to be placed upon a chair as it is superior to the Torah.”
Therefore, brothers and sisters we should try and avoid placing the Quraan upon the ground even if it is clean and pure.
And it is not befitting for a Muslim to place the Mushaf upon the ground as stated by Shaykh Rabee’.[6]
Sisters Upon Al-Istiqaamah
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[1] Saheeh Sunan Abee Dawud (no. 4439). This hadeeth was declared hasan (sound) by Shaykh Albaani.
[2] ‘Awn al-Ma’bood (12/80). Dar Ihyaa at-Turaath.
[3] Fataawa Shaykh Muhammad Ibraheem, 13/92, no. 4433.
[4] Taken from the program Noor ‘Ala ad-Darb, tape no. 7.
[5] Sharh Riyaadh as-Saaliheen, 2/389.
[6] Fataawa Shaykh Rabee’, Vol. 1, p. 99.
