Can I Read the Quran Without Wudu? Find Out Here!
Hi all readers! Are you looking for an explanation of "Can I read the Quran without wudu?" If your answer is “Yes,” congratulations! You are reading the right article. Why? Because that is what I will explain here. As Muslims, we must understand this. That's why I wrote this article. So, you should read it to the end!
Specifically, there are some important aspects of "Can I read the Quran without wudu?" that I will explain in this article. The important aspects I mean are as follows:
Who Is Allowed to Read the Quran?
The important question about "Can I read the Quran without wudu?" that I will address now is, "Who is allowed to read the Quran?" I want you to understand this because it is one of the important questions about the Quran that some people do not fully understand.
Before I explain more about "Who is allowed to read the Quran?", I want to clarify that there is a difference between touching the Quran and reading the Quran. In simple terms, touching the Quran refers to when the skin comes into contact with the Quran, typically done by hand. Reading the Quran, on the other hand, is reciting the verses of the Quran that are seen or remembered. Thus, touching the Quran and reading the Quran are two different activities.
In a previous article, I explained that one is not allowed to touch the Quran except in a state of purity, free from major hadas and minor hadas. I will not repeat that explanation here. If you haven't read it, I highly recommend you do, as it contains important details about touching the Quran that Muslims should understand.
So, if we understand that reading the Quran involves reciting verses that are seen or remembered and can be done without touching the Quran, we can conclude that everyone is allowed to read the Quran. There are several other important aspects regarding this that I will explain in the next discussion.
That is a brief explanation of "Who is allowed to read the Quran?" As Muslims, we must understand this.
Can I Read the Quran Without Wudu?
The important point about “Can I read the Quran without wudu?” that I'm going to explain now includes specific answers about that and a few other related aspects.
If we have understood the explanation in the previous paragraphs, then we can conclude that we can read the Quran without wudu. Of course, what we must remember is that we should not touch the Quran when we read it if we do not have wudu.
One other important thing we must understand is that although we are allowed to read the Quran without wudu, it is better to perform wudu before reading the Quran.
Maybe now you are wondering, what is the argument that it is permissible to read the Quran without wudu?
In Islamic legal literature, it is explained that the Prophet Muhammad read the Quran even though he was in a state of minor hadas. Minor hadas can be removed by wudu or tayammum.
But can someone who is in a state of junub or has major hadas read the Quran?
In general, we can find the answer to this question in the hadith below:
عَÙ†ْ عَÙ„ِÙŠٍّ - رَضِÙŠَ اللهُ عَÙ†ْÙ‡ُ – Ù‚َالَ : Ùƒَانَ رَسُÙˆْÙ„ُ اللهِ - صَÙ„َّÙ‰ اللهُ عَÙ„َÙŠْÙ‡ِ ÙˆَسَÙ„َّÙ…َ - ÙŠُÙ‚ْرِئُÙ†َا الْÙ‚ُرْآنَ عَÙ„َÙ‰ ÙƒُÙ„ِّ Øَالٍ Ù…َا Ù„َÙ…ْ ÙŠَÙƒُÙ†ْ جُÙ†ُبًا
From Ali radliyallahu anhu, he said, "The Messenger of Allah (Prophet Muhammad) sallallahu alayhi wa sallam recited the Quran to us all the time as long as he was not junub."
So, if we understand the above hadith, we can conclude that someone who is junub or has major hadas should not read the Quran.
There is a difference of opinion among Islamic scholars about whether menstruating women and those in postpartum conditions can read the Quran. The majority of scholars explain that menstruating women and those in postpartum conditions should not read the Quran, even if they do not touch it. However, some scholars from the Maliki school believe that it is permissible for menstruating women and those in postpartum conditions to read the Quran. If the menstrual or postpartum bleeding has stopped, they must perform the Janabah bath before reading the Quran.
That’s a brief explanation of "Can I read the Quran without wudu?". As Muslims, we must understand this.
Can I Read the Quran without Wudu on My Phone?
The important point about “Can I read the Quran without wudu?” that I will explain now is “Can I read the Quran without wudu on my phone?”. I want you to understand this because it is one of the important questions about the Quran that some Muslims don't understand very well.
To be honest, if we read some Islamic literature about “Can I read the Quran without wudu on my phone?”, we will find two different opinions:
- Some Islamic legal experts explain that a Muslim can read the Quran on a phone without wudu. The reason for this opinion is that the Quran on a phone is not considered a Mushaf. What is meant by Mushaf is a physical book or collection of papers in which the verses of the Quran are written. The Quran on a phone is a software application that opens and closes with the phone. If we open it and read the verses of the Quran displayed on the phone, our hands do not touch the actual text directly.
- Some Islamic legal experts explain that a Muslim should not read the Quran on a phone without wudu. The reason for this second opinion is that the Quran on a mobile device is considered like a Mushaf. According to this view, a Mushaf is an object in which the verses of the Quran are written. Therefore, if a Muslim wants to read the Quran on their phone, they should perform wudu first because they are considered to be interacting with the Quran.
Now, what is the correct opinion about reading the Quran without wudu on a phone?
Of course, I will not force you to choose one opinion. You are free to choose the opinion that is best for you. Each opinion has its rationale. So, you can choose either the first or the second opinion.
That’s a brief explanation of “Can I read the Quran without wudu on my phone?”. As Muslims, we must understand this.
Do You Need Wudu to Read the Quran Online?
The important point about “Can I read the Quran without wudu?” that I will explain now is “Do you need wudu to read the Quran online?”. I want you to understand this because it is one of the important questions on the topic we are discussing now.
In the previous discussion, I explained that there are differences of opinion about the legality of reading the Quran without wudu on a phone. The Quran on a mobile device is one type of online Quran. The other type is the Quran available on websites.
So, to put it simply, I want to say that there are differences of opinion about the legality of reading the Quran online without wudu. These differences of opinion are similar to those about reading the Quran without wudu on a phone. I believe what I have explained before is very clear, so I will not elaborate on it further.
That’s a brief explanation of “Do you need wudu to read the Quran online?”. As Muslims, we must understand this.
Do You Need Wudu to Read Quran Translation?
The important point about “Can I read the Quran without wudu?” that I will explain now is “Do you need wudu to read a Quran translation?”. I want you to understand this so you have a complete understanding of what we are discussing now.
One important thing I want to clarify before I explain more about “Do you need wudu to read a Quran translation?” is that there are two types of Quran translation:
- Quran translated word by word.
- Quran translated to explain its meaning.
Although there are two types of translations of the Quran, the translated Quran is not considered a commentary. Therefore, if a Muslim wants to hold a translated Quran, they must have wudu.
Now, do you need wudu to read a Quran translation?
In the discussion about "Can I read the Quran without wudu?" I have already explained that a Muslim may read the Quran in any condition except in a state of junub or major hadas. So, the answer to the question “Do you need wudu to read a Quran translation?” is as follows:
- A Muslim may read the translated Quran in any condition except in a state of junub.
- According to the majority of Islamic jurisprudence experts, Muslim women who are menstruating or in the postpartum period are not allowed to read the translated Quran. However, according to some scholars of the Maliki school, they are allowed to read the translated Quran even while menstruating or postpartum, provided that the menstrual or postpartum bleeding has ceased. In that case, they must take a janabah bath before reading the translated Quran.
That’s a brief explanation of “Do you need wudu to read a Quran translation?”. As Muslims, we must understand this.
Ethics of Reading the Quran
The important point about “Can I read the Quran without wudu?” that I will explain now is the ethics of reading the Quran. I want you to understand this so you know what you should do and what you shouldn't do when reading the Quran.
In general, there are four ethics of reading the Quran:
Wudu
Wudu is the first ethic you should observe before reading the Quran. The goal is to remove minor hadas. If you do not have water for wudu, you can perform Tayammum. If you have major hadas, you must perform the Janabah bath before reading the Quran.
Cover the Genitals (Awrah)
Covering your awrah is the second ethic you should observe before and during the reading of the Quran. You should do this because the Quran is the word of Allah and the holy book for Muslims.
Facing the Qibla
Facing the Qibla is the third ethic you should practice when reading the Quran. This is considered a Sunnah, meaning it is recommended to face the Qibla while reading the Quran, similar to when you are praying.
Reading the Quran with Tarteel
Reading the Quran with Tarteel is the fourth ethic you should observe. This means reading the Quran with proper pronunciation and rules. The goal is to ensure you read the Quran correctly and without error.
That’s a brief explanation of the ethics of reading the Quran. As Muslims, we must understand this.
Conclusion
In conclusion, understanding the guidelines regarding "Can I read the Quran without wudu?" is crucial for all Muslims. We've discussed various aspects including who is allowed to read the Quran, whether you need wudu to read it on your phone or online, and the importance of wudu when reading Quran translations.
It’s clear that while it’s permissible to read the Quran without wudu in certain situations, performing wudu is still highly recommended to maintain the purity and respect of this sacred text. Similarly, understanding the ethics of reading the Quran—such as covering the awrah, facing the Qibla, and reading with proper pronunciation—enhances the experience and respects the divine words of Allah.
As Muslims, it’s essential to grasp these practices thoroughly to uphold the sanctity of our religious duties. Whether you are reading from a physical Mushaf, a phone, or online, maintaining these practices ensures you approach the Quran with the reverence it deserves.
I hope this article has clarified your doubts. If you have any further questions, feel free to ask. Thank you for reading, and may your journey with the Quran be enlightening and fulfilling. Ameen.
See you in the next article!
Regards,