Quran reading and wudu

[Salma]

Salam all.    Is a coomplete wudu necessary for reading the Quran?

[Ruhi_Rose]

Walaykum as Salam.    Some jurists say wudu is necessary before reading the Quran.  But generally this view is not accepted.  What is commonly understood is that you simply need to be clean with no major impurity or pollution on your body that would normally require a bath e.g. state of janabah (after sexual intercourse).  But otherwise before reading the Quran you only need to be generally clean and make sure your hands that touch the Quran are clean, even if it is the translation, and in many copies of the Quran the original Arabic and translation are together .. original on the right side and translation on the left.  However, if you personally feel more comfortable performing a full wudu before touching the Quran, that's fine too but it's not obligatory as long as you are overall clean.

"O you who have believed, do not approach prayer while you are intoxicated until you know what you are saying or in a state of janabah, except those passing through [a place of prayer], until you have washed [your whole body]. And if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have been in contact with women and find no water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and your hands [with it]. Indeed, Allah is ever Pardoning and Forgiving."  4:43  An Nissa.

Reference above Verse 4:43 where Allah says wudu is necessary in state of janabah before prayers.  Based on the same logic with respect for the Noble Quran one should refrain from touching it in that state.  Allah also indicates that if water is not available, you can perform taiyamum.  For those who are unwell and find it hard to perform wudu with water, can perform taiyamum. If one is travelling and cannot find water, taiyamum would be fine.

[Salma]

That means women can't touch the Quran nor read it during periods, right?

[Ruhi_Rose]

Menstruation is not the same as state of janabah.  Most women take a full bath everyday even during menstruation and then put on their protection (sanitary pads) and there is no hygeine problem.  That's why Allah has not equated janabah with periods by mentioning it in so many words.  Janabah and periods aren't the same.  In fact Allah has also not stopped women from praying and fasting during periods.  All those restrictions come from Hadith via the rules of altered Christianity.  The only thing the Quran does not approve during periods is sexual intercourse with the spouse for reasons of physical cleanliness as that would certainly cause unhygeinic conditions.  Doctors advise the same.   

If a woman feels uneasy touching the Quran during periods, they can read it virtually online or on the mobile.

[Salma]

In state of janaba can a married Muslim woman or man read the Quran online or on mobile?

[Ruhi_Rose]

Practically it might be okay, but spiritually and respectfully NO.  State of janabah is a physically impure condition and it's never a good idea to prolong it.  That's why Allah has specifically mentioned this point in the Noble Quran.

[Salma]

So if wife and husband get into the state of janabah in the middle of the night, should they take  bath immediately or is it okay to wait until before Fajr salah for the bath?

[Ruhi_Rose]

It's up to the person.  If experiencing janabah at night, it's okay to finish one's sleep and wake up a bit earlier for Fajr to get enough time to take a bath prior to Fajr prayer.  But if one desires to take the bath at that moment, that too is fine.

[ZebunNissa]

Is it okay to take janaba bath from neck down, with a shower cap for convenience, if the hair has been recently washed and is clean?

[Ruhi_Rose]

Traditionalists say no.  They say janabah bath must be from head down.  They also insist one must do full wudu prior to that bath.  Frankly doesn't make much sense.  The Quran hasn't stated such rules.  A bath neck down serves the purpose of cleansing the state of janabah, especially if hair has already been washed lately and is clean.  Doing wudu and taking a full bath has no practical reason for the wudu. In such a case, one can only rinse the mouth and then take full bath. That would be perfectly fine.  However, if the bath is neck down, then one would need to rinse the mouth, wash the face and run wet hands over the hair as done for wudu.  But won't require to wipe the neck, wash the arms and feet as that will be done during the shower.

[ZebunNissa]

JazekAllah khairen.  Very sensible.   Thanks from me and my sister Salma.

[Ayesha Begum]

Salam Alaikum.   I have heard many sisters and brothers say it's necessary or advisable for everyone to do wudu before going to sleep.   What is your view?  And what is the purpose of this?

[Heba E. Husseyn]

Salam Alaikum.   I have heard many sisters and brothers say it's necessary or advisable for everyone to do wudu before going to sleep.   What is your view?  And what is the purpose of this?

Walaikum as Salam.    The Noble Quran does not say that at all, only the Hadith does.  Hadith not only says to do wudu before sleep, but insists that even if you have already maintained your earlier wudu, yet you must renew your wudu by washing all over again before sleep.

“When you go to bed, do Wudu as for prayer.” (Bukhari, 247; Muslim 2710).

A 13th century Hadithist, Al Nawawi, says one should go to sleep in state of wudu, and alludes that if they already have their wudu then no need to renew it.  “If a person has Wudu, that is sufficient for him, because the point is to go to sleep having Wudu, lest he die in his sleep, and so that his dreams will be more true, and so that the Shaytan will be less likely to play with his dreams and terrify him.” 

For sure An-Nawawi's view has no logical basis neither in the Noble Quran nor the common sense.  Wudu does not help to keep Shaitaan away during sleep neither does it help to eradicate bad dreams neither does dying in sleep with wudu help to diminsh one's sins.  To pass away in a state of purity depends on one's level of righteousness.  Of course we should stay clean whether asleep or awake.  But a mere physical wudu has no bearing on the sort of things An-Nawawi has said.   At the end of the day, it's up to you.  If you feel nicer sleeping with wudu then go ahead.  Otherwise even if your wudu after Isha is broken yet you are generally clean and comfortable with yourself, that's just as fine.

[Ayesha Begum]

Okay thanks a lot.