Is it permissible to enter the bathroom with pieces of paper containing Qur'an? And is it permissible to travel with a mushaf to the lands of disbelief?

The questioner : I entered the bathroom and the Qur'an was in my pocket. Is there any prohibition on me for that?

The Shaykh : There is no prohibition as long as the Qur'an is in your pocket, hidden and preserved. Is that clear?

The questioner : Is there evidence for that?

The Shaykh : Is there evidence for what I am saying?

The questioner : Yes, O Shaykh.

The Shaykh : Are you asking if there is evidence for what I am saying?

The questioner : Yes.

The Shaykh : Ah, the answer is: the evidence is not for the one who adheres to the principles and scientific jurisprudential rules, but rather the evidence is for the one who contradicts them. Perhaps you know, as I do, that the original ruling for things is permissibility, and that this original ruling cannot be departed from except by a binding legal evidence. It is said, "The rule is such and such, but such and such is an exception to it." This exception does not exist at all. Rather, there is the well-known verse: So, if the noble mushaf, as I said, is in the pocket and not visible, then there is nothing in it of humiliation. And there is no difference in my view between a Muslim who does not memorize the Qur'an by heart and a Muslim who has memorized the Qur'an; both are equal when they enter the place of relief. If it is not visible, there is nothing in it of humiliation. And there is no difference in my view between a Muslim who does not memorize the Qur'an by heart and a Muslim who has memorized the Qur'an; both are equal when they enter the place of relief. This one has the words of Allah in his pocket, and that one has the words of Allah in his chest, so both are equal. Therefore, there is absolutely no blame in that. The blame is only if the mushaf is visible; in this case, there is a type of humiliation of the mushaf that is not befitting the exaltation of the rituals of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Did you understand my evidence?

The questioner : Yes, I heard from someone who transmitted from you, and I do not know if they transmitted it correctly or if they added to it or omitted from it. They said that you stated that Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) informed His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him): And that the Messenger advised not to take this Qur'an to the lands of disbelief, and advised on how to enter the place of relief. So, a fortiori, if that were a prohibition, the Messenger would have ordered us not to enter the bathroom with the mushaf. Is this transmission from you correct, O Shaykh?

The Shaykh : First: I want to understand, regardless of the fact that this transmission with this detail is not correct, does this detail that was transmitted from me contradict what you just heard from me?

The questioner : No, his statement agrees with what I said.

The Shaykh : So leave the detail aside, but I affirm some of that detail. It came in the two Sahihs from the hadith of Abdullah...

The questioner : Excuse me, O Shaykh, I did not ask for your permission.

The Shaykh : What is it?

The questioner : Our call is recorded.

The Shaykh : Good, light upon light, if Allah wills, even if you did not ask for permission.

The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.

The Shaykh : And to you. I say it came in the two Sahihs from the hadith of Abdullah ibn 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with them both), who said: And in a narration by Muslim: So this legal ruling is in it, or it is connected to the hadith by the operative cause of the ruling. That means the prohibition is not absolute. The prohibition of traveling with the Qur'an or the mushaf to the land of the enemy is not an absolute or general prohibition, but rather it is restricted by the fear that the enemy may reach it. The intended meaning of "reaching" here is not just touching, but rather piercing, tearing, humiliating, and the like. So, if we are safe from this fear, it is permissible for us to travel with the mushaf to the land of the enemy; otherwise, we would block the path of calling to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) by leaving the transmission of His words to the disbelievers. So, if this hadith prohibits traveling with the mushaf to the land of the enemy for this cause, then it means that it is permissible for us to travel with the mushaf to the land of the enemy. It may be in our pockets, as you asked about earlier, and one of us may be compelled to enter the bathroom or the toilet. So, if it is preserved and hidden, there is absolutely no harm in that, because you have known that the original ruling for things is permissibility, and you have known that there is no absolute prohibition on that. Have you finished your questions?