What is the ruling on hanging Qur'anic verses in homes, and does this fall under the category of *tawlah*?
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The questioner : What is the ruling on one who hangs Qur'anic verses in the house, and is this what is called *tawlah*?
The Shaykh : *Taw'iyah*?
The questioner : *Tawlah*, *tawlah*.
The Shaykh : As for hanging verses in the house, if the intention is seeking blessing (*tabarruk*), it is a religious innovation (*bid'ah*). Likewise, if the intention is to worship Allah, it is a religious innovation (*bid'ah*). And if the intention is to serve as a reminder, there is no basis for it. This is because those who sit in this gathering might be reminded, or perhaps written above their heads is the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Al-Hujurat 49:12] and their entire gathering is backbiting, and this is a disrespect to the Noble Qur'an. It might even be said that this falls under the category of taking the verses of Allah in mockery. Furthermore, the Salaf, who were more eager than we are for reminding and admonishing, did not do this. Then, the matter has now developed so that they write these boards or papers with writings that look like engravings and decorations. They might write the verse [Saba 34:13] in the shape of a mihrab, write [Al-Qalam 68:1] in the shape of a pen, or perhaps [Al-Anbya 21:79] write it in the shape of mountain birds, write it in the shape of pomegranate mountains, write it in the shape of a pomegranate tree. All of this is wrong. The scholars have differed on whether it is permissible to write the Qur'an other than in the Uthmanic script, so how much more so if it is written in these shapes and decorations? For this reason, I warn against it and say: do not place hanging verses in your private or public gathering. Praise be to Allah, the verses are present in the Mushaf. Whoever wants to be admonished by them should take them from the Mushaf.
As for *tawlah*, it is something they hang up, claiming that it makes the woman beloved to her husband and the husband beloved to his wife. This is similar to what we call *dublah* (a ring), where some people write their wife's name on the ring they wear, and she writes the husband's name on the ring she wears. They claim that this is a bond. In fact, some of them, when told that he has a gold *dublah* and is told to remove it, says, "The lady will be upset," meaning the wife. It seems as if she takes it as a bad omen if he removes it because he would be parting from her. So, the bottom line is that *tawlah* is this thing they claim makes the woman beloved to her husband and the husband beloved to his wife. It has come in the hadith that it is from shirk (associating partners with Allah). Therefore, a person should avoid such matters and be sincere to Allah the Mighty and Majestic in his reliance and his acts of worship.
And with this, this gathering ends, because it ends with the call to the midday prayer. May Allah return us and you to such gatherings in a good state.
But I inform you that there will be no meeting here next Thursday, because we may have a trip. And until a meeting on the Thursday after that, if Allah wills. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon his family and all his Companions.
The Shaykh : *Taw'iyah*?
The questioner : *Tawlah*, *tawlah*.
The Shaykh : As for hanging verses in the house, if the intention is seeking blessing (*tabarruk*), it is a religious innovation (*bid'ah*). Likewise, if the intention is to worship Allah, it is a religious innovation (*bid'ah*). And if the intention is to serve as a reminder, there is no basis for it. This is because those who sit in this gathering might be reminded, or perhaps written above their heads is the saying of Allah the Exalted:
or backbite each other
ولا يغتب بعضكم بعضًاThey made for him what he willed of elevated chambers
يعملون له ما يشاء من محاريبNun. By the pen and what they inscribe,
ن * والقلم وما يسطرونWe subjected the mountains to exalt [Us], along with David and [also] the birds
سخرنا له الجبال يسبحن والطيرAs for *tawlah*, it is something they hang up, claiming that it makes the woman beloved to her husband and the husband beloved to his wife. This is similar to what we call *dublah* (a ring), where some people write their wife's name on the ring they wear, and she writes the husband's name on the ring she wears. They claim that this is a bond. In fact, some of them, when told that he has a gold *dublah* and is told to remove it, says, "The lady will be upset," meaning the wife. It seems as if she takes it as a bad omen if he removes it because he would be parting from her. So, the bottom line is that *tawlah* is this thing they claim makes the woman beloved to her husband and the husband beloved to his wife. It has come in the hadith that it is from shirk (associating partners with Allah). Therefore, a person should avoid such matters and be sincere to Allah the Mighty and Majestic in his reliance and his acts of worship.
And with this, this gathering ends, because it ends with the call to the midday prayer. May Allah return us and you to such gatherings in a good state.
But I inform you that there will be no meeting here next Thursday, because we may have a trip. And until a meeting on the Thursday after that, if Allah wills. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon his family and all his Companions.