The Ruling on a Christian Touching the Mushaf
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Question:
What is the ruling on a Christian touching the Mushaf, and likewise touching a translation of the meanings of the Noble Qur'an?
Answer:
There is a dispute among the scholars regarding this, and the well-known position among the scholars is to prevent Christians, Jews, and other disbelievers from touching it; because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade traveling with the Qur'an to the land of the enemy. He said:, which indicates that they are not to be given access to it.
They are only permitted to hear it. Allah the Exalted said: [Surah al-Tawbah: 6], meaning: it is recited to them so that they may hear it, but the Qur'an is not to be handed over to them.
Some scholars held the view that it is permissible if the disbeliever's conversion to Islam is expected, and they argued for this by stating that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) wrote to Heraclius, the ruler of the Romans, the words of the Glorious and Exalted: [Surah Al Imran: 64]. They said: This is a great verse, a verse from the Book of Allah, and he wrote it to Heraclius.
The correct view is that this is not a proof, but rather it indicates the permissibility of writing one or two verses from the Book of Allah. As for handing over the Mushaf, this is not established from him (peace and blessings be upon him).
As for a translation of the meanings of the Qur'an, there is no harm in a disbeliever touching it; because a translation is, in meaning, a book of exegesis and not the Qur'an. That is, the translation is an exegesis of the meanings of the Qur'an. So if a disbeliever or one who is not in a state of ritual purity touches it, there is no harm; because it does not have the ruling of the Qur'an.
The ruling of the Qur'an applies only when it is written in Arabic alone and contains no exegesis. However, if it is accompanied by a translation, its ruling is the ruling of exegesis. And it is permissible for one in a state of ritual impurity, a Muslim, or a disbeliever to carry exegesis; because it is not the Book of the Qur'an, but it is considered one of the books of exegesis.
What is the ruling on a Christian touching the Mushaf, and likewise touching a translation of the meanings of the Noble Qur'an?
Answer:
There is a dispute among the scholars regarding this, and the well-known position among the scholars is to prevent Christians, Jews, and other disbelievers from touching it; because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade traveling with the Qur'an to the land of the enemy. He said:
lest their hands touch it
لئلا تناله أيديهمThey are only permitted to hear it. Allah the Exalted said:
And if any one of the polytheists seeks your protection, then grant him protection so that he may hear the words of Allah
وَإِنْ أَحَدٌ مِّنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ اسْتَجَارَكَ فَأَجِرْهُ حَتَّى يَسْمَعَ كَلاَمَ اللّهِSome scholars held the view that it is permissible if the disbeliever's conversion to Islam is expected, and they argued for this by stating that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) wrote to Heraclius, the ruler of the Romans, the words of the Glorious and Exalted:
Say, "O People of the Scripture, come to a word that is equitable between us and you
قُلْ يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ تَعَالَوْاْ إِلَى كَلَمَةٍ سَوَاء بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمْThe correct view is that this is not a proof, but rather it indicates the permissibility of writing one or two verses from the Book of Allah. As for handing over the Mushaf, this is not established from him (peace and blessings be upon him).
As for a translation of the meanings of the Qur'an, there is no harm in a disbeliever touching it; because a translation is, in meaning, a book of exegesis and not the Qur'an. That is, the translation is an exegesis of the meanings of the Qur'an. So if a disbeliever or one who is not in a state of ritual purity touches it, there is no harm; because it does not have the ruling of the Qur'an.
The ruling of the Qur'an applies only when it is written in Arabic alone and contains no exegesis. However, if it is accompanied by a translation, its ruling is the ruling of exegesis. And it is permissible for one in a state of ritual impurity, a Muslim, or a disbeliever to carry exegesis; because it is not the Book of the Qur'an, but it is considered one of the books of exegesis.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.