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Ruling on Quoting from the Noble Quran

Answered as per Shafi'i Fiqh by Darul Iftaa Jordan
What is the ruling of Sharia on quoting from the Noble Quran and including its verses in people`s speech?

Answer:
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of The Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.

A Muslim should honour and glorify the Noble Quran, including its words and meanings; therefore, ritual purity is a condition for reciting and touching it, in addition to other conditions. Allah, The Almighty, says: "This is indeed a noble Qur’an, in a Book guarded which none touch except the purified, a revelation by the Lord of the Worlds."{Al-Waqi`ah/77-80}.

Ruling on the quotation taken from the Noble Quran depends on its meaning, so the speaker or the writer could include some verses in their speech or writing, and they could change their meaning or keep it as it is. An example on no change in the meaning is reflected in the following verse: "We shall strip away all rancour that is in their breasts; and beneath them flow rivers; and they will say, 'Praise be to God, Who guided us to this; for we would surely never have been guided if God had not guided us. Verily the messengers of our Lord did bring the truth.' And it is cried to them: 'This is your Paradise; you have inherited it for what you used to do'."{Al-A`raf/43}. An example on change in the meaning is using the pronoun (them) instead of (you) in the following verse:", but for you [there is] no welcome!"{Sad/60}.

Muslim scholars have differed as regards the ruling on quoting from the Noble Quran when no change is made: some considered it reprehensible while others considered it permissible."Some scholars disliked including verses of the Noble Quran in speeches, letters and the like while others permitted that, and the latter is the apparent opinion."{Tohfat Al-Mohtajj, 2-447}.

As regards the quotation accompanied by a change, scholars have permitted it with conditions, some of them are: the text or speech conveys a useful message which is acceptable in Sharia and contains no prohibitions. "Including verses of the Noble Quran or quoting from it, even in poetry, is permissible, even with a change in its structure."{Tohfat Al-Mohtajj, 2/447}.

In conclusion, if quoting from the Quran is conducted in a sound manner and meets the aforementioned conditions, then it is good. However, if it violates the meaning, is included in idle talk like that of the common and vulgar, is included in the speech that contains lots of symbols or that which is unfamiliar to the ear, then it isn`t permissible. And Allah knows best.

This answer was collected from the official government Iftaa Department of Jordan.

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