Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Question: Assalamu alaykum
Has reading Qur’an from a smartphone or a tablet the same merit as reading it from a mushaf?
Answer: Wa ‘alaykum as-salam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh
I pray you are well.
In general scholars such as Imam al-Ghazali in his book Ihyaʾ Ulum al-Din and Imam al-Nawawi in al-Tibyan (which has been very capably translated) state that it is superior to recite the Qur’an from a physical copy because looking at it, and touching it is rewarded. Therefore, although you would not be touching a physical copy when reading from a digital device, you would certainly be looking at the words, which is rewarded.
However, it seems that reciting from a physical copy is still superior due to the extra element of touch. Some leading scholars in our time hold that one should not resort to a digital device in the presence of a physical copy as the reward for reading from the latter is greater, and because the words on the digital medium are merely a representation of the Qurʿanic text, and not the actual text itself.
Having said this, the above is for someone who is able to reflect of the meanings of the Qurʿan the same, regardless of him reciting from memory or by looking at the script. If, however, one focuses on the meanings, or reflects better using one particular method then that one is superior for him (al-Nawawi, al-Tibyan).
May Allah make the Qur’an the spring of our hearts. Amin
Wassalam,
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat