Ruling on Mus-hafs that have a Special Method of Writing

Answer:

All praise is due to Allah, peace and blessings be upon Prophet Mohammad and upon his family and righteous companions: The Quran is the book of Allah which was revealed to the Prophet(PBUH). Scholars of the Fundamentals of Jurisprudence define it as: “The word of Allah, The Almighty, that was revealed to Mohammad(PBUH) as a miracle and whose recitation is an act of worship.”{ Sharh Al-Mahali Ala Jam`e Al-Jawame`(1/81)}. The Noble Mus-haf is that which includes the compiled written pages of the Quran, or part of it. Imam Al-Ghazali said: “ The Chapters and the verses are the Quran; whereas, interpretations, rules of correct recitation etc. aren`t .”{Al-Mostasfa(1/81)}. The inclusion of the Quran within the Mus-haf means: The Mus-haf includes the inscriptions that constitute the words of the Quran where once you read them, you are actually reading the Quran in Arabic words. Actually, the Braille method isn`t a language, rather, it is a universally accepted system of writing used by and for blind persons and consisting of a code of 63 characters, each made up of one to six raised dots arranged in a six-position matrix or cell. These Braille characters are embossed in lines on paper and read by passing the fingers lightly over the manuscript. Based on the aforementioned, it is permissible to write the words of the Quran using Braille`s system of writing. Therefore, if you are actually reading the Quran through these inscriptions, then the rulings of the Noble Mus-haf apply to it as it includes that which indicates the Quran as the Arabic characters drawn on it show. This way, the pages included in it make up the Mus-haf, and so it takes the same rulings of the Quran with regard to the impressibility of holding, or touching it by a ritually impure person; particularly since those inscriptions were made on those pages as a Quran. Imam Al-Qalubi said: “It is permissible to write it in a language other than Arabic, and it assumes the same rulings as regards holding, moving and touching .”{Hashiat`a Qalubi wa Omairah(1/41)}. However, if what is read through the raised dots of Braille`s writing system weren`t Quran such as non-Arabic words that reflect a translation of the Holy Quran, then the inscribed-upon pages don`t have the rulings of Mus-haf. We advise the people in charge of printing Mus-hafs in Braille`s writing system to dignify them, and provide them with hard covers. They should also indicate on both covers of the Mus-haf that it contains chapters and verses of the Holy Quran, so that it is handled with care and respect. And Allah knows best.