To read or not to read the Quran, without wudu, is a troubling question to all Muslims. We all want to read as much of the Quran as we can, whether daily or weekly. Reading the Quran is a very satisfying practice that brings peace and tranquility to our hearts and spirit, but can we do that without wudu? And what is wudu anyway? do i need wudu to read quran online?
You do not need wudu to read the Quran online. You can read the Quran from any electronic device or screen without having to do wudu before. This includes your smartphone, tablet, laptop, and kindle.
Wudu was first mentioned in Quran in surah Ma’idah verse 6
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا قُمْتُمْ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ فَاغْسِلُوا وُجُوهَكُمْ وَأَيْدِيَكُمْ إِلَى الْمَرَافِقِ وَامْسَحُوا بِرُءُوسِكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُمْ إِلَى الْكَعْبَيْنِ ۚ وَإِنْ كُنْتُمْ جُنُبًا فَاطَّهَّرُوا ۚ وَإِنْ” كُنْتُمْ مَرْضَىٰ أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ أَوْ جَاءَ أَحَدٌ مِنْكُمْ مِنَ الْغَائِطِ أَوْ لَامَسْتُمُ النِّسَاءَ فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا مَاءً فَتَيَمَّمُوا صَعِيدًا طَيِّبًا فَامْسَحُوا بِوُجُوهِكُمْ وَأَيْدِيكُمْ مِنْهُ ۚ مَا يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ لِيَجْعَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ مِنْ حَرَجٍ وَلَٰكِنْ يُرِيدُ لِيُطَهِّرَكُمْ وَلِيُتِمَّ نِعْمَتَهُ عَلَيْكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ”
Translation
“O ye who believe! when ye prepare for prayer, wash your faces, and your hands (and arms) to the elbows; Rub your heads (with water); and (wash) your feet to the ankles. If ye are in a state of ceremonial impurity, bathe your whole body. But if ye are ill, or on a journey, or one of you cometh from offices of nature, or ye have been in contact with women, and ye find not water, then take for yourselves clean sand or earth, and rub therewith your faces and hands, Allah doth not wish to place you in a difficulty, but to make you clean, and to complete his favor to you, that ye may be grateful.”
Transliteration
“Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo itha qumtum ila alssalati faighsiloo wujoohakum waaydiyakum ila almarafiqi waimsahoo biruoosikum waarjulakum ila alkaAAbayni wain kuntum junuban faittahharoo wain kuntum marda aw AAala safarin aw jaa ahadun minkum mina alghaiti aw lamastumu alnnisaa falam tajidoo maan fatayammamoo saAAeedan tayyiban faimsahoo biwujoohikum waaydeekum minhu ma yureedu Allahu liyajAAala AAalaykum min harajin walakin yureedu liyutahhirakum waliyutimma niAAmatahu AAalaykum laAAallakum tashkuroon”
What is wudu?
Wudu is a cleansing ritual performed by Muslims on specific occasions.
The wudu is performed before any prayer and before reading the Quran but a lot has been said about the latter.
Wudu has a highly spiritual significance and when done perfectly a Muslim gains hasanat and losses sayi’aat. As the water of wudu washes sins away.
How is wudu done?
It is done by the following steps:
- Washing your palms.
- Then by Washing your mouth.
- Washing the inside nose.
- Completely Washing the face.
- Washing both hands till the elbows.
- Wiping your head over your hair with your hands.
- Wiping the outside of both your ears with your fingers.
- Finally washing both feet with running water.
- Each step is done three times best, or two times, or one time.
However, a proper Muslim should never use excess water for wudu as it will be considered israf or waste of water.
Here is a simple video showing you how to do Wudu correctly:
When do we need Wudu?
Wudu is needed before prayers.
- The daily five prayers.
- Any kind of prayer performed.
- Strongly preferred before reading the Quran.
Do we need wudu to read the Quran?
Most Islamic scholars agreed that you need to do wudu before reading the Quran from the book itself as there is a verse in Quran in surah al with that says لَّا يَمَسُّهُ إِلَّا الْمُطَهَّرُونَ ‘Which none shall touch but those who are clean.
Some Islamic scholars went to say that every Muslim is already pure and purified thus they can touch it without wudu. However, the majority of Islamic scholars agreed it is best to read the Quran after wudu.
Do I need wudu to read the Quran online?
Reading the Quran online from your laptop, phone, tablet or any other screen is another matter of course. You are not touching the Quran itself, only streaming the information. This is why it is halal to read the Quran online without wudu. Yet remember that wudu is extra hasanat so it is always the best way.
Can I touch the Quran without wudu?
Most Islamic scholars agreed that you have to do wudu before only touching the holy Quran. As it can only be touched by those who were clean. Yet, some Islamic scholars said it was okay to only touch or hold the book before wudu. The first opinion outnumbers the second but they both exist.
Can I recite the Quran without wudu?
Yes. Reciting the Quran with your mouth anywhere can be done without wudu. You may mention Allah’s name without wudu like reciting Quran, saying dua, or any other way.
What if I can’t find water to do wudu?
If you are suddenly in a place where there is no access to water and you can’t find any source of freshwater or a sea or a lake, you are allowed to perform Tayammum.
What is Tayammum?
Tayammum was mentioned in the Quran as well in the same verse that mentioned wudu. It is a replacement for wudu or Ablution in case there is no water and it is performed by clean sand or earth.
How is Tayammum performed?
By touching the clean sand or earth with your hands then wipe your face and palms of your hands.
The earth must be a clean source like sand.
Conclusion
In conclusion, you can certainly read the Quran online or via a screen without wudu. It’s preferred that you always read with wudu and preferred if you are to touch, hold or read from the Quran holy book itself.
