Giving Quran to Non-Muslims

23-5-2001 | IslamWeb

Question:

Can I give the Arabic Qur'an along with translation in Marathi Indian language to a non-Muslims. I have given one already, so please reply in the light of Qur'an and Sunnah.
Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

The scholars are all agreed that it is unlawful to let the unbelievers hold the Quran if it is in Arabic or written in any other language alphabet. The basis for this unlawfulness is what Al-Bukhari and Muslim narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) forbade taking the Quran with us when travelling to lands of the enemies (non-Muslims). The reason the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) forbade taking the Quran to the non-Muslims’ land is because he feared that they might get it. So, if it is unlawful to take it to their land only because of the fear that it could reach the hands of the non-Muslims, then it is forbidden to sell it to them or offer it to them as a gift.

So, any Muslim who has already given a copy of the Quran (text) to a non-Muslim should try to get it back if possible, otherwise he should repent to Allah. This ruling concerns the Quran text itself. But the meanings of the Quran that are not accompanied by its text could be offered to a non-Muslim if there are signs that he is inclined to becoming Muslim. But if there is no sign that the person is willing to become Muslim, we should not give them the meanings of the Quran.

Allah knows best.

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