Keeping verses of the Qur'an at home, with care

In short: keep cards that carry Qur'an verses or the names of Allah in a clean, raised place, handle them with clean hands, keep them out of the bathroom, and ask a scholar you trust how to handle one that wears out.

Our cards carry verses of the Qur'an, hadith of the Prophet, peace be upon him, and the names of Allah. Many people ask how they should keep them. Here are some simple practices that many families follow. Where scholars hold different views, we say so, and we encourage you to ask a scholar you trust.

1. Give them a clean, raised place

Keep the box on a shelf, a desk or a bedside table rather than on the floor. A small, dedicated spot also makes the daily habit easier, because the cards are always where you expect them.

2. Handle them with clean hands

Many people like to be in a state of wudu when they read Qur'anic text, and it is a beautiful habit to build. Scholars differ on whether this applies to cards and printed extracts in the same way as to a full mushaf, so ask a scholar if you are unsure.

3. Keep them out of the bathroom

Avoid taking cards that carry the words of Allah into the bathroom or other places where you would not take a copy of the Qur'an.

4. Mind where you set them down

When you carry a card with you, keep it in a bag, a book or a pocket where it will stay clean, rather than leaving it on a seat or among things that might soil it.

5. What should you do when a card becomes worn?

A card that has been read every day for years may eventually wear out. Scholars have long discussed the respectful handling of worn pages that carry the words of Allah, and practices vary between communities. Some keep them, some bury them in clean ground, and others follow different practices taught by their scholars. Please follow the guidance of a scholar you trust rather than simply discarding a card.

6. Teach children by example

Children notice how adults handle things. Showing them where the cards live, and how you pick one up and put it back, teaches respect for the words more than any instruction.

Questions people ask

Do I need wudu to touch a card with a Qur'an verse?

Many people choose to, and scholars differ on whether the rules for a full mushaf apply to printed extracts. Ask a scholar you trust.

Can I throw away a worn card?

Please do not simply discard it. Follow the guidance of a scholar you trust on respectful handling.

The aim of all of this is not worry. It is to treat words we love with the care they deserve, and to let that care become part of the pause itself.