Can Qur'an be touched without wudu?

The question of whether the Qur'an can be touched without wudu (ablution) has been discussed within Islamic scholarship, and there are varying opinions based on interpretations of the Qur'an and hadith.

The Qur'an itself does not explicitly prohibit touching it without wudu. In fact, the verse, O you who believe! When you stand (intend) to offer As-Salah (the prayer), then wash your faces... 5:6 addresses the requirements for prayer and purification rather than directly about handling the Qur'an. Tafsir Ibn Kathir elaborates that while the verse emphasizes the importance of purification before prayer, it does not specify that one must be in a state of wudu to read or touch the Qur'an itself.

On the other hand, Al-Kafi contains a narration where Imam Abu Abd Allah (peace be upon him) mentioned, It is not harmful, but one must not touch the book in such condition. Al-Kafi 33:4024 This indicates that while it may not be strictly forbidden to read the Qur'an without wudu, it is advisable to avoid touching it in that state.

Therefore, while there is no definitive prohibition in the Qur'an against touching it without wudu, the practice of performing wudu before doing so is highly recommended and seen as a sign of respect for the sacred text.