Question

Assalam Alaikum: 

First of all, I want to thank you for this wonderful site.  May Allah reward you.  I have some simple questions concerning recitation and proper handling of Qur'an.  First of all, I know it is haram to even touch Qur'an when in need of "ghusl", but must you have "wudu" (even for example to move it from one place to another)?  Do these rules apply to Qur'an which also contains a translation in a foreign language? 

My small daughter is memorizing short surahs and likes to pretend she is reading from Qur'an when she recites them.  She holds the Qur'an and follows letters with her finger, although she obviously doesn't follow accurately.  Is there any problem with this? 

Must you have "ghusl" or or at least "wudu" to recite Qur'an "ghaib" without holding the actual book?  (Can a woman in her menses recite Qur'an "ghaib" or at least parts of suras (i.e. to correct a child learning, etc.))? 

Is it obligatory for a woman to cover her hair when reciting aloud or just silently reading Qur'an? 

I have a daughter (age 10) who is currently learning tajweed (and therefore reads Qur'an better than I); I also have a daughter age 7 who, although doesn't know tajweed, pronounces the Arabic letters much better than I.  They both are perfect in their performance of the salat.  When we pray jamaa'ah in our home, is it permissible for them to be the imam?  I read that it is permissible for a child to lead adults if they recite Qur'an better, and my children most enjoy the responsibility of being the imam, but  people tell me this is haram.

Thank you for answering my many questions! 

Answer

Wa alaikum assalaam wa rahmatu Allahi wa barakatuh.  Jazakum Allahu khairan for your comments.

May Allah reward you for bringing up your children learning the Qur’an.  May Allah make it easy for them to memorize and understand the Qur’an, and grant you the reward of their righteous deeds as well. 

We will have to link you to a scholar for the answers to your questions since they are all fiqh related questions and we are not experts in that field, nor have we been given an ijaazah in fiqh. There are differences of opinions among the scholars in some of the rulings on your questions.  We also want to make clear to those that read these answers and questions that the submitter was a mother, not a father. 

 1. Must you have "wudu" (even for example to move it from one place to another)?  Do these rules apply to Qur'an which also contains a translation in a foreign language? 

www.islam-qa.com Question #3100: Clever guess on the part of a Christian woman 

2. My small daughter is memorizing short suras and likes to pretend she is reading from Qur'an when she recites them.  She holds the Qur'an and follows letters with her finger, although she obviously doesn't follow accurately.  Is there any problem with this?

We could not find a fatwa of a scholar on this issue, but found something that is good to read.  www.islam-qa.com Question #22950: Spiritual training of children 

3. Must you have "ghusl" or or at least "wudu" to recite Qur'an "ghaib" without holding the actual book?  (Can a woman in her menses recite Qur'an "ghaib" or at least parts of suras (i.e. to correct a child learning, etc.))?

www.islam-qa.com Question #2564: Reading Qur’aan during menses 

4. I have a daughter (age 10) who is currently learning tajweed (and therefore reads Qur'an better than I); I also have a daughter age 7 who, although doesn't know tajweed, pronounces the Arabic letters much better than I.  They both are perfect in their performance of the salat.  When we pray jamaa'ah in our home, is it permissible for them to be the imam?  I read that it is permissible for a child to lead adults if they recite Qur'an better, and my children most enjoy the responsibility of being the imam, but  people tell me this is haram. 

www.islam-qa.com Question #9933: A boy leading a woman in prayer and vice versa

This last fatwa is not completely related to your question, but close. 

Please contact a scholar about any further explanations to your questions, and for an answer to question number two which we couldn’t find a relevant fatwa.