Can We Write or Put Marks in the Quran (Mushaf)?
For those who ask, can we put marks in the must have — that is, the copy of the Quran — when we are memorizing Quran or learning Tafseer, this is an issue of dispute.
I have the Quran; it’s a book where Allah’s words are printed on. Some scholars say that it is totally prohibited to put anything other than the word of Allah. This was reported by Abdullah ibn Mas’ud, and they say: keep the Quran pure from any other marks except that which is related to the Quran.
Other Scholarly Views
Some scholars say no, it’s totally permissible to write commentary.
So, I passed by an ayah in Surat Yusuf: إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ قُرْءَٰنًا عَرَبِيًّۭا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ — what is the meaning of “لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ”? I have no idea.
I look in the Tafseer, and okay — I write one, two, three, four, five, six meanings of it, so that next time I read it, I can understand and relate to it.
They say that there are so many copies of the Quran that have commentary on the edges, and some of the Companions used to do this as well. They used to write at the side of the pages, which were usually written either on leaves of trees or on the shoulder blades of animals.
So, it’s an issue of dispute.
Personal Inclination
I personally am inclined to say that I do not like even putting a marker on a verse of the Quran or putting a mark or writing something on the side.
There are sticky notes, there are pads where you can write, there are books that are specialized for you to write your notes in and relate them to the Quran — but I’d rather that you keep the Quran pure, clean, with nothing written.
Observing Common Practices
Because I’ve seen in the circles of Daffif a lot of abuse by the students, young youngsters, they write their names on the cover — okay, the cover is not the Quran — and then you find hearts with arrows penetrating, and you find marks within the pages of the Quran.
Maybe some of the ayahs are highlighted with pencils, and it is a form of disrespect to the Quran. Not that it cannot be done — but my own personal view is that I would never ever do anything like this to the Quran.
