[Q 322] Permissibility of Hanging Quranic Frames in the Bedroom

Question

What is the ruling on hanging frames in the bedroom that contain Quranic verses? Is it permissible to point feet towards that wall? Also, if such frames are present, what is the ruling on marital relations in that room?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الجواب بعون الملك الوهاب اللهم هداية الحق والصواب

Answer

It is permissible to hang frames that contain Qur’anic verses, etc. on the walls of the bedroom.

It is not Makruh to point your feet towards a wall that has such a frame hung on it, as long as your feet are at such a height that it won’t be considered as pointing your feet directly at the frame.

However, it will be disrespectful to engage in marital relations in the room without covering such frames.

The Imam of Ahl-ul-Sunnah, A’la Hazrat, Imam Ahmad Rida Khan (may Allah have mercy on him) (d. 1440H / 1921CE) states:

“Wherever a verse of the Holy Quran is written, be it on a paper or any item, even if it is covered with glass that does not conceal it, to engage in intercourse or to be unclothed in such an area will be a sign of disrespect, unless the Quranic verse itself is covered.”

(Fatawa Ridawiyya, Vol. 23, Pg. 404, Raza Foundation)

It is stated in Fatawa Hindiyya:

” يجوز قربان المرأة في بيت فيه مصحف مستور، كذا في القنیۃ.“

“It is permissible to approach one’s wife in a room where there is a Quran that is covered, as mentioned in Al-Quniya.”

(Al-Fatawa Al-Hindiyya, Book of Dislikeable Matters, Chapter 5, Vol. 5, Pg. 322, Dar Al-Fikr, Beirut)

While detailing the ruling of pointing feet towards religious books, the author of Fath Al-Qadir, Allama Ibn Humam (may Allah have mercy on him) (d. 861H) writes:

يكره أن يمد رجليه في النوم وغيره إلى القبلة أو المصحف أو كتب الفقه إلا أن تكون على مكان مرتفع عن المحاذاة

“It is Makruh to extend one’s feet towards the Qibla, the Quran, or books of Fiqh, whether one is asleep or otherwise, unless they are placed at a height above the level of one’s feet.”

(Fath Al-Qadir, Book of Prayer, Chapter on Invalidating and Disliked Acts in Prayer, Vol. 1, Pg. 420, Dar Al-Fikr, Beirut)

In Tanweer Al-Absar and Durr Al-Mukhtar, it is stated:

كره (مد رجليه في نوم أو غيره ۔۔۔ إلى مصحف أو شيء من الكتب الشرعية إلا أن يكون على موضع مرتفع عن المحاذاة) فلا يكره

“It is Makruh to extend one’s feet in sleep or otherwise towards the Quran or any of the religious books unless they are placed at a height above the level of one’s feet.”

Under this, Allama Ibn Abidin Shami Damishqi Hanafi (may Allah have mercy on him) (d. 1252H) states in Radd Al-Muhtar:

(قوله مرتفع) ظاهره ولو كان الارتفاع قليلا ط قلت: أي بما تنتفي به المحاذاة عرفا، ويختلف ذلك في القرب والبعد، فإنه في البعد لا تنتفي بالارتفاع القليل والظاهر أنه مع البعد الكثير لا كراهة مطلقا تأمل

“(The wording, ‘at a height’) clearly means even if the raised height is minimal.

I say: Such a height that removes alignment by customary standards. This (criteria) varies with distance. If the distance is great, slight elevation does not suffice.

It is clear that with a great distance, it will not be Makruh whatsoever.”

(Radd Al-Muhtar, Book of Prayer, Chapter on Invalidating and Disliked Acts in Prayer, vol. 1, p. 655, Dar Al-Fikr, Beirut)

Answered by: Mufti Sajid Attari

Translated answer