A Madanī Request To Publishers

It is a heartfelt Madanī request to the publishers of religious books and monthly journals to refrain from printing any verses or translations of verses on any side of the front cover or back cover of books, pamphlets, booklets etc. because in picking up and touching the book, countless Muslims are caught up in absent-mindedly touching the verses without Wuḍū. 

In this respect, ‘Allāmaĥ Maulānā Al-Ḥāj Al-Ḥāfiẓ Al-Qārī Ash-Shāĥ Imām Aḥmad Razā Khān عَـلَيْهِ رَحْمَةُ الـرَّحْمٰن has stated on page 393 of volume 23 of Fatāwā Razawīyyaĥ, ‘Printing verses onto a paper which is wrapped around a bundle or packet of newspapers or booklets, or on cards or envelopes, causes disrespect to occur and leads towards Ḥarām, because it could be touched by postmen or others who may not be in the state of Wuḍū or may require Ghusl, or by Kuffār [unbelievers] who are always in a state of impurity [i.e. without Ghusl], and this is Ḥarām. Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has stated: 

لَا یَمَسُّہٗۤ اِلَّا الۡمُطَہَّرُوۡنَ 

No one should touch it except when in the state of ritual ablution (Wuḍū). 

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] 

These might be placed on the floor in order to affix seals; these might be ripped and thrown into the waste, and this misconduct with a verse has resulted from the act of the publisher or writer.’ 

What is faith? I asked my intellect 

My intellect responded: Faith is all respect 

سُـبْحٰـنَ الـلّٰــه عَزَّوَجَلَّ! If you see a verse of the Holy Quran printed on the cover of any book, it is requested that, after making good intentions, you show the aforementioned passage to the publisher, or send them a photocopy of it by mail [or email]. Along with it you should write, ‘After seeing a verse of the Holy Quran on the cover of your so-and-so book, I am writing to request that you kindly refrain from printing verses or their translations on the covers of books, so that Muslims can be protected from unmindfully touching them without Wuḍū.’ جَزَاكَ اللّٰهُ خَيۡرًا 

If the publisher is a fan of the scholars of Islam اِنْ شَــآءَالـلّٰـه عَزَّوَجَلَّ, he will bless you with his supplications, and will express his intention to be mindful of such a matter in the future. 

Maḥfūẓ Khudā rakĥnā sadā bay-adabaun say 

Aur mujĥ say bĥī sarzad na kabĥī bay-adabī ĥo 

O Allah! Protect me always from those who disrespect 

And may I too never commit any form of disrespect 

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب            صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد