QUESTION: I have been researching on the matter of having Quran in our mobile phones as they have the capacity to take the whole Quran, my confusion is that one sheikh told me its allowed as long as you dont listen to it when you in the toilet, other sheikh say that its not allowed with the issue of the Quran being taken into a toilet. I would like to get some guidance to this matter because I would like to be listening to Quran rather than listening to music. Thank you for your question, and may Allah reward you for your desire to listen to and follow His book. My brother, Islam is a religion of logic and reason, and absence of both or either could make us stray. You can download the entire Qura’n on your cell phone; and yes you could take that phone to restrooms.

The downloaded Qura’n stays in the phone’s memory, exactly as the Qura’n stays in the heart and mind of a memorizer (Hafiz) of Qura’n. If it is Haram to take that phone to the restrooms, then no memorizer of Qura’n should ever enter the restrooms, take shower or bath. And, that is practically impossible, naturally and logically unreasonable and a totally mistaken point of view. There is nothing wrong with downloading Qura’n on your phone; and that phone can be taken to the restroom exactly as a Hafiz uses restrooms with Qura’n in his/her memory and heart. Every Muslim in the right mind understands, and has no desire or plan to listen to Qura’n in the restroom, (Astaghfirullah).

Furthermore, Allah The Almighty and His appointed angels are always with us, there is not one single moment of our worldly life when Almighty Allah is not with us. It will be different if someone downloads Qura’nic ayat as ring tones. The phone may ring when a person is in the restroom, and that is an obvious disrespect. Regardless of the location of the person, someone calls, the phone rings and the Qura’nic ring tone start (means recitation of ayat), person responses the call and which shuts off the ring tone (recitation of ayat) without completing the entire ayah. That is another disrespect of Qura’n.
In Surah Al-Isra (11:9), Allah The Almighty says; “Verily, this Qur’an guides those who are most just and right and gives glad tidings to the believers, who do deeds of righteousness, that they shall have a great reward.”

I take this opportunity to remind myself first and then all readers that the glorious Qura’n is the last testament of Allah. It has six rights on every human alive, and those rights are; 1) to acquire Qura’n, 2) read it, 3) to understand it, 4) implement its legislations (allowances, limits, prohibitions, rulings, etc) on him/herself first, 5) teach and implement its legislations on his/her family, and 6) take Qura’n to others. All these six (rights of Qura’n) are good deeds, but we must understand that only the last three (3) would change and guide us in this life, stand beside us in the grave and become a witness on the Day of Judgment.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) has said; “this Qura’n will be used as a witness either in favor of you or against you.”

Finally, Saheeh Muslim recorded a Hadith that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said; “He who calls to a matter of guidance, will earn a reward similar to the rewards of those who accept his call, until the Day of Resurrection, without decreasing their rewards. Whoever calls to a heresy, will carry a burden similar to the burdens of those who accept his call, until the Day of Resurrection, without decreasing their own burdens.”

I seek Allah’s mercy and forgiveness for all my sins, mistakes and misunderstandings in all matters. I pray that may Allah The Almighty increases His provision many folds for you, your loved ones and all those who turn to Allah for His guidance, assistance and forgiveness through Qura’n and Sunnah, Aa’meen.

I leave you and your loved ones in the mercy, guidance and protection of Allah The Almighty.
Thank you and regards, WaSalamu Alaikum,