What is meant by the following verse: “Which (that Book with Allah) none can touch but the purified.” (Al-Waqi’ah: 79)?

Answer

Praise Be to Allah and Peace Be Upon His Messenger.

Initially, Allah says: “That (this) is indeed an honorable recitation (the Noble Qur’an) * In a Book well-guarded (with Allah in the heaven) * Which (that Book with Allah) none can touch but the purified * A revelation from the Lord of Al-‘Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists).” (Al-Waqi’ah: 77-80)?

It was narrated by ibn Jarir that Jaber ibn Zaid, said “In a Book well-guarded (with Allah in the heaven.” means a book in the heaven.

Interpreters of the Holy Qur’an disagreed on the meaning of “but the purified”; some of them said that the purified are the angels.

  It was also narrated by ibn Jarir that ibn Abbas, Sa’eed ibn Jubair, and Ekremah said, if Allah wanted to reveal a Book, the scribes will copy it; thus, none can touch it but the angels.

It was also narrated from Qatada that “none can touch it but the purified” means in heaven, there none can touch it but angels’ however, on Earth, all people can touch it, even the Magians or hypocrites.

Ibn Jarir said that Allah, Praise be to Him, announced that only the purified can touch the book, and “the purified” comprises angels, prophets and apostles, and all who are free (pure) from sins.

Nevertheless, the menstruating or the sexually defiled Muslims are not allowed to hold the Holy Qur’an. This ruling is agreed upon by the four senior scholars. Ibn Hazm and Dawood Al-Thahiri said that it is lawful to be held by the menstruating or the sexually defiled Muslims.