Can an Illiterate Person Be Rewarded for Moving Fingers on Quran Verses?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel

Question

My mother is not literate and cannot read Quran. She is old and has low vision, but she is keen to gain reward and often memorizes suras by listening to the Quran or with children’s help. And my mother takes Quran in her lap, turns the pages, and moves her finger on verses one by one, thinking that she can get a reward at least by doing that.

Is moving fingers on verses one by one and turning pages of the Quran permissible? Will my mother be rewarded for that, as she cannot read Quran?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question.

Indeed, she can gain reward by touching the Quran, moving her fingers on each verse, and turning the pages. This can be done along with an audio translation. At the same time, take gradual steps in learning the Quranic alphabet and moving on further. This way, she will gain more rewards for her perseverance and continuous effort in learning how to recite the Quran along with listening.

Scholars say listening to the Quran is as rewarding as reciting it. Allah Most High says, “When the Quran is recited, listen to it and be attentive—so that you may be granted, Mercy.” [Quran, 7.204]

Buy a tablet/iPad for your mother and teach her to follow the Quranic recitation on quran.com and similar programs where each verse is highlighted; this way, she can follow and place her finger on each highlighted verse recited.

Listening to the Quran

Abdullah Ibn Mas‘ud narrates that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) asked him to recite the Quran to him. ‘Abdullah said, “You want to hear it from me, although the Quran was revealed to you?” He said: “Yes. Recite.” ‘Abdullah Ibn Masud ؓsays, “I started reciting Surat al-Nisa, and when I reached the verse: ‘So how will it be when We bring a witness from every faith-community and bring you (O Prophet) as a witness against yours? (فَكَيْفَ إِذَا جِئْنَا مِن كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ بِشَهِيدٍ),’ he said: “Enough for now,” When I raised my eyes to look at him, I saw tears trickling from his blessed eyes. [Bukhari]

‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) said: “Whoever listens attentively to a verse from the Book of Allah, will be light for him on the Day of Judgement.”

Imam ‘Abdur Razzaq (Allah have mercy on him) has recorded this narration as the statement of  ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (Allah be pleased with him). [Ibn Abi Shayba, Musannaf  ‘Abd al-Razzaq; Haythami, Majma‘ al-Zawa’id]

Kissing the Quran

It is reported about ‘Ikrima Ibn Abi Jahal (Allah be pleased with him) that he would raise the Quran to his face, cry and say: “This is the word of my Lord, this is the book of my Lord.” [Darimi; Mustadrak Hakim]

Kissing the Quran is a mark of respect for the Book of Allah. The scholars have encouraged respecting as well as kissing the Quran. Imam Zarkashi (Allah have mercy on him) has cited several proofs. [Zarkashi, al-Burhan Fi ‘Ulum al-Quran; ‘Itr, ‘Ulum al-Quran]

The above hadiths and report show that listening to others’ reciting has a great reward, and showing respect to it in various ways has precedence, especially in your mother’s case.

Related:
How Can I Achieve the Benefit of Reading the Qur’an When I Can’t Read Arabic?

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I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied in the UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, and Turkey. He started his early education in the UK. He went on to complete the hifz of the Quran in India, then enrolled in an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied the secular and ‘Aalimiyya sciences. He then traveled to Karachi, Pakistan. He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for several years. He has taught hifz of the Quran, Tajwid, Fiqh, and many other Islamic sciences to children and adults onsite and online extensively in the UK and Ireland. He taught at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK, where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences. He currently resides in the UK with his wife. His interest is a love of books and gardening.