Question:
Assalamualaikum SS Dato’ Seri Mufti. Are the rulings of the Quran applicable for braille Quran?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
The Defintion of Braille Quran and the Quran
Braille is a widespread writing system based on the sense of touch around the world today. (See Braille al-Quran: Sejarah dan Kaedah by Muhammad Mustaqim Mohd Zarif, pg. 16)
The term braille itself originates from the name Louis Braille, who is a French who experienced eyesight problems, is the founder of writing based on the usage of raised dots to replace letters and numbers around the nineteen century and this system is known as cell which consists of six dots and also known as braille code. (See Pengajaran Al-Quran Braille: Isu Dan Cabaran Semasa by Hj. Norakyairee Hj. Mohd Raus et. al in International Journal on Quranic Research (IJQR), pg. 82-83)
Braille Quran is simply put the Quran in Arabic braille code which comprised of the hijaiyah letters, and diacritic signs such as fathah, dhammah and kasrah as well as symbols such as shaddah, sukun and mad. (See Metode Pengajian Braille Al-Quran by Ahmad Kamel et al. 2009)
In Malaysia, braille Quran is reviewed by Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) which comprised of the whole 30 juzuk of the Quran in Mushaf Usmani. It is written in Jawi braille writing and could be understood by the visually impaired around the world. The al-Quran Reviewing Committee in JAKIM will review it ensuring that there are no mistake in the arrangement of the verses of the Quran, letters, diacritic signs and others. (See Pengajian al-Qur’an dalam Kalangan Ahli Persatuan Orang-Orang Cacat Penglihatan Islam Malaysia (PERTIS), di Kuala Lumpur dan Kuala Terengganu by Rumiza Binti Abdul Rahman, pg. 46)
The main basis of Wasilah al-Quran Braille Code is six raised dots where their arrangement is two dots on the left to the right and three dots on top or below. The arrangement of the dots is manipulated as such that they will form certain letters. This enables students to identify certain letters replacing Hijaiyah letters used by normal people. Thus, these writing is read from the left to the right, different from the Arabic letters which are read from the right to the left. (See Pengajian al-Qur’an dalam Kalangan Ahli Persatuan Orang-Orang Cacat Penglihatan Islam Malaysia (PERTIS), pg. 57)
The Ruling of Braille Quran
Braille Quran is considered the same as al-Quran (mushaf). It is stated in Hasyiyah al-Jamal: al-Syihab al-Ramli was asked are the words of the Quran honoured even in Hindi or other form of writings? He then answered, it is not prohibited for the words are honoured and there are no alterations of it. It is different from translation of the Quran into languages other than Arabic, for there are changes of it.
The same is stated by Imam al-Suyuti in his book al-Itqan, where he was asked is it prohibited to write al-Quran in other forms of writing than Arabic, al-Zarkasyi said, I did not find any opinion (that states its prohibition) among scholars and thus it is permissible. The closest opinion is that it is restricted. While the final opinion is the first opinion (which is it is permissible). This is also the opinion of Imam Birmawi. (See Hasyiyah al-Jamal ‘ala Syarh al-Manhaj, 1/676)
Whereas, according to al-Qalyubi, the writing is permissible but its recitation is impermissible in languages other than Arabic. And for the written Quran (in another writing), the ruling of touching or holding it is the same as the rulings for a mushaf of the Quran. (See Hasyiyah al-Jamal Syarh al-Manhaj, 1/7676)
It is stated in al-Ghurar al-Bahiyyah by Syeikh Zakariyya al-Ansari: It is permissible to write the Quran in other languages than Arabic and the rulings of holding and carrying the mushaf the Quran applies to it. (See al-Ghurar al-Bahiyyah fi Syarh al-Bahjah al-Wardiyyah, 1/148)
Conclusion
According to the above explanation, it is understood that mushaf of the Quran written in braille is considered the same as the rulings of ordinary mushaf of the Quran.
Second, although the letters are different according to the raised dots, but when read by the visually impaired, then it is read the same as for normal people. Hence, we are inclined to the opinion that state that it is the same as mushaf of the Quran that is obligatory to be honoured the same as the Quran written in Arabic.
May Allah SWT give us knowledge and understanding in practising His every commandment. Amin.