Touching Tafsir Books Without Wudu When There Is a Valid Excuse

Question

If a qadi, a mufti, or students — especially those who read books of tafsir and hadith — have a valid excuse (‘udhr), is it permissible for them to touch these books without any dislikedness (karahat), or not? If it is makruh, to what degree is it makruh; if not, why not? Whatever is determined, what is the ruling of the Sacred Law upon one who commits it?

Answer

According to Imam Abu Hanifa ﵀, in the case described, touching [these books] is not disliked (makruh). It is likewise disliked (makruh) for a person in a state of minor impurity (muhdith) and the like to touch a tafsir of the Qur’an and books of fiqh, and likewise books of Sunna (hadith collections)

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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