Kissing the Quran without Reciting

Question

A certain person does not know how to read or write. He comes, kisses the Holy Quran, places it on his head, touches it to his eyes, and then leaves, saying: “Those who can read obtain reward by reading; being illiterate, I obtain reward in this way.” Zayd says that this act is a bid‘a, because it will become a habit and people will stop reading the Quran. So the matter requiring clarification is: if a person who can read the Quran also does this act, is it correct or not? Or is it correct for both kinds of people?

Answer

It is established from some of the noble Companions ﵃ that they used to recite the Holy Quran and kiss it. This is [an expression of] reverence. But to content oneself with mere kissing and to turn away from recitation is wrong — it is a great disregard [of the Quran]. It is necessary to recite it as much as possible and to strive to understand it.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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