Is the statement that it is forbidden to touch the books of the Torah and the Gospel—and what is recorded therein that has not been altered—still accurate, considering the proven corruption of these books, and therefore, is it permissible to touch them for one who is in a state of minor or major ritual impurity?

Scholars have differed on the ruling concerning touching other heavenly books for one who is not in a state of ritual purity. The majority of them have held it permissible, because the prohibition was specifically for the Holy Qur’an. The Shafi'is, Hanafis, and Malikis permitted touching the Torah and the Gospel for one who is in a state of minor ritual impurity, because the prohibition is specific to the Qur'an, and because these books are either abrogated or altered. The Hanbalis permitted touching the abrogated parts of them. Accordingly, there is no harm in touching the Torah and the Gospel for one who is not in a state of ritual purity, especially those existing today, as they have been distorted and altered.