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Is it permissible to place the Mushaf upon one's head when supplicating?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Placing the Mushaf on the head when supplicating is an innovation (bid'ah). The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, did not do that, nor did any of his Companions. Supplication (du'a) is an act of worship that is tawqeefi (meaning its practice is restricted to what has been legislated), and the acts of worship are not established except with evidence from the Qur'an or Sunnah, and this act has no basis in either of them. What was narrated about Ali ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him, placing the Mushaf on his head was for a specific situation to illustrate the ugliness of his people's actions, and not to teach people that this act is permissible in supplication. The etiquettes of supplication are well-known in the Qur'an and Sunnah, and a Muslim must adhere to them.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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