Is swearing on a wooden box containing a copy of the Qur’an treated the same as swearing directly on the Qur’an, and does the ruling differ if the box is empty?
Many scholars have considered swearing an oath upon the Mushaf, whether by placing one's hand on it or on its cover, to be contrary to the Sunnah and an innovation (bid'ah), due to the lack of evidence for it from the actions of the Prophet, peace be upon him, or his Companions. Ibn Qudamah explicitly stated that it is an addition to what the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, commanded, and Ibn al-Arabi said it is an innovation not mentioned by any of the Companions. Similarly, Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen issued a fatwa that swearing an oath upon the Mushaf to emphasize an oath has no basis in the Sunnah, and the Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta' considered it among the practices of some ignorant people. Swearing an oath should be by Allah alone, without the need to place one's hand on the Mushaf or anything else.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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