248 - Abu Musa 'Isa ibn Sulayman narrated to us, saying: Hisham ibn Isma'il narrated to us, saying: Muhammad ibn Shu'ayb narrated to us, saying: I asked al-Awza'i about a man in a state of janabah and a menstruating woman who cannot find water for ghusl (ritual bath) and so they perform tayammum with dust; may they recite the Qur'an? He said: "Yes." I said: May they touch the mushaf (copy of the Qur'an)? He said: "No." I said: May they take hold of it by its cover/strap? He said: "Yes."

And I asked al-Awza'i about a man in a state of janabah who supplicates with words from the Qur'an, such as: {Our Lord, give us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the Fire} [2:201], {Our Lord, let not our hearts deviate after You have guided us and grant us from Yourself mercy. Indeed, You are the Bestower} [3:8], and the like? ............... (1) Do you consider that to be recitation of the Qur'an? "There is no harm in it, it is merely supplication."

And [what about] other [supplications like]: {My Lord, forgive and have mercy, for You are the best of the merciful} [23:118], and similar ones; intended as supplication, not as recitation? He said: "There is no harm in it."

He said: And I heard al-Awza'i being asked about a menstruating woman who says when she wishes to mount [a riding animal]: {Exalted is He who has subjected this to us, and we could not have [otherwise] subdued it} [43:13], and says when she dismounts: {My Lord, let me land at a blessed landing place, and You are the best to accommodate [us]} [23:29]? He said: "Yes, she may say that."