Q: To read Quraan, we should have wudu and immense respect. What is the ruling on children (not baligh). Our baby is 2 yrs 6 months. Alhamdullilah, my wife has begun to teach her how to read arabic. At times she allows the baby to hold and turn the quraan without the baby having made wudu. Is this acceptable?
A. Although not compulsory, a child with understanding should be encouraged to make Wudhu before touching the Qur'aan. In your case the child is very small and does not have that understanding, so it will be permissible for this child to touch the Qur'aan without Wudhu. The parents must ensure that the hands of the child are clean.
Moulana Yusuf Laher
Checked and approved by: Mufti Siraj Desai