It is narrated from Abdullah bin Abi Bakr bin Hazm that in the letter which the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, wrote for Sayyiduna Amr bin Hazm, it was also stated: "No one should touch the Qur'an except one who is in a state of ablution."

Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, said that no person should pick up the Book of Allah by holding its strap or by placing it on a cushion except in a state of ablution. If it were permissible to pick it up without ablution by holding its strap or placing it on a cushion, then it would also be permissible to touch the cover without ablution. And touching the Book of Allah without ablution is disliked because it is against its greatness and dignity, not because there is any impurity on the hand of the one picking it up that might get onto the Mushaf.

Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, said that the best verse in this chapter is: «﴿لَا يَمَسُّهُ إِلَّا الْمُطَهَّرُونَ﴾ [الواقعة: 79] » "None touch it except the purified." And this verse is close to the verse which is in «﴿عَبَسَ وَتَوَلَّى﴾» that «﴿كَلَّا إِنَّهَا تَذْكِرَةٌ. فَمَنْ شَاءَ ذَكَرَهُ. فِي صُحُفٍ مُكَرَّمَةٍ. مَرْفُوعَةٍ مُطَهَّرَةٍ. بِأَيْدِي سَفَرَةٍ. كِرَامٍ بَرَرَةٍ﴾ [عبس: 12] » meaning "The Word of Allah is an admonition; whoever wills may accept it, in honored scrolls, exalted and purified, in the hands of noble, virtuous messengers."