The children (non-Baaligh) of the Madrassahs and to be in the state of wuzu to touch the Qur'an

Q. Are the children (non-Baaligh) of the Madrassahs obliged to be in the state of wuzu to touch the Qur'an?

R. As long as a child has not yet reached the age of bulugh (puberty), he is not mukallaf (responsible) for anything with regard to the Shari'ah. It is the responsibility of the parents or guardians to ensure that the child stays away from forbidden things such as watching TV or video, going to the movies, eating haraam food and so on. Any failure on the part of the child will be due to the negligence of the parents or guardians, depending on the case, who have not discharged their responsibilities towards the child and will have to answer for it in the court of Allah Ta'ala.

With respect to your question, the same reasoning described above should in principle apply. However, since this would cause difficulties (haraj) - difficulties that have been removed by Islam, as Allah Ta'ala says: ".. and he has not placed any hardship upon you in Deen.." (22:78) - and that the further postponement of the teaching of the Qur'an until the child reaches puberty has disadvantages in the religion, the Fuqaha (Jurists of Islam) allow non-Baaligh children to touch the Qur'an-e-Kareem without wuzu. However, it is desirable that these children perform wuzu from time to time so that they cultivate this habit.

[English version of "Les enfants (non baaligh) des Madrassahs et d'être en état de wouzou pour toucher le Qour'aan" – Al Haadi – Vol. 1 No. 4]