for him to touch the tablet or a copy of the Quran without ablution under any circumstances.” Is there any disagreement among the imams on this matter?

He replied:

Praise be to Allah. If he reads from a copy of the Quran or a tablet without touching it, that is permissible even if he is not in a state of ritual purity. He may also write on the tablet without ablution. Allah knows best.

He was asked:

Is it permissible to touch a copy of the Quran without ablution?

He replied:

The position of the four imams is that none may touch a copy of the Quran unless in a state of ritual purity, as stated in the letter that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, wrote to ʿAmr ibn Hazm:

“None should touch the Quran except one who is pure.”

Imam Ahmad said:

“There is no doubt that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, wrote it to him.”

This is also the view of Salmān al-Fārisī, ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar and others. No Companion is known to have disagreed with them.