What is the ruling on performing ablution before reciting the Quran? My mother is elderly and suffers from a colon condition that causes her to experience frequent flatulence, making it difficult for her to recite the Quran while in a state of ablution. Is it permissible for her to read the Quran without ablution?

It is impermissible in Islamic law for anyone in a state of minor or major ritual impurity to touch the Mushaf (copy of the Quran). This is the opinion of Malik, al-Shafiʿi, and Ahmad. They cite as evidence the letter of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to ʿAmr Ibn Hazm, in which he said, “None should touch the Quran except one who is in a state of purity” (recorded by Imam Malik in Al-Muwatta`).

Ibn ʿUmar (may Allah be pleased with them both) also narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “None is to touch the Quran except one who is in a state of purity” (recorded by at-Tabarani in Al-Muʿjam Al-Kabir). Abu Hanifa, however, allowed a person who is not in a state of ablution to carry the Mushaf by an attachment, whereas Malik and al-Shafiʿi prohibited this.

As for reading from the Mushaf, one must be in a complete state of ritual purity, free from both minor and major ritual impurity, based on the words of of ʿAli (may Allah be pleased with him) who said, “I saw the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him and his family, perform ablution, after which he recited a portion of the Quran, and then said, ‘This applies to one who is not in a state of major ritual impurity; as for one who is in state of major ritual impurity, then no [he may not recite from the Mushaf]’” (recorded by Abu Yaʿla in his Musnad). However, there is no objection in Islamic law to one who recites the Quran from memory, without touching the Mushaf.

Based on the above,
as long as the inquirer’s mother is unable to maintain her state of ablution due to a medical condition, and she has not memorized the Quran, then it is permissible for her on grounds of necessity to read from the Mushaf. However, she must perform ablution before touching the Mushaf, and any subsequent nullification of her ablution is of no consequence.

Allah the Almighty knows best.