Title: Printing Parts of Qur'anic Verses on T-Shirts as a Means of Propagation Question: I apologize for sounding redundant if I have already asked this question. However, I would appreciate any help you can provide. Each year our Muslim Students Association debates whether to put a Qur'anic ayah (in English) on our Muslim Students Association T-Shirts. Primarily we see this as a means of doing da`wah (propagation) and spreading the message of Islam while also having a cool shirt to wear. However, some people have taken exception to having the Qur'an on a shirt because it will be thrown around and washed. Could you comment? Salaam , Answer: The issue, as is quite obvious, does not relate directly to the Islamic Shari`ah . The matter, therefore, has to be decided through Ijteha'd. In my opinion, even though the spirit of the suggestion is quite commendable, yet it ignores the real duty of the Muslims. It should be remembered that the duty of the Muslims is not to propagate the words of the Qur'an, but to deliver the message and the true spirit of the message that these words entail. The correct method of this propagation is more through actions, rather than words. Setting high moral standards of character and personal integrity and living according to the universally accepted ethical principles is, indeed, one of the prerequisites for Muslims if they want to attract any attention of the non-Muslims toward Islam and its teachings. We must not forget that the most important thing, which has a much more lasting impact on others is the inner self of an individual rather than his physical appearance. If we - the Muslims - lack the desired ethical and moral qualities in ourselves, the printing of any attractive verses of the Qur'an can only serve as golden words and quotable quotes, without much practical significance. If we ourselves are not fully committed to following the teachings of the Qur'an, in letter and spirit, then how can we expect to attract others to the Qur'an, merely by printing its verses on our T-shirts? Jesus (pbuh) is ascribed to have said: Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, you will know them by their fruits. (Matthew 7: 15 - 20) Keeping the above explanation in perspective, it may be said that even though printing the verses of the Qur'an on our T-shirts is not prohibited by the Shari`ah , yet the objective that is sought to be met through this printing is likely to be achieved more effectively by other methods, more expressly prescribed by the Shari`ah . As far as the question regarding whether or not would such printing be allowed by the Shari`ah , I see no harm in such printing as long as it is the translation of the words of the Qur'an, rather than the words of the Qur'an itself. 16 th April 2000