What is the ruling on swearing by the Mushaf?
Short answer
If the one swearing by the Mushaf means the speech of Allah, the Most High, it is permitted according to those among the scholars who determined so; and it is better to use clear wording such as swearing by Allah, to avoid confusion.
Evidence and explanation
The Shaykh built the detail on the fact that the speech of Allah is among His attributes, while stressing that swearing by created things is not permissible.
Scholar referenced
This editorial summary is based on the original source linked below and is not presented as a verbatim quotation from the scholar.
From the text of the answer (Arabic, with an English translation)
Original answer — Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-‘Uthaymin
حكم الحلف على المصحف وبالمصحف — محتوى ٨٨٢٧- Question
«بارك الله فيكم، رسالة وصلت من أخيكم في الله رمز لاسمه بـ ع. ج. يسأل ويقول: هل يجوز الحلف بالمصحف، والحلف على المصحف، يقول مثلاً: والمصحف، لأعمل كذا، ما حكم الشرع في نظركم؟»
English translation (unreviewed): May Allah bless you. A letter reached us from your brother in Allah who abbreviated his name as 'A. J., who asks: Is it permissible to swear by the Mushaf, or to swear on the Mushaf, saying for example: 'By the Mushaf, I will do such-and-such'? What is the Shari'ah ruling in your view?
- From the text of the answer
«الشيخ: هذا السؤال ينبغي أن نبسط الجواب فيه، وذلك أن القسم بالشيء يدل على تعظيم ذلك المقسم به تعظيماً خاصاً لدى المقسم، ولهذا لا يجوز لأحد أن يحلف إلا بالله تعالى؛ بأحد أسمائه أو بصفة من صفاته، مثل: أن يقول: والله لأفعلنّ، ورب الكعبة لأفعلنّ، وعزة الله لأفعلنّ، وما أشبه ذلك من صفات الله سبحانه وتعالى، والمصحف يتضمن كلام الله، وكلام الله تعالى من صفاته، وهو -أعني كلام الله- صفة ذاتية فعلية لأنه بالنظر إلى أصله، وأن الله تعالى لا يزال موصوفاً به، لأن الكلام كمال، فهو من هذه النظرية من صفات الله الذاتية لم يزل ولا يزال متكلماً، ﴿فعال لما يريد﴾ ، وبالنظر إلى»
English translation (unreviewed): The Shaykh: This question should be answered at some length, because swearing by something indicates a particular veneration of the thing sworn by on the part of the one swearing. For this reason it is not permissible for anyone to swear except by Allah, the Most High, by one of His names or one of His attributes, such as saying: 'By Allah I will do', 'By the Lord of the Ka'bah I will do', 'By the might of Allah I will do', and the like of the attributes of Allah, Glorified and Exalted. The Mushaf contains the speech of Allah, and the speech of Allah, the Most High, is among His attributes; and it — I mean the speech of Allah — is an essential and active attribute, since looking at its origin, Allah, the Most High, is still described by it, because speech is perfection; so from this viewpoint it is among Allah's essential attributes: He has not ceased and does not cease to speak, “Doer of what He wills”, and looking at ...
The Arabic excerpts matched the original page word for word by an automated check and have not had human scholarly review. The English translations are unreviewed translations made for this site; they are not an approved Shari‘ah translation. Rely on the Arabic original.
Source
Ruling on swearing on the Mushaf and by the Mushaf
Title of the original page (Arabic): حكم الحلف على المصحف وبالمصحف
Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-‘Uthaymin, may Allah have mercy on him