Section 5: Publishing of the Holy Quran

5. Publishing of the Holy Quran.___(1) A publisher may print the Holy Quran in off­set, photostate, photo­block or any other modern system of printing but he shall not print it in litho process. (2) In printing the Holy Quran, a publisher shall use paper the use of which is not prohibited by the Federal Government. (3) Every publisher shall get his specimen copy 1[, and every recording company shall get its specimen record,] of the Holy Quran compared with the text of the standard copy by a person holding a diploma from a religious institution or a certifi cate of Moulvi Fazil or a qualified Qari who is also a Hafiz or a person trained in the job of proof reading in Arabic and have a certificate recorded by such person at the end to the effect that the text and references do not contain any error. (4) The publisher shall ensure— (a) that the serial number of every Chapter ( Surah) is printed on every page and the serial number of every 3[Ayah] is inserted within the sign of conclusion (o) of every 3[Ayah]; (b) that the cover page of every edition of the Holy Quran clearly bears the name of the publisher, the name of the printing press, and the year of publication; (c) that every page of the Holy Quran bears the indication given in the illustration in th e Schedule; and (d) that on detection of any error or omission in the printed Holy Quran the leaf on which it occurs is replaced by a fresh leaf free from such error and omission in each copy: 1Ins. and subs. by Act No. X of 1987, ss. 4-5. 2Subs., omitted and added by Act No. II of 2024, ss. 4-5. 3Ins. and subs. by Act No. XXXVIII of 1976, s. 3. Provided that he shall not be penalized for non­compliance with the provisions of paragraphs (a) and (c) 1[unless he is found negligent in the performance of his duty]. (5) No translation of the Holy Quran shall be published 2[or recorded] without its Arabic text. 1[(5a) Arabic text of the Holy Quran shall not be printed on newspapers, flexes, cards, hand bills, brochures or on any other such disposable forms, and only its translation shall be printed in such forms where required.] 2[(6) No record of the Holy Qur’an which injuries its sanctity in any form shall be prepared]. 3[5A. Literal distortion of the text of Ayah.—Where, in a copy 2[or record] of the Holy Quran or in any extract thereof published in a text­book, prayerbook, religious treatise or otherwise, an Ayah has been so literally distorted, either by change of a word, or of sequence, or of Aarab, as to alter its meaning, the printer or publisher thereof 2[or, as the case may be, recording company], whether registered under this Act or not, shall, unless he 2[or it] can prove that such distortion occurred only due to a printing 2[or mechanical] error, be liable to the punishment provided for in section 6.] 2[5B. Translation or interpretation of the Holy Qur’an contrary to belief of Muslims.— Where, in a copy or record of the Holy Qur’an, or in any extract thereof published in a text book, prayer book, religious treatise or other book, an Ayah of the Holy Qur’an is translated, interpreted or commented upon by a non Muslim contrary to the belief of Muslims, the author, printer or publisher, or the person who prepared the record, whether registered under this Act or not, shall, unless he can prove that such translation, interpretation or commentary occurred only due to a printing or mechanical error, be liable to the punishment provided for in section 6.] 1[5C. Disposal of damaged or shaheed copies. ___A publisher or a recording company shall make suitable arrangements in the prescribed manner for disposal of damaged or shaheed copy of the Holy Quran.]

Effective date: 1973-01-01

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