Qur'an

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A pillow upon which you (also) use for resting your head is not suitable, it would be better to use a pillow bought only for that purpose, (for resting whilst reciting) and should be regularly cleansed and kept in good condition. It should also be covered with appropriate material (no flowers, distracting patterns, etc)....Why not use a clean table instead?

The general guideline when handling the Quran is that it ought to be placed on a high place for resting/when not in use, as per, it's exalted position - for instance on top of a clean bookshelf/table top. Similarly, when reciting the Quran the (acceptable) surface top should be clean upon which it is placed.

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Further guidelines with handling the Quran

There is no difference of opinion among the scholars concerning the fact that the Qur’aan must be respected and protected.
Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
The scholars are unanimously agreed that it is obligatory to protect and respect the Mus-haf.
Al-Majmoo’ (2/85).
The Muslim should not go to extremes in respecting the Qur’aan. People have gone to extremes in this matter and have made it too burdensome, as it was narrated that one of them said: “For thirty years I have not entered a room in which there is a Mus-haf without having wudoo’.” And if one of them is in a room in which there is a Mus-haf he would not sleep all night lest he break wind in a room in which there is a Mus-haf!

These actions are clearly contrary to the way of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and his companions (may Allaah be pleased with them). They lived in small, cramped rooms, but that did not prevent them from sleeping in their houses, or having intercourse with their wives, or staying without wudoo’ for a while, even though there were Mus-hafs in their houses. When the Qur’aan was collected, it was kept in the houses of many of them.

There were no shelves in the mosque of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) or the mosques of the Sahaabah on which to place the pages of the Mus-hafs, and papers containing knowledge. Hence what matters here is whether this is regarded as disrespectful or not. Hence there is nothing wrong with putting it on clean ground for one who needs to do that – such as if he wants to do the prostration of recitation (sujood al-tilaawah).

Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
Sincerity towards the Book of Allaah includes not putting it in places where it will be treated with disrespect, or where putting it there is a kind of disrespect towards it, such as a place where garbage is put and the like. Hence it is essential to avoid doing what some children do when they finish their studies, when they throw their books which may contain part of the Qur’aan in the streets or in the garbage and so on. Allaah forbid.
As for putting the Qur’aan on clean ground, there is nothing wrong with that, because this is not disrespecting the Qur’aan or mistreating it. It often happens that a person is praying or reading from the Mushaf and he wants to prostrate, so he puts it down in front of him. This is not regarded as disrespect or mistreatment of the Mus-haf, so there is nothing wrong with it.
Sharh Riyadh al-Saaliheen (1/423), Dar Ibn al-Haytham, hadeeth no. 181.

Shaykh ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Jibreen (may Allaah preserve him) was asked:
What is the ruling on putting the Qur’aan on the clean ground or on the prayer mat?
He replied:
It is better to put it in a high place so that it will be exalted in both the literal and metaphorical sense. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “Exalted (in dignity), purified” [‘Abasa 80:14]. If you need to put it down, then put it down in a place that is raised up, even if only a little. If that is not possible then it is permissible to put it on the ground, on a clean carpet and the like. The Qur’aan should not be put down in a low place or a place that is impure or on the dirt, because that is showing disrespect towards it. But if a person needs to put it down on a clean carpet, there is nothing wrong with that, so long as one is keen to exalt it both literally and metaphorically.
Fataawa Islamiyyah (4/15).

Based on that, if the mat is clean and it is unlikely that children or others will mess about with the Mus-haf, there is nothing wrong with putting the Mus-haf on it, but putting it in a higher place is better.
And Allaah knows best.

A hadith says wash your hands first thing in the morning as you never know where it's been (I.e. in our sleep hands could stray to unclean private parts) and hands also go all over the pillow too, therefore pillow may not be upto the standard cleanliness needed to place the Quran

However if you're reasonably sure the pillow is clean then there is no problem placing the Quran there

format_quote Originally Posted by Sumiya

Someone once told me that it's not right to place the Qur'an on the pillow (which we sleep on) while reciting. So I just want to clear this doubt. If it is fine to place the Qur'an on the pillow or not?

if you are sure to clarity of pillows then we place on it otherwise not.

format_quote Originally Posted by Physicist

And what about knee?
Sometime I put Quran on my knee while reciting if in the masjid/surau there is Qur'an but no such small tables available. So far no one told me anything against.

It's disrespectful to put it on knee, rather than that just hold it up so it's above your legs and groin area, sort of in mid belly or chest level

Or try to find a rowel (A Quran holder usually available in Mosques) to place the Quran in

format_quote Originally Posted by Ahmed.

It's disrespectful to put it on knee, rather than that just hold it up so it's above your legs and groin area, sort of in mid belly or chest level

Or try to find a rowel (A Quran holder usually available in Mosques) to place the Quran in

yes it is right but if you hold on your hands it is also right.