The Obligation to Protect the Papers on Which the Noble Qur'an Is Written
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Fatwa No. ( 9798 ):
Q: Many owners of companies and paper factories import waste paper (waste paper) from foreign countries to manufacture new paper according to their specifications. This paper arrives at the port of (Calcutta) by ship, and then goes to the factories' warehouses. In that paper, copies of the Noble Qur'an, books on the hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and parts of both are found. Some of it is suitable for use, and some is not. The owners of the companies and factories are non-Muslims. The Muslims say: This is a weakening of our religious books, so we do not allow the companies to do so unless they arrange for the respect of our honored books in accordance with the Islamic Shari'ah. They insist that the government prevent the import of these
assets that have reached the port, and do not allow them to be removed from the port. So dissatisfaction began in their hearts, and they agreed to demand it, and the government did not prevent their import or prevent the removal of the assets connected to the port. So those companies suffer a great loss and close the doors of the paper factories. However, the government of India desires to attract the hearts of the Muslims according to their religion, and does not desire to force any party. So the government wants the fatwas from your presence with the Islamic evidence and proofs in this matter so that it does not err in justice or fairness. So please, write the detailed answer in the mentioned matter with the evidence and proofs from the books of the Islamic religion with page numbers for reference so that we can present it to the Muslims and their scholars. What is the disposal of these honored papers and books? Is it permissible for Muslims to put them in the machine in the factory with complete respect, and the machine changes its form with chemicals and it becomes like cotton, and then new paper is made from it? If they are buried in the grave or the bottom of the ground, the danger remains that children will take them from the graves and sell them in the market a second time. And if we put them in a lake or the sea, the mentioned danger remains as well, and the like of both is found with the police.
So help us in this matter with your detailed answer under the Islamic laws so that we can present it to the owners of justice in our government. And may Allah reward you with abundant good in the two abodes.
A: First: It is obligatory to protect the papers on which the Noble Qur'an is written; because it is the speech of the Lord of the Worlds, so it is forbidden to degrade them or expose them to insult. Second: It is not permissible to enable non-Muslims to touch the Noble Book - the Qur'an -. Third: It is permissible for Muslims to remove the writing of the Qur'an from the papers and torn mushafs, either by burning them, or burying them in pure land; out of respect for the Qur'an, and to protect it from harm and insult. Previously, the matter of using papers that contain something of the Qur'an was presented to the Council of Senior Scholars in its twenty-sixth session, and a decision was issued by consensus prohibiting what the questioner mentioned. This is the text of what he said in response to His Excellency the Minister of Hajj and Endowments in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia . (1) What you did regarding the experimental papers of grinding them, then burning them, then burying them in a pure place - is a good action, and in accordance with what the scholars mentioned; following the righteous caliph Uthman ibn Affan (may Allah be pleased with him). (2) The Council sees no approval of the request of the Ghadir factory;
because of the insult and degradation that results from it; due to the speech of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) in the papers. Fourth: As for the books of the noble hadith and the parts that contain something of the speech of Allah or the speech of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), it is also obligatory to protect them and not insult them, by burning them or burying them in good land far from the reach of children. And success is from Allah. And may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his companions.
Q: Many owners of companies and paper factories import waste paper (waste paper) from foreign countries to manufacture new paper according to their specifications. This paper arrives at the port of (Calcutta) by ship, and then goes to the factories' warehouses. In that paper, copies of the Noble Qur'an, books on the hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and parts of both are found. Some of it is suitable for use, and some is not. The owners of the companies and factories are non-Muslims. The Muslims say: This is a weakening of our religious books, so we do not allow the companies to do so unless they arrange for the respect of our honored books in accordance with the Islamic Shari'ah. They insist that the government prevent the import of these
assets that have reached the port, and do not allow them to be removed from the port. So dissatisfaction began in their hearts, and they agreed to demand it, and the government did not prevent their import or prevent the removal of the assets connected to the port. So those companies suffer a great loss and close the doors of the paper factories. However, the government of India desires to attract the hearts of the Muslims according to their religion, and does not desire to force any party. So the government wants the fatwas from your presence with the Islamic evidence and proofs in this matter so that it does not err in justice or fairness. So please, write the detailed answer in the mentioned matter with the evidence and proofs from the books of the Islamic religion with page numbers for reference so that we can present it to the Muslims and their scholars. What is the disposal of these honored papers and books? Is it permissible for Muslims to put them in the machine in the factory with complete respect, and the machine changes its form with chemicals and it becomes like cotton, and then new paper is made from it? If they are buried in the grave or the bottom of the ground, the danger remains that children will take them from the graves and sell them in the market a second time. And if we put them in a lake or the sea, the mentioned danger remains as well, and the like of both is found with the police.
So help us in this matter with your detailed answer under the Islamic laws so that we can present it to the owners of justice in our government. And may Allah reward you with abundant good in the two abodes.
A: First: It is obligatory to protect the papers on which the Noble Qur'an is written; because it is the speech of the Lord of the Worlds, so it is forbidden to degrade them or expose them to insult. Second: It is not permissible to enable non-Muslims to touch the Noble Book - the Qur'an -. Third: It is permissible for Muslims to remove the writing of the Qur'an from the papers and torn mushafs, either by burning them, or burying them in pure land; out of respect for the Qur'an, and to protect it from harm and insult. Previously, the matter of using papers that contain something of the Qur'an was presented to the Council of Senior Scholars in its twenty-sixth session, and a decision was issued by consensus prohibiting what the questioner mentioned. This is the text of what he said in response to His Excellency the Minister of Hajj and Endowments in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia . (1) What you did regarding the experimental papers of grinding them, then burning them, then burying them in a pure place - is a good action, and in accordance with what the scholars mentioned; following the righteous caliph Uthman ibn Affan (may Allah be pleased with him). (2) The Council sees no approval of the request of the Ghadir factory;
because of the insult and degradation that results from it; due to the speech of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) in the papers. Fourth: As for the books of the noble hadith and the parts that contain something of the speech of Allah or the speech of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), it is also obligatory to protect them and not insult them, by burning them or burying them in good land far from the reach of children. And success is from Allah. And may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.