Throwing out papers bearing the Name of Allah

Q: Some newspapers carrying the Basmalah ("Bismillah Al-Rahman, Al-Rahim [In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful]") are thrown in streets and used for cleaning. What is the ruling on such acts?


A: Writing the Basmalah at the preface of scholarly books or letters is permissible. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), the Rightly-Guided Caliphs, and the Sahabah (Companions of the Prophet) used to begin their correspondence with it, and people followed their example to the present day. Therefore, it is obligatory to glorify it and preserve its sanctity. At the same time, it is forbidden and sinful to slight it, for it is an Ayah in the Book of Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) and part of an Ayah in Surah Al-Naml. Accordingly, it is not permissible to use such newspapers for cleaning, (Part No. 4; Page No. 76) to dump them in the trash, or to wrap things in them.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.


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