Putting something on which the Name of Allaah is written on the ground
30-3-2006 | IslamWeb
Question:
Is it permissible to put the sheets/papers which contain the Name of Allaah with old books or on top of old books which may contain some dirt or dust, but I am not sure if there is any dirt on them or not, like books sold on shelves for instance? Is it permissible also to put the bags which we put on the ground and which are stained with dust on papers which contain the Name of Allaah?
Answer:
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.
A Muslim is required to honour the symbols and rites of Allaah. Allaah Says (what means): {…and whoever honours the sacred ordinances of Allaah, it is best for him in the sight of his Lord.}[Quran 22:30]. Allaah further Says (what means): {and whoever honours the symbols [i.e. rites] of Allaah, indeed, it is from the piety of hearts.}[Quran 22:32]. There is no doubt that putting something on which the Name of Allaah is written with something which may contain dirt is not honouring the rites of Allaah. The same thing applies to putting bags which are stained with dust on something which contain the Name of Allaah. If someone does so mocking, then he becomes a non-Muslim. Allaah Says (what means): {Say, "Is it Allaah and His verses and His Messenger that you were mocking?" Make no excuse; you have disbelieved [i.e. rejected faith] after your belief.}[Quran 9:65-66]. Even with the assumption that he did not do that as a way of mocking, it is still forbidden for him to do so, if by doing so one despises things on which the Name of Allaah was written. This is of course if we consider that there is dust and dirt on the old books, and there must be something which suggests that there is dirt or dist on them, because if the books are old, this does not mean that they are necessarily dirty even if they are worn out or burnt.
Allaah Knows best.