Can you throw away Islamic books? What the scholars say
It's a common question and the short answer is: no, Islamic books containing Qur'anic verses or the name of Allah should not be placed in ordinary waste or standard recycling. This position is broadly agreed across the four Sunni schools of thought.
But "no" on its own isn't useful — it just creates a drawer of guilt. So here is the longer answer, and what you can do instead.
Why not the bin?
The classical principle is ihtirām al-mus'haf — respect for the written word of God. A copy of the Qur'an, or any paper containing Qur'anic verses, is considered to carry sanctity in its written form. This extends to:
- Tafsir (Qur'anic commentary)
- Hadith collections and books of du'a
- Islamic schoolbooks that reproduce verses
- Wedding and Eid cards printed with Qur'anic text or the name of Allah
- Prayer timetables and posters with divine names
Placing such materials in general waste means they will be compacted, trampled, soaked in leachate, and mixed with animal remains and food scraps at landfill. Placing them in paper recycling means they will be pulped alongside junk mail and old newspapers. Neither is compatible with the duty of respect.
What the scholars permit instead
Across the major schools, three methods are recognised for disposing of unusable religious texts:
1. Burial (dafn)
The majority-preferred method. Place the material — ideally wrapped in clean cloth — in a clean, private plot of earth where no one will walk, at sufficient depth that it will not be disturbed. See our detailed guide on disposal methods for more.
2. Flowing water (ighrāq)
Classical scholars permitted placing the text in clean, flowing water so the ink dissolves. Impractical and often unlawful in modern Britain.
3. Careful burning (ihrāq)
A minority position, rooted in the action of Uthmān ibn 'Affān. Permitted where burial is not possible, provided the burning is complete and the ashes are subsequently buried.
Common edge cases
"What about the cardboard box the Quran came in?"
A plain box without religious text printed on it can be recycled normally. Only the material bearing verses or the name of Allah requires respectful disposal.
"What about English translations with English text?"
The majority view is that Qur'anic meaning in translation does not carry the same juristic status as the Arabic text. However, if an English translation also contains the Arabic, the book as a whole should be treated with the standard respect (i.e. buried or otherwise disposed of respectfully).
"What about digital copies on my phone?"
Deleting a Qur'an app or an ebook file is fine. The juristic ruling applies to physical media carrying the script.
"What about Islamic newspapers and magazines?"
If they reproduce Qur'anic verses or divine names, they fall under the same ruling as any other Islamic book. If they are purely news or commentary without scripture, standard recycling is fine.
The practical problem
For most Muslim households in the UK, the ruling is clear but the process is not. There's no obvious drop-off bin. Most mosques can't accept bulk donations because they have nowhere to store them. The one dedicated UK service — Gardens of Peace — requires a drive to East London during specific hours.
That's the gap BookBurial fills. You post your books to us; we bury them at partnered cemeteries. The cost starts at £10 for a small parcel and it's the same nationwide. It's the easiest way to fulfil the ruling without a weekday trip to London.