Throwing away papers on which is one of the names of Allaah

Dear Brothers & Sisters,
As-Salaamu-Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)
One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:
My name is ‘Abd al-Qaadir and in many dealings with government departments for example, I have to write my name when submitting applications etc. Then after that they may throw this application in the trash. Do I bear any responsibility in that?.
(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)
Check below answers in case you are looking for other related questions:

Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.

There is nothing wrong with you writing your name on papers and forms that you need to submit to others and there is no sin on you. Rather the sin is on the one who throws these papers into the trash, because that is showing disrespect towards the name of Allaah. 

Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked: is it permissible to write the Basmalah (“Bismillaah ir-Rahmaan ir-Raheem – in the name of Allaah, the Most Gracious the Most Merciful”) on wedding invitations, knowing that they will be thrown away after that, on the street or in trashcans?  

He replied: 

It is prescribed to write the Basmalah on invitations and other kinds of letters, because it is narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Every matter of concern that is not started in the name of Allaah is bereft of barakah (blessing).” And because he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to start his letters by mentioning the name of Allaah. It is not permissible for the one who receives an invitation which contains the name of Allaah or a verse of the Qur’aan to throw it in the trash or to put it in an inappropriate place. It is not permissible to handle [Arabic-language] newspapers etc with disrespect or to throw them in the trash, or to use them as tablecloths or to wrap things in them, because they contain mention of Allaah. The sin is on the one who does that, but there is no sin on the writer. 

Majmoo’ Fataawa al-Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz, 5/427, 2nd edn. 

And Allaah knows best.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah's Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Related Answers:

Recommended answers for you: