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BAYAN LINNAS SIRI KE-361 : MEMELIHARA KESUCIAN DAN MENJAGA KEHORMATAN AL-QURAN KETIKA MELUPUSKANNYA
no name given ·
Pejabat Mufti Wilayah Persekutuan – Bayan Linnas ·
2026-08-24
· Kuala Lumpur
· Source
Responsibility · main message
Community · carrying
Knowledge
The burning of a damaged copy of the Qur'an is permissible in Islamic law, provided it is carried out in a controlled manner, completely, and with the intention of preserving the honour of the sacred text; the manner of execution is more decisive than the choice of method itself.
The text addresses the question of how a damaged or unreadable copy of the Qur'an (Mushaf) is to be disposed of. It refers to a specific incident in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia, in which pages of the Qur'an were burned beside a football field and fragments of script remained visible. The text clarifies that the burning of a damaged Mushaf may be permissible under Islamic law if it serves the purpose of preserving the honour of the Qur'an. It lists specific guidelines of the National Fatwa Council: clean execution, complete burning, collection of the ashes and their burial in a protected place or their disposal in flowing water. The text emphasizes that the manner of execution is decisive, not the method of burning alone. It refers to the Maqāṣid al-Sharī'a (objectives of Islamic law) as a overarching principle. Finally, it calls for cooperation with the competent religious authorities.
- What, according to this text, is the root of the evil?
-
Ignorance, illusion, a false view of reality
- Where does the evil reside?
-
in the heart, the will, or the soul of the individual
- What helps against it?
-
keeping the commandments, maintaining order, fulfiling one's duties; insight, learning, enlightenment, right understanding
- What is human being according to this text?
-
willed by God, with a task and a responsibility
- Where is history heading?
-
the message stands outside of history
- What does the text base its claim on?
-
on the holy scripture of its own tradition; on tradition, the fathers, an established practice
- To whom does the text's call for devotion apply?
-
to one's own fellow believers
- Where is the text's criticism directed?
-
at one's own community and at oneself
Related texts from other traditions
by similarity of the analysis, one text per tradition
What the text calls for
- Die Asche an einem sauberen Ort begraben (ritual)
- Die Religionsbehörde um Hilfe bei der Vernichtung einholen (social)
- Das Mushaf mit voller Ehrfurcht handhaben (inward)
Passages cited
Koran 22:32 · Koran 15:9
Measured
- Basic stance
- 1 from -2 to 2
- Insistence
- 2 of 3
- Reach
- 4 of 5
- Concreteness
- 3 of 3
- Boundary
- 0 of 3
- Time
- past 2, present 3, future 0
Analysed with qwen3.8-27b, version v3.
The same standards apply to every tradition, see Values.
Full text in English
Bayan Linnas
BAYAN LINNAS SERIES NO. 361: MAINTAINING PURITY AND PRESERVING THE HONOUR OF THE AL-QURAN WHEN DISPOSING OF IT
24 August 2026
Ibrahim Adham
Number of views: 1187
Introduction
The Al-Quran is the revelation of Allah SWT, revealed as a guide for all humanity, and it is the speech of Allah SWT which must be honoured, respected, and protected from any form of insult. The command of Allah SWT:
ذَٰلِكَ وَمَن يُعَظِّم شَعَائِرَ اللَّهِ فَإِنَّهَا مِن تَقْوَى الْقُلُوبِ
Its meaning: Thus (is the teaching of Allah); and whoever honours the symbols of the religion of Allah, then (he is the one who possesses taqwa) for indeed that is a sign of the qualities of taqwa of the hearts of the believers.
Surah al-Hajj (32)
In the context of a damaged, tattered, unreadable, or disaster-affected (such as by floods) mushaf of the Al-Quran, the question that often arises is what is the correct way to dispose of it?
This question has again received public attention following reports on the discovery of a pile of Al-Quran believed to have been burned on the edge of a football field in Taman Bandar Senawang, Negeri Sembilan, on 22 August 2026. According to reports, fragments of pages and writings of the Al-Quran were still visible after the burning. The police have conducted an investigation, while the fire debris will be handled by the Department of Religious Affairs of Negeri Sembilan.
This incident should serve as an opportunity for the public to understand that burning a mushaf of the Al-Quran does not necessarily mean insulting the Al-Quran. Under certain circumstances, burning is one of the methods permitted by Sharia for disposing of a damaged mushaf. However, it must be done with full adab (etiquette), order, and with the aim of preserving the honour of the Al-Quran, not done arbitrarily such that the pages and writings of the Al-Quran are scattered and exposed to insult.
The Al-Quran Must Be Honoured and Preserved
Allah SWT Himself guarantees the preservation of the Al-Quran, as stated in His command:
إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَ
Its meaning: “Indeed, it is We who sent down the Reminder (Al-Quran), and indeed, We will be its guardian.”
Surah al-Hijr (9)
Muslims are commanded to guard the honour of the mushaf and prevent it from being placed in places where it may be stepped on, thrown away, defiled, or treated without respect.
Therefore, when a mushaf has become damaged and is no longer suitable for use, the action of disposing of it must still be based on the principle of takzim (reverence) towards the speech of Allah SWT.
In this regard, the Department of Mufti of the Federal Territories explains that guarding and honouring the purity of the Al-Quran is the responsibility and obligation of every Muslim.
How to Burn a Mushaf Correctly
The 30th National Fatwa Committee Muzakarah on 22 August 1992 clarified several guidelines regarding the disposal of materials containing verses of the Al-Quran.
Among them:
Burning must be done in a clean and suitable place.
It should not be done in public places or areas that may cause insult to the mushaf.
Burning must be done until complete.
As much as possible, all pages and materials containing writings of the Al-Quran must be burned until no identifiable writing remains.
Ash and burning residue must be collected.
The residue must not be left scattered, blown by the wind, or mixed with ordinary garbage.
The ash must be buried in a clean place.
It must be ensured that the place does not become a pathway for humans so that the residue is not stepped on or defiled.
The ash may also be flushed into the sea or a flowing river, taking into account the conditions and relevant regulations so as not to cause pollution.
It is clear that the purpose of burning is to eliminate the form of the writing and preserve the honour of the mushaf, not to burn and then leave the residue in an open place carelessly.
The Reason Why One Must Not Burn and Discard the Mushaf of the Quran at Will
This is where the difference lies between the ruling on burning and the manner of carrying out the burning.
Burning may become obligatory if its purpose is to honor and preserve the Quran. [1] However, if a person burns the mushaf without control, causing unburnt pages, ash, or fragments of the Quran’s writing to scatter and be exposed to disrespect, then such a method clearly contradicts the objectives of the Shariah.
Imam al-Syatibi states:
إن الأعمال بالنيات والمقاصد معتبرة في التصرفات من العبادات والعادات
Its meaning is: “Indeed, every action depends upon intention, and the purpose and intent are taken into account in all actions, whether in matters of worship or customary practices.” [2]
Therefore, burning carried out to safeguard the honor of the Quran must be implemented in a manner that truly achieves that objective.
In this context, the decision of the National Fatwa Committee’s Muzakarah has provided guidelines ensuring that the burning process is controlled and supervised, including by officers of the Religious Department or the party responsible for carrying out the disposal. In the Federal Territories, the disposal of the Quran is usually managed by the Islamic Religious Department of the Federal Territories (JAWI).
In addition, technological developments also provide room for safer methods. Today, there are modern devices that can shred paper into dust or fine fragments, which are then burned and finally buried or channeled into a river.
Such a method can reduce the likelihood that any writing or letters of the Quran remain identifiable after the disposal process. This demonstrates that Islamic Shariah is not bound to a single technical form alone. Its basis is the achievement of the maqasid (objectives) to preserve the sanctity and honor of the Quran.
Etiquette When Handling the Disposal of the Quran
In addition to technical methods, etiquette must also be given attention. The Department of the Mufti of the Federal Territories advises that those handling the disposal should observe etiquette towards the mushaf, among other things, by being in a state of wudu and not having hadas (ritual impurity).
Among the matters that should be given attention are:
Handling the mushaf with full respect.
Ensuring that the disposal site is clean and suitable.
Preventing the mushaf from being thrown away or placed in an open area.
Ensuring that all pages containing verses of the Quran are completely disposed of.
Collecting the ash and burning residues.
Ensuring that the ash is buried in a clean place not traversed by people, or is managed by a permissible method.
Seeking the opinion or assistance of the Religious Department for disposal in large quantities.
Not making the burning process a spectacle, a subject of jest, or an action that may cause fitnah (discord) and misunderstanding in society.
Conclusion
From the discussion above, it is clear that burning a damaged Quran is not an act of disrespect if it is done with the intention and method aimed at preserving its honor. In the context of Malaysia, the method of burning must be carried out perfectly in a clean place, the residues and ash must be collected, and then buried in a clean place not frequented by the public, or floated into the sea or a flowing river. This matter also requires interaction between the public and the authorities so that the process can also be controlled and carried out with full etiquette.
Therefore, Muslims must understand that the foundation is not merely whether to burn or not to burn, but how the honor of the Word of Allah SWT is preserved.
Wallahu a‘lam.
Reference:
[1] Badr al-‘Aini, Umdah al-Qari Syarh Sahih al-Bukhari (Beirut: Dar Ihya al-Turath al-‘Arabi, n.d.), vol. 20: 19.
In this hadith, the permissibility of burning books that contain the name of Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, with fire is affirmed, and this is considered an act of honor for them and protection from being trampled underfoot. It was also said that this applied to that particular time, whereas now, if there is a need to remove them, washing is required.
[2] Al-Syatibi, al-Muwafaqat (t.tp: Dar Ibn al-Qayyim, 2003), vol. 3: p. 7.
Full text in the original
Bayan Linnas
BAYAN LINNAS SIRI KE-361 : MEMELIHARA KESUCIAN DAN MENJAGA KEHORMATAN AL-QURAN KETIKA MELUPUSKANNYA
24 Ogos 2026
Ibrahim Adham
Jumlah paparan: 1187
Mukadimah
Al-Quran merupakan wahyu Allah SWT yang diturunkan sebagai petunjuk bagi seluruh umat manusia dan merupakan kalam Allah SWT yang wajib dimuliakan, dihormati dan dipelihara daripada sebarang bentuk penghinaan. Firman Allah SWT:
ذَٰلِكَ وَمَن يُعَظِّمْ شَعَائِرَ اللَّهِ فَإِنَّهَا مِن تَقْوَى الْقُلُوبِ
Maksudnya: Demikianlah (ajaran Allah); dan sesiapa yang menghormati Syiar-syiar ugama Allah maka (dia lah orang yang bertaqwa) kerana sesungguhnya perbuatan itu satu kesan dari sifat-sifat taqwa hati orang mukmin.
Surah al-Hajj (32)
Dalam konteks mushaf al-Quran yang telah rosak, lusuh, tidak lagi boleh dibaca atau mengalami kerosakan akibat bencana seperti banjir, persoalan yang sering timbul ialah bagaimanakah cara yang sebenar untuk melupuskannya?
Persoalan ini kembali mendapat perhatian masyarakat susulan laporan mengenai penemuan longgokan al-Quran yang dipercayai telah dibakar di tepi padang bola di Taman Bandar Senawang, Negeri Sembilan, pada 22 Ogos 2026. Menurut laporan, cebisan helaian dan tulisan al-Quran masih kelihatan selepas pembakaran. Pihak polis telah menjalankan siasatan, manakala sisa kebakaran tersebut akan diuruskan oleh pihak Jabatan Hal Ehwal Agama Negeri Sembilan.
Kejadian ini sewajarnya menjadi ruang untuk masyarakat memahami bahawa membakar mushaf al-Quran tidak semestinya bermaksud menghina al-Quran. Dalam keadaan tertentu, pembakaran merupakan salah satu kaedah yang diharuskan syarak bagi melupuskan mushaf yang telah rosak. Namun begitu, ia mestilah dilakukan dengan penuh adab, tertib dan bertujuan memelihara kehormatan al-Quran, bukannya dilakukan secara sewenang-wenangnya sehingga helaian dan tulisan al-Quran bertebaran serta terdedah kepada penghinaan.
Al-Quran Wajib Dimuliakan dan Dipelihara
Allah SWT sendiri menjamin pemeliharaan al-Quran sebagaimana firman-Nya:
إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَ
Maksudnya: “Sesungguhnya Kamilah yang menurunkan al-Quran dan Kamilah yang memeliharanya.”
Surah al-Hijr (9)
Umat Islam diperintahkan untuk menjaga kehormatan mushaf dan mengelakkannya daripada diletakkan di tempat yang boleh menyebabkan ia dipijak, dicampakkan, dicemarkan atau diperlakukan tanpa penghormatan.
Justeru, apabila sesuatu mushaf telah rosak dan tidak lagi sesuai digunakan, tindakan melupuskannya hendaklah tetap berasaskan prinsip takzim terhadap kalam Allah SWT.
Dalam hal ini, Jabatan Mufti Wilayah Persekutuan menjelaskan bahawa menjaga dan memuliakan kesucian al-Quran merupakan tanggungjawab dan kewajipan setiap umat Islam.
Cara Membakar Mushaf dengan Betul
Muzakarah Jawatankuasa Fatwa Kebangsaan Kali Ke-30 pada 22 Ogos 1992 telah menjelaskan beberapa panduan berkaitan pelupusan bahan yang mengandungi ayat al-Quran.
Antaranya:
Pembakaran hendaklah dilakukan di tempat yang bersih dan sesuai.
Ia tidak sepatutnya dilakukan di tempat awam atau kawasan yang boleh menimbulkan penghinaan terhadap mushaf.
Pembakaran hendaklah dilakukan sehingga sempurna.
Seboleh-bolehnya, semua helaian dan bahan yang mengandungi tulisan al-Quran hendaklah dibakar sehingga tidak lagi meninggalkan tulisan yang boleh dikenal pasti.
Abu dan sisa pembakaran hendaklah dikumpulkan.
Sisa tersebut tidak boleh dibiarkan bersepah, ditiup angin atau bercampur dengan sampah biasa.
Abu hendaklah ditanam di tempat yang bersih.
Tempat tersebut hendaklah dipastikan tidak menjadi laluan manusia supaya sisa tersebut tidak dipijak atau dicemari.
Abu juga boleh dihanyutkan ke laut atau sungai yang mengalir, dengan mengambil kira keadaan dan peraturan berkaitan supaya tidak menyebabkan pencemaran.
Jelas bahawa tujuan pembakaran ialah untuk menghilangkan bentuk tulisan dan memelihara kehormatan mushaf, bukan membakar kemudian meninggalkan sisa di tempat terbuka secara semberono.
Sebab Tidak Boleh Membakar dan Meninggalkan Mushaf al-Quran Sewenangnya
Di sinilah letaknya perbezaan antara hukum membakar dan cara melaksanakan pembakaran.
Pembakaran boleh menjadi harus apabila bertujuan memuliakan dan memelihara al-Quran. [1] Namun, sekiranya seseorang membakar mushaf tanpa kawalan sehingga helaian yang belum terbakar, abu atau cebisan tulisan al-Quran berterbangan dan terdedah kepada penghinaan, maka cara tersebut jelas bertentangan dengan tujuan syarak.
Imam al-Syatibi menyebut:
إن الأعمال بالنيات والمقاصد معتبرة في التصرفات من العبادات والعادات
Maksudnya: “ Sesungguhnya setiap amalan bergantung kepada niat, dan sesuatu tujuan serta maksud diambil kira dalam setiap tindakan, sama ada dalam perkara ibadah mahupun adat kebiasaan. ” [2]
Maka, pembakaran yang dilakukan untuk menjaga kehormatan al-Quran hendaklah dilaksanakan dengan kaedah yang benar-benar mencapai tujuan tersebut.
Dalam konteks ini, keputusan Muzakarah Jawatankuasa Fatwa Kebangsaan telah memberikan garis panduan supaya proses pembakaran dikawal dan diselia, termasuk oleh pegawai Jabatan Agama atau pihak yang bertanggungjawab melaksanakan pelupusan. Di Wilayah Persekutuan, pelupusan al-Quran kebiasaannya akan diuruskan oleh Jabatan Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan (JAWI).
Selain itu, perkembangan teknologi turut memberikan ruang kepada kaedah yang lebih selamat. Pada hari ini terdapat alat moden yang boleh menghancurkan kertas sehingga menjadi debu atau serpihan halus, kemudian dibakar dan akhirnya ditanam atau dialirkan ke sungai.
Kaedah sebegini dapat mengurangkan kemungkinan masih wujudnya tulisan atau huruf al-Quran yang dapat dikenal pasti selepas proses pelupusan. Hal ini menunjukkan bahawa syariat Islam tidak terikat kepada satu bentuk teknikal semata-mata. Asasnya ialah tercapainya maqasid untuk memelihara kesucian dan kehormatan al-Quran.
Adab Ketika Mengendalikan Pelupusan al-Quran
Selain kaedah teknikal, adab juga perlu diberikan perhatian. Pihak Jabatan Mufti Wilayah Persekutuan menyarankan agar pihak yang mengendalikan pelupusan menjaga adab terhadap mushaf, antaranya berada dalam keadaan berwuduk dan tidak berhadas.
Antara perkara yang sewajarnya diberikan perhatian ialah:
Mengendalikan mushaf dengan penuh hormat.
Memastikan tempat pelupusan bersih dan sesuai.
Mengelakkan mushaf daripada dicampakkan atau diletakkan di tempat terbuka.
Memastikan semua helaian yang mengandungi ayat al-Quran dilupuskan dengan sempurna.
Mengumpulkan abu dan sisa pembakaran.
Memastikan abu ditanam di tempat yang bersih dan tidak dilalui manusia atau diuruskan dengan kaedah yang dibenarkan.
Mendapatkan pandangan atau bantuan pihak Jabatan Agama bagi pelupusan dalam jumlah yang banyak.
Tidak menjadikan proses pembakaran sebagai tontonan, bahan gurauan atau perbuatan yang boleh menimbulkan fitnah dan salah faham dalam masyarakat.
Kesimpulan
Daripada perbahasan di atas, jelas bahawa membakar al-Quran yang telah rosak bukanlah suatu penghinaan apabila ia dilakukan dengan niat dan kaedah yang bertujuan memelihara kehormatannya. Dalam konteks Malaysia, kaedah pembakaran hendaklah dilakukan secara sempurna di tempat yang bersih, sisa dan abu hendaklah dikumpulkan, kemudian ditanam di tempat yang bersih dan tidak dilalui orang ramai atau dihanyutkan ke laut atau sungai yang mengalir. Perkara ini juga memerlukan interaksi orang awam dengan pihak berautoriti agar proses tersebut juga dapat dikawal dan dilaksanakan dengan penuh adab.
Oleh itu, umat Islam hendaklah memahami bahawa yang menjadi asas bukan semata-mata membakar atau tidak membakar, tetapi bagaimana kehormatan kalam Allah SWT dipelihara.
Wallahu a‘lam.
Rujukan:
[1] Badr al-‘Aini, Umdah al-Qari Syarh Sahih al-Bukhari (Beirut: Dar Ihya al-Turath al-‘Arabi, t.t.), jld. 20: 19.
فِي هَذَا الحَدِيث جَوَاز تحريق الْكتب الَّتِي فِيهَا اسْم الله، عز وَجل، بالنَّار وَإِن ذَلِك إكرام لَهَا وصون عَن وَطئهَا بالأقدام، وَقيل: هَذَا كَانَ فِي ذَلِك الْوَقْت، وَأما الْآن فالغسل إِذا دعت الْحَاجة إِلَى إِزَالَته
[2] Al-Syatibi, al-Muwafaqat (t.tp: Dar Ibn al-Qayyim, 2003), jld. 3: hlm. 7.