Fatwa ID: 08799

Answered by: Maulana Ateiq-ur Rehman

Question:

If the name Abdullah or other Muslim names in English are written on copies and books and these books and copies are put in a school bag and if this bag is place on ground, is this permissible?

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

It would be permissible to place a school bag on the ground even if it contains papers or books with names like “Abdullah” written in English, as long as it is not done with the intention of disrespect. The rulings of Karahah (dislike) in classical texts refer specifically to the name of Allah or sacred texts, particularly when written in Arabic. General Muslim names written in English do not carry the same ruling.

References:

وَيُكْرَهُ أَنْ يَجْعَلَ شَيْئًا فِي كَاغِدَةٍ فِيهَا اسْمُ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى كَانَتْ الْكِتَابَةُ عَلَى ظَاهِرِهَا أَوْ بَاطِنِهَا، بِخِلَافِ الْكِيسِ عَلَيْهِ اسْمُ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى فَإِنَّهُ لَا يُكْرَهُ، كَذَا فِي الْمُلْتَقَطِ.

وَإِذَا كُتِبَ اسْمُ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى عَلَى كَاغَدٍ وَوُضِعَ تَحْتَ طَنْفَسَةٍ يَجْلِسُونَ عَلَيْهَا فَقَدْ قِيلَ: يُكْرَهُ، وَقِيلَ: لَا يُكْرَهُ، وَقَالَ: أَلَا تَرَى أَنَّهُ لَوْ وُضِعَ فِي الْبَيْتِ لَا بَأْسَ بِالنَّوْمِ عَلَى سَطْحِهِ كَذَا هَاهُنَا، كَذَا فِي الْمُحِيطِ

كتاب الفتاوى العالمكيرية = الفتاوى الهندية 5:322

(قَوْلُهُ: لِاحْتِرَامِهِ) أَيْ بِسَبَبِ مَا كُتِبَ بِهِ مِنْ أَسْمَاءِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى وَنَحْوِهَا، عَلَى أَنَّ الْحُرُوفَ فِي ذَاتِهَا لَهَا احْتِرَامٌ.

كتاب حاشية ابن عابدين = رد المحتار ط الحلبي 1:178

Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best.

Written by Maulana Ateiq-ur Rehman

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham