Destroying Books with Quranic Verses — What to Do Instead

Many books in Saudi homes and schools contain Quranic verses, hadith, or the name of Allah. Destroying them is not just an environmental issue — it is a cultural and religious concern that deserves thoughtful attention.

The Religious Perspective

Islamic tradition teaches deep respect for texts containing sacred content. The Quran itself states "Read" as its first word. Books containing Quranic verses, prophetic sayings, or the name of Allah are treated with special reverence. Destroying them by burning, shredding, or throwing them in the trash is considered disrespectful.

The Annual Exam-Season Problem

According to Arab News, an estimated 80 million books are thrown away in Saudi Arabia each year after exams. Many textbooks, especially religious studies textbooks, contain Quranic verses. When students dump these books, they may unknowingly be disposing of sacred text in an inappropriate way.

What Saudi Schools Are Doing

The Royal Commission of Jubail launched a campaign urging students to take care of their textbooks, describing it as "a religious and ethical obligation." They allocated special containers for books and academic papers to prevent destruction during exam periods.

Respectful Alternatives

1. Donate to Kitaaby: We handle all books with care and respect. Books containing religious text are treated with appropriate reverence and given to new readers.
2. Store and preserve: If you cannot donate, store books respectfully rather than destroying them.
3. Give to mosques or Islamic centers: Religious texts can often be donated to mosques or Islamic learning centers.
4. Pass to family members: Religious books are often appreciated by family members across generations.

How Kitaaby Handles Books with Respect

At Kitaaby, we understand the cultural and religious significance of books in Saudi Arabia. Every book that enters our warehouse is handled with care. We do not shred, burn, or destroy readable books. We ensure they find new readers who will value and respect them.

Request a respectful book pickup from Kitaaby today.