Throwing papers containing Quranic verses and the beautiful Names of God in the trash and on the streets
Question
It has become customary in governmental divisions to write the Basmallah (meaning, "In the name of God Most Gracious, Most Merciful") at the top of any request. These requests (and pages from newspapers containing Quranic verses and the Names of God) are later disposed of in trash cans or thrown on the street ,and thus get stepped on which undermines their sanctity. What is the ruling for this?
Answer
It has become common to write the names of God Almighty and Quranic verses on pieces of paper, plastic bags, containers, on governmental envelopes and requests, and so forth. This causes excessive difficulty for those who are legally responsible to observe the rulings of God2. This is because this responsibility demands that they dispose of these objects in a manner that befits the sanctity of God, His Book, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) but which may include excessive hardship upon them due to lack of time or resolution. They have no other alternative but to desecrate the name of God, His Book, and the name of the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) under the pretext that the practice is common and it is difficult to dispose of these objects in any other manner.
Consequently, the matter requires a common effort to eliminate this sin. Whenever possible, it is obligatory to avoid using any piece of paper or envelopes and so forth containing the Names of God, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and verses from the Quran. We call upon those who write the names of God and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) on anything, those who promote merchandise, and those in authority to draw up a system to collect such papers and dispose of them properly, either by burning or recycling them. We also call upon those who are financially capable to establish paper and plastic recycling projects. Finally, we call upon the public to exercise discretion as much as possible when disposing of paper and products containing the names of God, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and Quranic verses either by cutting them into small pieces or burning them. God Most High says:
"Anyone who honors the sacred ordinance of God will have good reward from his Lord" (Quran 22:30).
"Those who honor God's rite show the piety of their hearts" (Quran 22:32).
God Most High knows best.
Footnotes
1. Something which is so well establishing in the religion that rejecting it is akin to rejecting the religion itself.
2. Those who are adults, free, sane, and able.