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Ruling on using newspapers as a “tablecloth”

24-04-2008

Question 30761

Is it permissible to use newspapers as a “tablecloth” to eat from? If that is not permissible, what should we do with them after reading them?.

Answer

Praise be to Allah.

It is not permissible to use newspapers as a “tablecloth” to eat from, or to wrap things in, or to treat them in any other kind of abusive manner, if they contain any verses from Qur’aan or mention of Allah. If that is the case they should be kept in a suitable place, or burned, or buried in clean ground. 

Majmoo’ Fataawa wa Maqaalaat Mutanawwi’ah li’l-Shaykh Ibn Baaz, 6/347 

But if the newspapers are in a language other than Arabic and there is no mention of Allah in them, then it is permissible to use them. 

And Allah knows best.

Etiquette of eating and drinking
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