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Writing“Bismillaah ir-Rahmaaan il-raheem” on wedding invitations is permissible

13-12-1998

Question 3002

It is permissible to write the Basmalah (“Bismillaah ir-Rahmaan ir-Raheem”) on wedding invitations, given that after the event they will be thrown on the streets or into the garbage?

Answer

Praise be to Allah.

It is permissible to write the Basmalah on invitations and other letters, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to begin his letters by mentioning the name of Allah. It is not permissible for anyone who receives a letter in which Allah is mentioned or an aayah of the Qur’aan is quoted to throw it into the garbage or put it in any undesirable place. The same applies to newspapers and other similar papers: it is not permitted to mishandle them or throw them in the garbage, or to use them to wrap food or other things, because the name of Allah is mentioned in them. The sin is on the person who does this, not on the one who writes it. And Allah knows best.

Fiqh of the family
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