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Fatwa CenterRemoving poster with Quranic verses from inappropriate place
Question
If I see a poster on which verses from the Quran are written on the wall of a bakery shop, near the oven, and its colour has become brown or it has some dust on it, should I take it down or keep it there? It seems improper, but will I be sinful if I leave it there? I thought that given that it is on a wall or the like, it is safe. I have seen other answers, so please answer my question in particular?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
It is not permissible to put posters that have Quranic verses or Prophetic ahaadeeth in a place that is exposed to dirt, disrespect, and abuse. ‘Ulaysh, from the Maaliki School of jurisprudence, said in Minah Al-Jaleel Sharh Mukhtasar Khaleel, "Engraving the Quran and the Names of Allaah (on graves) should be absolutely forbidden as this leads to disrespecting them; the same applies to engraving them on walls."
Hence, it is an obligation to remove the poster that is in a place where it is exposed to humiliation, burning, and misuse. It is enough to prove that the place where the poster hangs is not respectful nor appropriate that its color has changed with fire and that dust has accumulated on it.
Without a doubt, if someone sees something from the Quran in a place where it is humiliated or that is dirty and he does not remove it, then he is sinful if he was able to remove it. Leaving it where it is is the same as putting it there. However, given that you did not deliberately leave the poster in the place that you mentioned or that you thought that leaving it on the wall was better, you are not sinful – Allaah willing. If this was by mistake, then Allaah says (what means): {And there is no blame upon you for that in which you have erred but [only for] what your hearts intended. And ever is Allaah Forgiving and Merciful.} [Quran 33:5]
Allaah knows best.
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