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Ruling 134*

If a page of the Qur’an or an object that is necessary to respect – such as paper on which is written the name of Allah, the Exalted, Prophet Muḥammad (Ṣ), or one if the Infallibles (ʿA) or an epithet (laqab) or kunyah15 of these great personalities– falls into a lavatory, it is obligatory to take it out and wash it even if it costs money to do so. If it is not possible to take it out, the lavatory must not be used by those who know about the fallen paper until they are certain the page has decomposed. Telling others about this is not obligatory. Furthermore, if a turbah16 of Imam al-Ḥusayn (ʿA) falls into a lavatory and it is not possible to take it out, the lavatory must not be used until one is certain the turbah has completely dissolved.

15 This is an appellation given to someone as the father or mother of someone.
16 A turbah is a piece of earth or clay on which one places his forehead when prostrating.

  • Commentary

    This ruling changed in March 2022. The previous version of the ruling was as follows:

    “If a page of the Qur’an or an object that is necessary to respect – such as paper on which the name of Allah, Prophet Muḥammad (Ṣ), or an Imam (ʿA) is written – falls into a lavatory, it is obligatory to take it out and to wash it even if it costs money to do so. If it is not possible to take it out, the lavatory must not be used until one is certain that the page has decomposed. Furthermore, if a turbah falls into a lavatory and it is not possible to take it out, the lavatory must not be used until one is certain that the turbah has been completely dissolved.”