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A guide for Singapore Muslim families
How to Dispose of an Old Quran Properly in Singapore
Updated 2026 · 6 min read · By the ShredRite team
The old Quran stack almost every Muslim home in Singapore has
The short answer
A Quran should never go in the bin. Islam gives four safe ways to let an old one go — you can burn it with care, bury it, place it in flowing water, or shred it until no words can be read. In Singapore, the first three are hard to do, so most families choose shredding. We pick up your old Qurans from home and shred them the right way. This guide walks you through each choice.
Almost every Muslim home in Singapore has a shelf like this. On it sits a pile of old books you are not sure what to do with — maybe some madrasah books, a few torn Yasin booklets, and a Quran with loose pages falling out. You know you cannot throw them in the bin, but you are not sure what else to do. That is okay. Many people feel the same way.
If this sounds like your home, you are not alone. Every week we meet families who have kept old Qurans for years, waiting for a way that felt right. This guide explains what Islam says about letting an old Quran go, why the old ways are hard in Singapore, and what most families do now.
Why a Quran can never go in the rubbish bin
The Quran is the word of Allah. Every page holds His names and His verses, and Islam teaches us to treat these words with respect at all times — even when a book is old and worn. If a Quran goes in the bin, it gets mixed with rubbish and thrown away with everything else. No scholar allows this.
This is not about the paper or the cover. An old Quran with loose pages still holds the same holy words it did when it was new, and those words deserve respect no matter how the book looks. So this is not really about throwing something away — it is about letting a Quran go in a kind and careful way.
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That respect does not expire when a mushaf becomes old.
What Islamic scholarship says about proper disposal
Scholars have talked about this for hundreds of years. They agree on four safe ways to let an old Quran go — each with the same goal: to keep the holy words from ever being treated in a bad way.
01
Respectful burning
Long ago, Sayyidina Uthman ibn Affan (RA) had some copies of the Quran burned to keep the holy words safe from misuse. Because of this, scholars accept burning as a proper way. It must be done on purpose, and the ashes handled with care.
02
Burial
A Quran can be buried in clean ground, in a quiet spot where people do not walk. This lets the pages return to the earth in peace. When it can be done well, many scholars like this way best.
03
Placing in flowing water
The pages can be placed in flowing water, like a river or the sea, with a small weight to hold them down. Over time the ink fades and the paper breaks apart in a safe way.
04
Shredding until unreadable
Today, scholars also accept shredding — cutting the pages into tiny bits until no word can be read. Once the words are gone, the paper is just paper again, and it can be recycled.
The way you choose matters less than the result. Every scholar agrees on one thing: no holy word should be stepped on, made dirty, or thrown out with the trash.
Why the traditional methods are hard in Singapore
All four ways are good in theory. The problem is that three of them are very hard to do in Singapore.
Burning is restrictedThe NEA has strict rules about open fires. Almost no home has a safe, legal way to burn even a small pile of books.
There is nowhere to buryMost families live in HDB flats with no garden, and you are not allowed to bury things on public land or shared ground.
Sea disposal is impracticalPutting books in the sea is not realistic, especially in large amounts. It is hard to reach and bad for the sea.
So most families do the one thing that feels safe: they keep their old Qurans in a cupboard. Some keep them for more than twenty years, still waiting for a good way to let them go.
What about giving them to the mosque?
Some mosques will take a few old Qurans. This can be a good choice if you only have a book or two, and it is always worth asking your local mosque first.
The problem is the amount. Mosques do not have room to store large piles. When a home, a madrasah, or a family clears out years of old books, it adds up fast — a shelf of kitab, boxes of Yasin booklets, and stacks of worksheets soon become too much for a mosque to hold.
The modern method: Shariah-compliant shredding
We are ShredRite, a Muslim-owned service in Singapore. We started this work because so many families had old Qurans and nowhere to turn. Our promise is simple: no holy word should be left to read, and you get to watch every step.
1
Book your collection
Pick a date online, or send us a message on WhatsApp. A $20 booking fee holds your spot.
2
We weigh at your door
Our team comes to your door and weighs everything on a scale while you watch, so you know the price before anything leaves your home.
3
We transport to our facility
We take your items safely to our workshop. We never shred them at your door.
4
We micro-shred to P-5
Every item is shredded into pieces smaller than 30 square millimetres — about the size of a grain of rice. This meets the strict DIN 66399 P-5 standard. When we finish, no word can be read, and the paper is recycled.
Our prices are simple and based on weight. Books and papers cost $5.50 per kg; frames and harder items cost $7 per kg. There is also a one-time $20 booking fee. When you are ready, you can book a pickup in just a few minutes.
DIN 66399 P-5 · No ayat remains readable
Frequently asked questions
Yes. We come to homes all over Singapore — HDB flats, condos, and landed houses. We also visit offices, madrasahs, and mosques. Wherever you are, we can come to your door.
That is fine. Many of our pickups are just one bag. The $20 booking fee covers the visit; after that you pay by weight, so a small load stays cheap.
We shred the pages until no verse and no name can be read. Once the words are gone, the paper is just paper again and can be recycled. Scholars accept shredding as a proper way to let an old Quran go.
Old Qurans, kitab, and madrasah books — plus Islamic calendars, Yasin booklets, calligraphy frames, and sejadah with holy words on them. Not sure about an item? Send us a photo and we will let you know.
Books and papers cost $5.50 per kg; frames and harder items cost $7 per kg. There is also a one-time $20 booking fee. A small load under 10kg usually comes to about $30 to $60 in all.
Most of the time, within a day or two. Book online or send us a WhatsApp message, and we will set a time that works for you.
If you have been holding on to worn Qurans because no option ever felt right, this is what a right option looks like: collected from your doorstep, weighed in front of you, and destroyed in a way scholars accept — by a Muslim-owned team that understands why it matters.
