When families book a collection with us, the bags often contain more than Qurans and kitab. There are prayer mats worn thin at the knees, tasbih with fraying string, songkok that lost their shape years ago, and telekung passed down until the fabric gave way. The question comes up at almost every doorstep: does all of this need special disposal?
The short answer is no, and knowing the difference saves you money and worry. Here is the simple test we share with every customer.
The test: does it carry sacred text?
In Islam, the special care in disposal is for the words, not the object. What must never end up dishonoured is the text: verses of the Quran, the names of Allah, hadith and duas. So ask one question about each item: is there sacred text printed, woven or engraved on it?
If yes, it needs proper disposal. If no, it is an ordinary household item that served a noble purpose, and it can be donated, repurposed or discarded like any other belonging.
Items that usually do NOT need special disposal
- Prayer mats. Most sejadah carry mosque motifs, geometric patterns or images of the Kaaba, but no actual ayat. These can be donated if usable, repurposed as picnic or camping mats, or discarded. If a mat has Quranic verses woven into it, which is rare, treat it like sacred text.
- Tasbih. Prayer beads carry no text. Broken tasbih can be discarded, and usable ones donated.
- Songkok and telekung. Clothing has no special disposal requirement. Wearable pieces are welcome at textile recycling points and charity drives across Singapore.
- Prayer timetables and mosque calendars without ayat. Check first. Many calendars do print verses or the asma'ul husna, and those belong in the special-disposal pile.
Telekung and prayer garments
A plain telekung is fabric, not sacred text. It can be donated or discarded like any other clothing. The sunnah-aligned first choice is to wash it and pass it on. A clean, wearable telekung can serve another family for years, and charity drives and textile recycling points across Singapore accept prayer garments.
Some telekung are different. A small number carry printed ayat or duas, often along the border or the chest panel. Those need proper disposal, the same as a kitab or a framed ayat. Check the fabric in good light before you decide. Embroidery and floral patterns are fine. Printed words of the Quran or the names of Allah are not decoration, and they should never end up down the rubbish chute.
Sejadah printed with Quranic verses
Most sejadah are not sacred text. They show the Kaaba, a mosque arch or geometric patterns, and none of that is Quran. Those mats can be donated if usable, repurposed, or discarded normally.
Some sejadah do carry printed ayat or the names of Allah, usually worked into the border or the space above the arch. Those need the same care as any other text-bearing item.
Here is how to check yours. Lay the mat flat in good light. Look closely at the border, the arch and the corners. Calligraphy on a sejadah is often stylised, so words can hide inside a pattern. If you can make out Arabic words rather than shapes, set the mat aside for proper disposal. If you are not sure, WhatsApp us a photo at (+65) 8383 1987 and we will help you check.
Items that DO need proper disposal
- Qurans and mushaf in any condition
- Kitab, madrasah textbooks and workbooks with Quranic quotations
- Yaseen booklets, dua books and tahlil sheets
- Framed ayat and calligraphy
- Calendars, pamphlets, cards and printouts carrying verses or the names of Allah
There is one limit worth knowing before you pack your bag. We do not handle talismans, wafaq, or items tied to spiritual practices.
For these, the traditional routes of burning, burial or deep water are difficult in Singapore, which is why families use our doorstep collection. We weigh everything in front of you and micro-shred it at our facility to the DIN 66399 P-5 standard, so no ayat remains readable, the condition set out in Singapore's Fatwa Committee ruling on shredder disposal. The full reasoning is in our guide on how to dispose of an old Quran properly in Singapore.
What most families get wrong
Two mistakes come up again and again. The first is over-caution: storing years of prayer mats and songkok in the storeroom out of fear they need special handling. They do not, and that space can be yours again as soon as you sort the pile.
The second is under-caution: kenduri cards, wedding invitations with Bismillah, and madrasah worksheets going into the recycling bin because they look like ordinary paper. They carry the words that deserve better. When you are unsure about an item, our guide on what counts as sacred text walks through the three questions to ask.
Clearing a mixed pile?
If you are sorting a cupboard or clearing a family home, do not worry about separating everything perfectly. Bring the text-bearing items together for collection and we confirm at your doorstep what qualifies. Many families are surprised that the pile is smaller and cheaper than they feared, because the mats and clothing never needed to be in it.
Frequently asked questions
Do prayer mats need special disposal in Singapore?
Most do not. A sejadah that shows the Kaaba, a mosque or geometric patterns carries no sacred text, so it can be donated, repurposed or discarded normally. A sejadah printed with Quranic verses or the names of Allah needs proper disposal.
Can I throw away an old telekung?
A plain telekung is ordinary clothing. Washing it and donating it is the best first choice if it is still wearable. If the telekung has printed ayat or duas on the fabric, it needs proper disposal instead.
Do tasbih need special disposal?
No. Prayer beads carry no text. Broken tasbih can be discarded, and usable ones can be donated.
Are there items you do not accept?
Yes. We do not handle talismans, wafaq, or items tied to spiritual practices. Everything else that carries sacred text is welcome, from Qurans and kitab to framed ayat and tahlil sheets.
How are text-bearing items disposed of properly?
We collect them from your doorstep and weigh them in front of you. Then we transport them to our facility and micro-shred them using a Shariah-compliant method to the DIN 66399 P-5 standard. The particles are smaller than 30 square millimetres, so no ayat survives readable. The cost is $5.50 per kg for books and papers, $7 per kg for frames and harder materials, plus a $20 booking fee. Use a partner masjid code, ALEEM10 for Masjid Abdul Aleem Siddique or KHALID10 for Masjid Khalid, and the booking fee drops to $10. You can also bring your items to our drop-off at Masjid Abdul Aleem Siddique on the last Saturday of the month, from 2pm to 5pm, where there is no booking fee and you pay only by weight.
Book a doorstep pickup for the items that need it, or call or WhatsApp us at (+65) 8383 1987 if you want to check an item first. And read our full guide to Quran disposal in Singapore for pricing and process details.