Qur'an desecration
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mus'haf | |
Qur'an reading | |
Tajwid · Hizb · Tarteel · Qur'anic guardian · Manzil · Qari' · Juz' · Rasm |
|
Translations | |
Origin and development | |
Tafsir | |
Persons related to verses · Justice · Asbab al-nuzul · Naskh · Biblical narratives · Tahrif · Bakkah · Muqatta'at · Esoteric interpretation |
|
Qur'an and Sunnah | |
Literalism · Miracles · Science · Women |
|
Views on the Qur'an | |
Shi'a · Criticism · Desecration · Surah of Wilaya and Nurayn · Satanic Verses · Tanazzulat · Qisas Al-Anbiya · Beit Al Qur'an |
Qur'an desecration is defined as insulting the Qur'an, by defiling or defacing it.
Most traditional schools of Islamic law dictate that a Muslim may not touch the Qur'an, which is regarded as the literal word of God in its untranslated Arabic form, unless he or she is in a state of ritual purity (wudu). Muslims must always treat the book with reverence, and are forbidden, for instance, to pulp, recycle, or simply discard worn-out copies of the text; instead, burning or burying the worn-out copies in a respectful manner is required. [1] Respect for the written text of the Qur'an is an important element of religious faith in Islam. Intentionally insulting the Qur'an is regarded as a form of blasphemy. Desecrating a copy of the Qur'an is punishable by imprisonment in some countries (life imprisonment in Pakistan, according to Article 295-B of the Penal Code) and, reportedly, by death in others.
[edit] History
In 2005, allegations of deliberate desecration of the Qur'an in front of Muslim prisoners at the United States military base in Guantánamo Bay fueled a widespread controversy and were blamed for deadly riots. A US military investigation confirmed 4 instances of Qur'an desecrations by US personnel (2 of which were described as "unintentional"), and 15 instances of desecration by Muslim prisoners. [2] According to CBC News, "The statement did not provide any explanation about why the detainees might have abused their own holy books." [3]
In 2007 a Christian Nigerian teacher, Christianah Oluwatoyin Oluwasesin, was beaten to death by her Muslim pupils for allegedly desecrating the Qur'an. [4][5]