Can I Put ‘Bismillah’ on an Object?

Answered by Ustadh Salman Younas

Question: Assalam aleykum

What is the Hanafi opinion on having an object which has ‘bismillah’ on it?

In this situation it’s a phone cover which has bismillah in English. Is it allowed? Can I bring the phone cover into the toilet?

Answer: assalamu alaykum

As a general rule, one should avoid placing the name of God, His Prophets, Quranic verses, and the like on objects where these names may be disrespected.

In regards to entering the toilet – defined here specifically as the area where one relieves himself – with an object bearing the name “Allah” or a Quranic verse and the like, it is considered disliked.

This dislikedness is lifted when one covers the name or verse before entering the toilet (e.g. putting the phone in one’s pocket). Yet, even here it would be best to avoid entering with such names/verses if reasonably possible.

[Ustadh] Salman Younas

Checked and approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Salman Younas graduated from Stony Brook University with a degree in Political Science and Religious Studies. After studying the Islamic sciences online and with local scholars in New York, Ustadh Salman moved to Amman. There he studies Islamic law, legal methodology, belief, hadith methodology, logic, Arabic, and tafsir.