QUESTION:

When a baby is born, it is customary in the UK for the Muslims to ask (which hospitals comply with) the placenta. Also the trimming of the hair and nails. Now it should be that those items should be buried. But what if a person does not have the facility to bury the items. How should those items be disposed of. Jazakallah

ANSWER:

In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful.

It is recommended to bury such items due to the honour and sacredness attached to every part of a human.

One can bury such items in his/her garden at home. If this is not possible, it would be advisable to contact family and friends or local Islamic institutes who may be able to assist in this regard.

If nothing comes to avail and one is unable to bury such items, then one may throw them away. However, avoid throwing them away in places such as the toilet as this is disliked.

If one decides to throw such items away, it would be advisable to do so in a respectful manner, such as wrapping them up in a tissue beforehand.

Avoid handing such items over to the hospital. This is because they may burn them, and burning them is impermissible due to their sacredness as being part of a human.

And Allah, the Almighty, knows best

Mufti Sufyan

www.myislaam.com