Community members respond overwhelmingly to the appeal by Deonar Cemetery Trust; over a tempo load collected in two days
MUMBAI — A large quantity of worn-out papers, old books and damaged copies of the Holy Qur’an were collected at Deonar Cemetery in Mumbai.
According to the trustees, more than a full tempo load of books and religious material was gathered on February 14 and 15. The collection included old copies of the Holy Qur’an, other religious books, and torn or unusable papers.
The trustees said the response from the Muslim community was strong and encouraging.
Abdul Rehman, also known as Munna, trustee of Deonar Cemetery, told Clarion India that the step was taken to protect holy books from desecration.
“This step has been taken to protect them from desecration,” he said. “It is a matter of joy that people paid attention to the appeal and brought the copies with respect.”
He said that all the collected material is being kept safely in plastic bags, boxes and wrapped in cloth inside the cemetery premises until further process is carried out.
Sorting and Rebinding Process
Abdul Rehman explained that each book and copy of the Holy Qur’an will be examined carefully.
“The books and copies of the Holy Qur’an brought here will be checked one by one,” he said. “Those in usable condition will be separated. Those that have minor tears or damaged covers will be rebound and made usable again.”
He added that the trust wants to make sure that as many copies as possible are restored and preserved.
“This is not just about disposal. It is about respect. If a copy can be repaired, we will repair it,” he said.
Respectful Disposal in the Sea
For the copies that are completely worn out or beyond repair, the trust has made separate arrangements.
Abdul Rehman said that such copies would be cleaned properly and then disposed of in the sea in a respectful manner by the Green Star Trust.
“The Green Star Trust has been performing this service for a long time,” he said. “They have experience in handling such matters.”
He stressed that care would be taken at every stage.
“In addition to saving the holy books from desecration, we also make sure that while throwing them into the sea, there is no disrespect and no violation of any regulations,” he said.
The trustees said the process is carried out with dignity and in accordance with legal and environmental norms.
Reminder of Religious Responsibility
During the collection drive, people who brought copies of the Holy Qur’an and other religious books were reminded of their responsibility.
“As Muslims, it is our duty to read religious books, recite the Qur’an and keep them safe with full dignity and respect,” Abdul Rehman said. “There should never be any suspicion of disrespect.”
He said many people expressed concern that damaged or torn copies kept at home might accidentally be thrown away with waste or mishandled.
“People told us they were worried that old copies might be mixed with scrap or garbage. They felt relieved that there is now a proper system,” he said.
Although the official appeal was for only two days, trustees said the flow of books has not completely stopped.
“The time fixed for this process was two days,” Abdul Rehman said. “But some people are still bringing copies, and some have said they will bring them in the coming days. They will not be returned. We will also manage them.”
He said the trust would continue to accept such material and make arrangements accordingly.
Community members who visited the cemetery said they welcomed the initiative.
One resident, who brought several old copies from his home, said, “We kept these copies for many years. They became old and torn. We did not know what to do. Now we feel satisfied that they will be handled properly.”
Another elderly man said, “The Qur’an is not an ordinary book. Even if it is old, it must be treated with respect. This step by the trust is good for the community.”
Trustees said the aim of the drive was simple: to prevent any chance of holy books being mishandled or disrespected.
With more than a tempo load collected in just two days, the response has shown the concern of the Muslim community in Mumbai for the dignity of their religious texts.
The trust has indicated that similar drives may be organised in the future if needed, depending on public response and arrangements.
