Topic
Muslims hold the Quran in great respect, and burning or defiling a copy gives deep offence; scholars have criticised violent reactions.
What it means
Muslims handle the Quran with care, do not put it on the floor, and traditionally wash before touching it. Reports that a copy was desecrated, such as those from Guantanamo Bay in 2005 or the burning of copies by individuals in the West, have caused riots in which people were killed.
What the sources say
Muslim scholars and leaders have often condemned the violence. The Prophet bore the insults of those who mocked the revelation, and the Quran instructs: “if you hear God’s verses being disbelieved and mocked, do not sit with them until they enter another topic” (4:140). A copy of the Quran cannot be harmed by an act of this kind, as Muslims believe God has promised to protect it (15:9).