The Ruling on Endowing Books
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Fatwa No. ( 20807 )
Q1: In the library, I come across books bearing the text: (Endowed to Allah, to be given away and not sold, distributed by a charitable foundation, distributed by a government administration, personal gift from so-and-so to so-and-so, gift from a government administration, distribution department of a government administration). Is it permissible to buy them from their owner, or from others who have not written those phrases on them, without informing them of this? Or should I inform them that they bear these phrases, and if they leave the matter to us, is it permissible for me to take them for personal use for reading, or should I distribute them to those who need them? I ask you to clarify this for me in detail.
A1: If the books bear phrases indicating an endowment (waqf) for the benefit of those who use them, such as: (Endowed to Allah the Exalted, to be given away and not sold, distributed by a charitable foundation), then it is not permissible to sell or buy them. If the books bear phrases indicating only a gift or distribution, then these are not an endowment, and there is no harm in selling or buying them. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q1: In the library, I come across books bearing the text: (Endowed to Allah, to be given away and not sold, distributed by a charitable foundation, distributed by a government administration, personal gift from so-and-so to so-and-so, gift from a government administration, distribution department of a government administration). Is it permissible to buy them from their owner, or from others who have not written those phrases on them, without informing them of this? Or should I inform them that they bear these phrases, and if they leave the matter to us, is it permissible for me to take them for personal use for reading, or should I distribute them to those who need them? I ask you to clarify this for me in detail.
A1: If the books bear phrases indicating an endowment (waqf) for the benefit of those who use them, such as: (Endowed to Allah the Exalted, to be given away and not sold, distributed by a charitable foundation), then it is not permissible to sell or buy them. If the books bear phrases indicating only a gift or distribution, then these are not an endowment, and there is no harm in selling or buying them. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.