The Ruling on Selling Waqf Books

Question:
The questioner says: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success, what is the ruling on selling books that have "waqf for the sake of Allah" written on their cover, or "distributed for free," or "printed at the expense of so-and-so," or "no one has the right to print this book except one who wishes to distribute it seeking the Face of Allah," or "copyright and reproduction rights reserved"? Is it permissible for a buyer to purchase them knowing that they are waqf books? And should he complain about the one who sells them?

Answer:
The rights reserved—this is what the waqf entails in this case. This is a commercial matter that does not fall under the scope of the waqf. It is permissible for him to buy them, and it is permissible for him to give them as gifts. Because you were not prevented from buying and distributing them; you were only prevented from printing them. As for what is written on the cover as "waqf," or "distributed for free," or "not to be printed except by one who wishes to distribute it and not sell it," these are endowments, and it is not permissible [to sell them].