The ruling on placing a library and selling tapes and books inside the mosque

Question:
This questioner says: We have a mosque in the company where we work, and most of the employees belonging to this company are expatriate Muslim brothers and others. So we set up a library in the office with books and a place to sell tapes at cost price, such that whoever takes anything from these books or tapes puts the amount in the box. No one is doing the selling; rather, each person takes what he wants and puts the price of the book or tape in this box. This practice has found great acceptance among the general employees, as most of them do not know where to buy these tapes or books, or they find them at a higher price than what is offered to them in this place. What is the ruling of the Shari'ah in this, and may Allah reward you with good?

Answer:
May Allah reward you for this work, for your eagerness for good and spreading good. You will be rewarded for this, if Allah wills. However, placing this in the mosque is not permissible, because buying and selling are not permissible in the mosque. Even if it is not in the form of a direct sale, as the questioner described—placing the book or tape, writing the price, and then coming to take the book or tape and putting the value in the box—this is selling. It is the same as selling. Buying and selling are not permissible in that place. So it is obligatory for you to place this location outside the mosque. Open a library, open a library outside the mosque, and put this good work in it. Or, if a library and an employee to manage it are not feasible, make a room outside the mosque and set a time to open it. Set a time when it is opened, so that those who wish to enter can take what they want and put the money in the box, outside the mosque. As for in the mosque, this is not permissible. I think the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs issued a general circular to the mosques prohibiting this matter, and that is correct. This is not permissible. Yes.