I have many books of Islamic jurisprudence and Qur'anic exegesis, some or most of which I have not read. Am I sinful if I do not benefit from them, and what should I do with them, knowing that I intend, if Allah wills, to read them when I am free?
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The questioner : The listener Sa'd al-Dawsari from Wadi al-Dawasir says: I have many books of Islamic jurisprudence and Qur'anic exegesis, some or most of which I have not read. Am I sinful if I do not benefit from them, and what should I do with them, knowing that I intend, if Allah wills, to read them when I am free? Also, I lend them to others when people ask for them. Is it true that the zakah of books is lending them?
The Shaykh : In answering this, I say that there is nothing wrong with a person keeping books that he hopes will be beneficial, whether in the present or the future. For if you want books to be wealth, they are wealth; if you want them to be knowledge and culture, they are knowledge and culture; and if you want them to be a legacy for your heirs after you, for those whom Allah the Exalted guides to read them, then they are that. Books are among the best things a person can possess in his life, whether he benefits from them directly in the present, or does not benefit from them directly, or does not benefit from them except in the future. He has no blame whatsoever in that. And the fact that this man lends the books he has to those who ask to borrow them so they may benefit from them is good for him; that is, it is good and a kindness to the servants of Allah. And Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Baqarah 2:195] It is hoped that he will receive a reward commensurate with the benefit this borrower derives from the righteous deeds in which he is enlightened by them.
As for the questioner's statement, "Is it true that the zakah of books is lending them?" we say that books kept for personal use have no zakah, neither in currency nor in lending. This is because anything a person keeps for himself, other than gold and silver, has no zakah, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih Muslim 982a However, there is no doubt that lending books is among the best forms of lending, due to the benefit it brings to the borrower and to the lender as well.
The questioner : Very well.
The Shaykh : In answering this, I say that there is nothing wrong with a person keeping books that he hopes will be beneficial, whether in the present or the future. For if you want books to be wealth, they are wealth; if you want them to be knowledge and culture, they are knowledge and culture; and if you want them to be a legacy for your heirs after you, for those whom Allah the Exalted guides to read them, then they are that. Books are among the best things a person can possess in his life, whether he benefits from them directly in the present, or does not benefit from them directly, or does not benefit from them except in the future. He has no blame whatsoever in that. And the fact that this man lends the books he has to those who ask to borrow them so they may benefit from them is good for him; that is, it is good and a kindness to the servants of Allah. And Allah the Exalted said:
And do good; indeed, Allah loves the doers of good.
وأحسنوا إن الله يحب المحسنينAs for the questioner's statement, "Is it true that the zakah of books is lending them?" we say that books kept for personal use have no zakah, neither in currency nor in lending. This is because anything a person keeps for himself, other than gold and silver, has no zakah, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
No Sadaqa is due from a Muslim on his slave or horse.
ليس على المسلم في عبده ولا فرسه صدقةThe questioner : Very well.