What is the ruling on purchasing Islamic manuscripts held by the Christians from some of the monks without the knowledge of the monastery?
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The questioner : The Christians stole many Islamic manuscripts.
The Shaykh : Stole? That requires proof, because it is possible that they bought them.
The questioner : It is possible that they bought them.
The Shaykh : No, many of the owners of libraries in Damascus used to sell to the French when they were occupying Syria.
The questioner : Yes, that is right.
The Shaykh: All right.
The questioner : As mentioned in the question, he said: Is it permissible to purchase these manuscripts through one of the monks without the knowledge of the monastery?
The Shaykh : Without?
The questioner : By "knowledge of the monastery," he means the monastery does not sell, and these are exclusively for Muslims; even if he were offered a large sum of money, he would not sell. So he said it is possible that some people, in one way or another, entice some of the monks and buy them—certainly not by force, but by purchase. For example, he might say to him, "Bring me manuscripts, and I will give you a specific amount for them."
The Shaykh : Of course, it is not permissible except from the monastery itself.
The questioner : Okay, what is the difference, Shaykh?
The Shaykh :Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1264Da'if (Darussalam) .
The Shaykh : Stole? That requires proof, because it is possible that they bought them.
The questioner : It is possible that they bought them.
The Shaykh : No, many of the owners of libraries in Damascus used to sell to the French when they were occupying Syria.
The questioner : Yes, that is right.
The Shaykh: All right.
The questioner : As mentioned in the question, he said: Is it permissible to purchase these manuscripts through one of the monks without the knowledge of the monastery?
The Shaykh : Without?
The questioner : By "knowledge of the monastery," he means the monastery does not sell, and these are exclusively for Muslims; even if he were offered a large sum of money, he would not sell. So he said it is possible that some people, in one way or another, entice some of the monks and buy them—certainly not by force, but by purchase. For example, he might say to him, "Bring me manuscripts, and I will give you a specific amount for them."
The Shaykh : Of course, it is not permissible except from the monastery itself.
The questioner : Okay, what is the difference, Shaykh?
The Shaykh :
and do not cheat the one who cheated you.
لا تخُنْ مَن خانَكَ
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.