Selling books of the Ghair Muqallideen
Question:-
1. Is it permitted to sell books authored by Salafis? This is specifically regarding books on Hadith and Aqeedah.
2. What is the status of the income earned?
3. Is there a difference between selling to Ulama and non-Ulama?
4. If a person sells Salafi-authored books, does this count as a compromise in Usool/Aqeedah?
Answer:-
1. We, as followers of the Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaa’ah, shouldn’t sell Kitaabs of the deviated sects to the normal masses who will be misguided and deviated by reading such literature. The masses generally expect to find authentic literature in Islamic bookstores and therefore purchase without questioning. By stocking and selling Kitaabs of the deviated sects, one is assisting in leading the Ummah astray. The Ghair Muqallideen reject Taqlid (that is, following the Imaams of Fiqh) and Ijma (consensus of the Ummah).
A famous Ghair Muqallid scholar writes, “The Muqallids are a deviated sect on the basis of ten reasons, and they are out of the Firqah Najiyah (the group that will attain salvation in the hereafter). It is not permissible to marry them. The first reason is that Taqleed Shakshi, which is absolutely Haraam and impermissible, is found in present day Hanafis.” [Siyaahatul Jinaan Fee Munakahati Ahlil Imaan Pg.5]
He writes in another place, “The true and successful sect is the Ahle-Hadith. All others are in the hell-fire. Thus, marriages should be with those who are successful and not with the people of Bid’at, or else it would lead to differences. In fact, Taqlid is also considered to be polytheism.” [Siyaahatul Jinaan Fee Munakahati Ahlil Imaan Pg.23]
2. By selling such Kitaabs, one is assisting in leading people astray, hence, one should totally refrain from the sales of such books and deriving an income therefrom. One should ensure that only authentic literature is sold.
ولا يجوز الاستئجار علي المعاصي كاستئجار الانسان للعب واللهو المحرم —–وانتساخ كتب البدع المحرمة ——- لانه استئجار علي معصية والمعصية لا تستحق بالعقد (الفقه الإسلامي وادلته ص744 ج4)
3. The Ulama that study the Salafi Kitaabs to counter them, may acquire the Kitaabs directly from the Salafi bookshops, hence, there is no need for us to stock their booklets. Ulama in general have been discouraged from reading the books of the deviated sects, as Ulama can also be easily influenced by them due to not possessing sound and strong knowledge in this particular matter.
4. Book stores generally sell their books to derive an income. There are many bookshops that are owned by non-Ulama, hence, they are not even aware of the content of the Kitaabs, rather their objective is to make money. However, if they are made aware of the content of these books but they ignore it in order to gain an income, then it is an indication of their greed and serious lack of concern for matters of Deen.
ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai
Date: 02 Muharram 1444 / 01 August 2022