Is it permissible to penalize the publisher by imposing a fine on him or reducing the agreed-upon amount, due to his breach of contract terms and delay in printing and delivering the book, especially given that I am in need of money and unable to pay my debts?

It is permissible in a hire contract to stipulate a timeframe along with the work, provided the time allotted is sufficient for it. If a duration is stipulated for printing a book and that duration is sufficient for the task, then the publishing house owner is obligated to adhere to it. If he does not adhere to it, he is not entitled to the full price. His wage will be reduced according to the delay, and this is to be estimated by specialists and according to what is customarily practiced in the printing and publishing market.