Will a person be held accountable on the Day of Judgment for books in the house that are not read? And is it permissible to burn surplus religious booklets in the home?
The statement that the presence of an unread book in a home will testify against its owner on the Day of Judgment is baseless. One must be careful not to criticize scholars without clear evidence. Furthermore, a scholar's deviation does not necessitate the abandonment of their beneficial books. Excess Islamic booklets can be placed in mosques or public libraries, or one can seek out those who need them. They should not be burned as long as they can be utilized. If the books are endowed (waqf), it is not permissible to burn them or dispose of them in a way that nullifies their benefit. It is not prescribed to burn copies of the Qur'an or religious books unless they are worn out and can no longer be used. A worn-out copy of the Qur'an should be buried to preserve its sanctity.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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