Is it permissible, from a Sharia perspective, to translate the book "Al-Ajnās" for the purpose of scientific research on superstitions, knowing that its contents will not be published or practiced?
The ruling on translation is like the ruling on writing: what is not permissible to write is not permissible to translate or to take a wage for, because translation disseminates the translated material. Translating books of disbelief and misguidance has contributed to misleading people. The basic principle is that it is not permissible to translate or read books of misguidance, unless there is a legitimate benefit in doing so. For example, if a scholar reads them to refute their proponents or to clarify their errors, or to translate them for this purpose, provided that the translator is safe from falling into temptation and being affected by them. If the translator and her students are safe from being affected, and studying these books helps to clarify their falsehood and to know evil in order to avoid it and warn against it, then there is no objection to translating them. Otherwise, the basic principle is that it is not permissible.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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- 128233
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- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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