What is the ruling on buying original books and then disposing of them after photocopying them, and what is the ruling if one is unable to contact the copyright holders?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
If you are unable to reach the rights holders to deliver their rights to them, you may give charity on their behalf. As for buying copies to destroy them, there is no benefit in it, and it is considered a waste of money.
It is worth noting that photocopying books for study and personal benefit, without gaining profit from them, is a lesser matter, and some scholars permit it and do not obligate anything for it. According to this view, you are not required to give any charity, but you should stop doing so in the future.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/136363
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 136363
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy