Is Working in a Bookstore or Library Permissible?

Answered by Shaykh Muhammad Carr

Question

Is it permissible to work at a bookstore or library as a shopkeeper or librarian, given that I have no control over which books are stocked or sold?

In Australia, most bookstores carry books that could be considered impermissible or even blasphemous for instance, one store near me stocks titles like Why Buddhism Is True as well as the infamous The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins.

This seems to be the case for most stores in my area that sell media, in that they contain content contrary to Islamic teachings, and there are very few, if any, fully halal-compliant workplaces.

Is it permissible for me to work at such a bookstore? If not, it may be extremely difficult for me to find employment at all.

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

May Allah reward you for ensuring that your vocation aligns with Islamic Law.

“Allah wants ease for you and does not want unbearable hardship for you”.

It is permissible for you to work at such a bookstore, despite the possibility of serving as an agent in the sale of impermissible books.

The same applies to working as a librarian. This is due to the general affliction and necessity, in accordance with the principle, “Necessity renders permissible that which is otherwise impermissible”. [Suyuti, Ashbah]

That said, you should make every effort to avoid selling content contrary to Islamic teachings. Imam Nawawi, citing the Shafi‘i scholars, stated that it is not permissible to sell books of disbelief because they contain no permissible benefit; rather, they must be destroyed.

The same applies to books on magic, astrology, sorcery, and philosophy. [Nawawi, Sharh al-Muhadhdhab]

Where this is unavoidable, you should feel discomfort in your heart at doing so, for loving what Allah loves and disliking what Allah dislikes is part of true faith.

Bookstores often present situations where customers seek the shopkeeper’s advice or recommendations.

This can be a valuable opportunity to encourage what is good and discourage what is wrong. Such guidance should be offered wisely and tactfully, without placing yourself in an unnecessarily compromising position.

And with Allah alone is our success.

[Shaykh] Muhammad Carr
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Muhammad Carr has dedicated his life to studying and transmitting our beautiful deen. His studies have taken him around the globe, where he has benefitted from many luminaries. Under the guidance of his teachers – Shaykh Taha Karan, Shaykh Yaseen Abbas, Shaykh Muadh Ali and many others – Shaykh Muhammad has grown to appreciate the beauty and benefits of diverse scholarship. He completed his memorization of the Qur’an at Dar al-Ulum Zakariyyah in September 1997 and received an Alimiyya Degree in 2006 from DUAI (Darul Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah). He is also affiliated with Masjid Auwal in Bo Kaap, Cape Town (the oldest mosque in South Africa), where he serves as a co-imam, and Dar Al-Safa, where he has taught since 2018. As a teacher, he imparts the wisdom of our heritage and tradition by opening the door for students. As an imam, he has the unique opportunity to serve his community in daily life. 

In addition to his roles as a teacher and imam, Shaykh Muhammad Carr has contributed significantly to the administrative and advisory aspects of Islamic institutions. Since 2023, he has served as the Administrative Director at The Imam Kurani Institute, contributing to the institution’s growth and development. He continues to pursue traditional Islamic Sciences, possessing a keen interest in Islamic Contract Law and Finance. Shaykh Muhammad has been a Shari’ah Board Member for Islamic Asset Management & Insurance Companies since 2001, aligning financial practices with Islamic principles.