Using someone’s book without permission

Question

Question: A man went to a library or a madrasa to read. There he came across a book by an author in whom he has boundless trust, and at the same time, having read the book, he liked it for its content. This man, without the permission of the library’s owner, silently took this book away from the library. In such a case, will this man be sinful or not? Apparently, from the point of view of the Shari‘a, he is sinful.

Answer

This act of his falls under ghasb (usurpation) and is haram; he will be sinful for it. If the book still exists, paying its price is not sufficient; rather, it is obligatory to return that very book: just as he took it away, so let him bring it back. If it has perished, then let him deposit its price with the library for the purchase of books, or buy that book and give it.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

Preview. The full text opens with JavaScript enabled.