Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Is buying real Islamic books like The Reliance of the Traveller or The Book of Assistance to learn, understand and appreciate Islam more considered to be spending in the way of ALLAH or is only giving sadaqa considered spending in the way of ALLAH and there for better? So is it rewarding to buy and spend a large amount of money on Islamic books so one can read them?
Walaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,
Any money spent in ways of good is a form of charity (sadaqa). The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Every good is charity.” [Bukhari and Muslim]
Imam Badr al-Din al-`Ayni (Allah have mercy on him) says in his commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari, `Umdat al-Qari, “It is understood from this hadith that if a believer is unable to engage in one way of the ways of [supererogatory] good, and they find no opening in it, then they should seek out another way of good that they are able to engage in, for the ways of good are many and the paths to the Pleasure of Allah limitless. [`Ayni, Umdat al-Qari Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari, 22.112]
However, one should not fall into the love of amassing books for the sake of themselves. Rather, one should look towards (a) one’s responsibilities and priorities, and (b) what way of spending one’s money will be of most benefit and good and thus most pleasing to Allah Most High. In this, as all things, balance and circumspection are key.
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Be avid for that which benefits you most.”
And Allah alone gives success.
Wassalam,
Faraz Rabbani