Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Is it allowed for me to buy Islamic books cheaply from abroad and sell them for cheap prices (according to us and UK prices) here in my country. I would be making a large profit but simultaneously the buyer will be receiving them for the cheapest prices here in the UK compared with any other retailers.
Walaikum assalam,
Yes, as long as there are no copyright violations, as are unfortunately common in Indian and Pakistani pirate re-editions. Selling such copies is not permissible, especially in the West, and the earnings from such sales are impermissible, and it would be religiously necessary to:
(a) get rid of them from one’s dues, even for past sales, by giving the amount equivalent to the sales to those who had published the work lawfully during the period;
(b) and to repent from this.
Walaikum assalam,
Faraz Rabbani