Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Kindly please answer these questions:

1. I have heard it is a sin to hide Islamic knowledge and one who does that will be given a Bridal made of fire to wear on Day of Judgment, i many times dont pass on knowledge because i fear the way i intepret will become wrong and i will be sinful, what shall i do?

4. I asked you this previously but answer was incomplete, Is it a sin to make profits selling ISLAMIC GOODS (dvds, audio cds etc)

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Conceal knowledge

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: I have heard it is a sin to hide Islamic knowledge and one who does that will be given a Bridal made of fire to wear on Day of Judgment, i many times dont pass on knowledge because i fear the way i intepret will become wrong and i will be sinful, what shall i do?

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Al-Baqarah verse 174:

Indeed those, who conceal the commands that Allah has sent down in His Book and barter them away for paltry worldly gains, fill their bellies with fire. Allah will not speak to them on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He regard them as pure and there is a painful torment for them!

Those who intentionally conceal the Commands of Allah from the people for the fear that the people might take a Straight Path unto their Lord….or those who conceal the Commands of the Lord so that they may make a paltry worldly gain or benefit for themselves…..it is such evil people who are strongly condemned and warned of the punishments of Allah Subhanah in the Hereafter.

But if one who sincerely loves Allah, and His Messenger (saws), and the deen of Islam….possesses the knowledge but choose out of wisdom not to say something at the time for fear that the guidance of Allah might be mis-interpreted, or misunderstood, or a ‘fitnah’ or discord might erupt amongst the believers, or what one is about to say is taken in the wrong context if it were made known at that time….there is absolutely no harm and no blame on such a person.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 1.1 Narrated by Umar bin Al Khattab

I heard Allah's Messenger (saws) saying, "The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended.”

Your Question: Is it a sin to make profits selling ISLAMIC GOODS (dvds, audio cds etc)

If one chooses to make a livelihood by selling Islamic books, or dvds, or audios, or any other Islamic products or services by making a reasonable profit….there is absolutely no harm and no restriction in Shariah.

And if one chooses to make no profit and only recover his cost when dealing with such products; or one chooses to distribute them free to propagate the deen of Islam…..only for the sake of Allah Subhanah, one would have their due and full reward in the Presence of their Lord for their services in His Cause.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan