Is it okay to read a book that has a blasphemous title?

[Aseer]

I recently found a book I wanted to read and it had a blasphemous title but not blasphemous content inside. The books name is "More money than God" is it okay for me to read it even though I dont agree with the choice of title and my intentions are to learn from whats in the book?

 

[Do]

This question reminds me of when Emiratis would declare reading Harry Potter novels was shirk in and of itself and immediately banned it there back in the early 2000s

I personally don't think it constitutes as shirk since you obviously aren't taking the blasphemous title to be the infallible truth but halal and haraam is determined via the orders of Allah (SWT) directly from Quran and Sunnah - not what makes sense or 'feels right'.

I was taught that it was makrooh (heavily disliked) to engage with shirk in fiction/metaphors even if you don't believe in it, but you won't be taken out of the fold of Islam as if you committed kufr/shirk intentionally.

I hope this helps.

 

[Aseer]

This question reminds me of when Emiratis would declare reading Harry Potter novels was shirk in and of itself and immediately banned it there back in the early 2000s

I personally don't think it constitutes as shirk since you obviously aren't taking the blasphemous title to be the infallible truth but halal and haraam is determined via the orders of Allah (SWT) directly from Quran and Sunnah - not what makes sense or 'feels right'.

I was taught that it was makrooh (heavily disliked) to engage with shirk in fiction/metaphors even if you don't believe in it, but you won't be taken out of the fold of Islam as if you committed kufr/shirk intentionally.

I hope this helps.

Thanks for your insight

 

[Omar del Sur]

there is the famous hadith where Satan tells Abu Hurairah true information about Ayat ul Kursi

Riyad as-Salihin 1020 - The Book of Virtues - كتاب الفضائل - Sunnah.com - Sayings and Teachings of Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم)

Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (saws) in English and Arabic

sunnah.com

as long as the actual content is permissible to read, I think it's ok to read the book

 

[Omar del Sur]

btw I suggest physically tearing off the area on the front cover where it says the title. I don't think you have to but I would suggest doing it just to affirm your disagreement with the title so you feel more comfortable reading the book. but that's just a suggestion, I don't think you have to or anything like that.

 

[Aseer]

btw I suggest physically tearing off the area on the front cover where it says the title. I don't think you have to but I would suggest doing it just to affirm your disagreement with the title so you feel more comfortable reading the book. but that's just a suggestion, I don't think you have to or anything like that.

Jazaakullah for the advice brother I will do just that.

 

[Garsoore]

there is the famous hadith where Satan tells Abu Hurairah true information about Ayat ul Kursi

Riyad as-Salihin 1020 - The Book of Virtues - كتاب الفضائل - Sunnah.com - Sayings and Teachings of Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم)

Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (saws) in English and Arabic

sunnah.com

as long as the actual content is permissible to read, I think it's ok to read the book

Aren't Hindu and Buddhist scriptures blasphemous? Many sheikhs go through them so as to refute and reason with hindus and Buddhists to convert to Islam.

 

[Omar del Sur]

Aren't Hindu and Buddhist scriptures blasphemous? Many sheikhs go through them so as to refute and reason with hindus and Buddhists to convert to Islam.

well I think that is kind of different because with those, the content itself is objectionable. if you're a Sheikh trying to debate Hindus, then I think it would make sense to read the Hindu scriptures in order to argue against them- but I believe the general rule is we should stay away from Buddhist and Hindu scriptures. Rasul Allah ﷺ warned against reading even the Bible so why should we be reading Buddhist and Hindu scripture?

but that is a different thing than OP's situation. as far as I'm aware, the actual content of the book is fine and it's the title that's an issue.