Can Muslims sell copies of the Quran?
Yes, Muslims can sell copies of the Quran, according to the majority of scholars. The price is understood as payment for the paper, printing, binding and work, not for Allah's words themselves. A minority of early scholars disliked selling it but allowed buying.
Why selling is allowed
Trade is permitted in Islam:
A printed mushaf involves real costs: paper, ink, typesetting, calligraphy, proofreading, binding and shipping. Scholars explain that the buyer pays for these, while the Quran itself, as Allah's speech, has no price. This is how Islamic bookshops, mosque stalls and online stores have operated for centuries.
Related to this, the Prophet ﷺ said: "The most deserving thing for which you take a wage is the Book of Allah" (Sahih al-Bukhari 5737). That hadith was about receiving payment for reciting it as ruqyah, and scholars also use it to support paid Quran teaching and related work.
The differing view
Some Companions and early scholars, including a narration from Ibn Umar and a view reported from Imam Ahmad, disliked selling the mushaf while allowing people to buy one. Their concern was to keep the Quran from being treated like ordinary merchandise. The Hanafi, Maliki and Shafi'i schools allow selling, and today this is the common practice everywhere.
What about Quran 2:41?
People sometimes quote "do not exchange My signs for a small price" (Quran 2:41). Classical commentators explain it as being about hiding or changing revelation for worldly gain, not about selling a printed copy at a fair price.
Good manners when selling
- Fair prices: avoid exploiting people who want a Quran.
- Respectful handling: store and ship copies cleanly, not on the floor or under other goods.
- Accuracy: sell copies from reliable printers. Faulty prints should be removed properly. See How do I dispose of an old or damaged Quran?
- Non-Muslim buyers: scholars differ on selling an Arabic mushaf to someone who may mishandle it; translations are treated more leniently. See Can I touch the Quran if I'm not Muslim?
Many Muslims also give copies away for free as charity, which is a beautiful option. See Can I give a Quran to a non-Muslim friend?
- Most scholars allow selling copies of the Quran.
- The price covers paper, printing and work, not Allah's words.
- A minority disliked selling but allowed buying.
- Sell at fair prices and handle copies respectfully.
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