Author wishes to attribute book to other than himself

5-5-2014 | IslamWeb

Question:

Salaam alaikum, I want to write a book on Islam and at the same time I wish to place the name of another person (one of my uncle in masjid) as a writer of that book during publication so to avoid Riya (show-off) of the people of our locality. Secondly, I also want to place a small library in our masjid and assighn it to that very person. So is it permissible Shaikh? Jazaak ALLAHU Khair.

---

Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

We ask Allaah to reward you for your good intention and keenness to avoid Riyaa' (showing off). You should know that attributing the book to its real author does not contradict (or undermine) his Ikhlaas (sincerity in devoting deeds to Allaah). Over the centuries, Muslim scholars have attributed their writings to themselves and did not conceal their real identities.

However, if you insist on concealing your identity, then you should not attribute the book to a specific person. Scholars, like Shaykh Bakr Abu Zayd underlined that such an act is impermissible for it is considered a lie. You may publish your book without mentioning the author’s name or use a broad title like 'an anonymous donor' or  'a devoted lover of Islam' or the like.

As for the library, if you are only going to name it after your uncle, then there is no harm in that. However, you should not proclaim that he is the donor of the library unless you dedicate the rewards of that righteous deed to him. In this case, it is allowable for you to proclaim that he is the donor.

Allaah Knows best.