Liability for a lost borrowed book in Islamic law
Question
Assalamualaikum, If my friend borrowed from someone a textbook for lecture , and I was not knowing about it and in the middle of the lecture , she told me she borrowed it , and after the lecture , she kept it under the desk and we all went home and next day it is not there , and i checked the desk , the cupboard asked my other classmates. What should be done , if the girl she borrowed the book from , says, "i want my book anyhow" . Should my friend buy her a new book ? Should I too ?
Islamic Ruling & Answer
VerifiedWalekumussalam,
Since your friend borrowed the book, she became responsible for it as a trust. Leaving the book under the desk after the lecture is considered negligence in safeguarding it. Therefore, if the book has been lost, the responsibility falls on her.
Thus, it is necessary for your friend to compensate for the bookโeither by buying a new copy or paying its price.
As for you, since you neither borrowed the book nor were responsible for it, there is no liability on you.
Answered by
Mufti Tosif Qasmi
April 12, 2026
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