How to achieve this?
The funding for making the books free for all:
The funding can be collected via donations and given to the author. Collection and handing over of this funding to the author can most effectively be done by Muslim organizations or scholars already having a large following. But to avoid making this a monopoly of any scholar or organization, this should be a method which can be used by multiple Muslims or organizations simultaneously.RSEI concept is that any and every Muslim can and should play his role depending on his intentions, efforts, skills, reach etc. in the research, spread and establishment of Islam. This idea impacts the research and spread parts.
Suggested Formats:
- PDF for laptop / PC reading, that can also be printed if required.
- PDF for mobile reading. This PDF should be made on a smaller page size with larger text to page size ratio. This should be done preserving all formatting and images and fonts etc.
- Internet format i.e. accessing the book via a website.
- Proprietary formats like Kindle, Nook etc. are not recommended.
Useful books published already:
Authors should be contacted to decide a funding amount or their price for making their book free for all, and then the book should be offered officially for free access via PDF and other formats.New books not yet published:
Instead of getting a royalty percentage via publishing physically or electronically, which is often a smaller percentage as compared to the publisher, authors can set a reasonable funding price for offering the book for free access online in PDF and other formats.- Before publishing the new book, author can set a required funding price for publishing the book online freely. After collecting the required funding, he can publish the book for free.
- Or after publishing the book for free, the author can request the required funding price for offering the book free for all.
- In addition to allowing free download, author may offer printed version also via some POD (print on demand) publisher at a reasonable price.
Free Books for Hereafter reward only
Authors can invest in the hereafter solely by offering their works for free download without any demand for funding. This depends on financial strength of the author and his ability to continue allocating the required time to be able to generate the books. People have differing opinions on this, but impact is obvious. If, for example, via funding model, a skilled author may write 10 useful books but by pure spare time or hobby style work, he may manage only 1 book. 10 funded books are better for Islam and Muslims. He can even write some books for free while some via funding. Suppose he would have managed to write this 1 book without this funding method, he can still write this 1 book without funding method and generate 9 more books via funding method. 10 vs 1 is just an example , actual ratio may differ based on author, topic, availability of funding etc.Importance:
It is very important to convey Islam in a clarifying manner, rather this is a collective responsibility of Muslims, specially when so much hate material is written against it and there is so much ignorance. Keeping the human factor and the big picture (i.e. situation as a whole) for Islam and Muslims in mind is also important. It should be kept in mind that- Authors have families to feed also.
- Many readers can't afford books despite wanting to buy.
- Islam should be studied and researched properly giving due time and then these findings should be spread far and wide without any restrictions.
- Authors can get the required funding from donors.
- Donors can invest for the hereafter by contributing towards the funding.
- Readers can learn the material for free and if they can afford, should also contribute towards the required funding for the book.
Extending the above concept
The idea introduced above can also be implemented on Islamic courses, Islamic Apps, and Islamic Videos etc.Islamic Ideas Series
(This post last edited: 13 July 2017)