Please let me know if I can use the copyrighted material which was copied and sold to me in India without the permission from the copyright owners. I bought it last year when I did not know about the Islamic ruling of copyright. I need this book for my exams now. Can I use it or do I have to buy a new one from the regular store and throw away the old one? Please reply it at the earliest as I am preparing for an exam and I need to study it compulsorily.

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 is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

If the matter is as you mentioned that you were not aware of the prohibition of purchasing such books without the permission of the concerned person, then Allaah willing, you are free from sin for purchasing this book. However, you may benefit from that book, and you are not obliged to purchase an original copy for that. But, in future you have to avoid repeating this sin.

Allaah Knows best.