“"The production of pirated books is a book literacy disaster that will not be able to enlighten readers spiritually, but will only enlighten readers intellectually._ Fadhil Sofian Hadi
It's become a routine for me to observe book centers when I travel outside the city. In August 2023, I visited Jakarta for the Islamic Religious Extension Award (PAI) event. Award organized by the Indonesian Ministry of Religion in Jakarta from August 7-10, 2023. This event involved Islamic Religious Instructors from 38 provinces across Indonesia. I had the opportunity to represent West Sumbawa Regency, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), in this prestigious national event.
The density of activities forced me to look for a 'gap' (free time) to be able to leave the hotel to... explore several book centers in Jakarta. In the afternoon on the 3rd day of the event, after giving a presentation about innovation da'wah new extension method, I then contacted a friend who lives in Jakarta, to visit the book center in the corner of the capital city.
Coincidentally, the friend I contacted was a media journalist. mainstream National. After preparations were complete, we hurried to the location. My friend suggested that the book center that was still open in the afternoon was located at Senen area. We agreed to head to the Senen area. In the afternoon, Jakarta was bustling with traffic.
From 50 meters away, I could already see the stacks of books and their attendants, accompanied by vendors on the sidewalk corner. Upon arriving, I didn't immediately stop by to see the books on sale. Instead, I strolled leisurely, observing the stalls with their towering stacks of books.
After observing enough, I approached slowly, smiling and nodding, watching the stall keeper tidy up some upside-down book titles. A sight absurd. Along the sidewalk, books are crammed, piled up, and lined up in a haphazard manner. It's unknown how many titles are piled up and overlapping, but there are no notes., list price list or some kind of catalog. Just a pile of original and pirated books, a random jumble of books.
My steps stopped for a moment. My eyes fell on a book. hard cover, with a familiar title and author. Ahkam As-Syulthaniah, Imam al-Mawardi. The phenomenal book was at the bottom of the pile. It was a bit dusty, but still neatly wrapped. To sellers or pirates, it was no different from any other.
The point is, the book sold. That's what they had in mind. I didn't want to argue for a long time. "I'll take this book, sir," the seller heard me say, immediately knocking over the pile of other books, which were 'crowded'. After holding the book, he then offered it to me. There was a feeling of 'trembling' when my hand touched the book written by Abu Hasan Ali Ibn Muhammad, which he was later nicknamed Imam al-Mawardi.
It didn't take long, and the transaction was made. The price of this book was far from the normal price. Even though the book original (original). I was stunned again. A book by a great author from Basrah This, is valued at an unfair price. However, that is the reality, book sellers and pirates, they will not appreciate the work of a Scholars’ of any caliber. So sad.
An Apathetic Reality of Book Piracy
After paying for the book Ahkam As-Syulthaniyah Then, I continued my wanderings in search of other books. I passed pile after pile of books, occasionally stopping to look at interesting old titles to bargain for. It was quite tiring and draining, even just a leisurely stroll along the sidewalk.
My friend suggested that we take a break while ordering drinks from a passing vendor. We stopped and sat for a while in front of a rather large "pirated" bookstore outlet. Two glasses of coffee and cold bottles of water that we ordered from the seller arrived. For a moment we had a 'serious' conversation about the world of plowing (book plowing, not paddy plowing).
Time passed quickly, and afternoon was approaching. After much discussion about books and piracy, we rose from our seats and headed to the front of the large bookstore in front of us. A thin employee hurriedly invited us to browse the books in his store. It was a bookstore, but more accurately, it was an illegal book storage warehouse.
I was quite shocked to see the mountain-like piles of books in the warehouse. At first glance, I was amazed but sad to see that the piles of books were language books written by scholars’ great Islam.
“Astagfrullah hal Adziim” My heart murmured. How could it not be, the books that were piled up and piled up were books by scholars’ which seems to have no price at all. The books hadith, jurisprudence, faith Islam, Sufism and so on, looked dusty and lying shabby, dirty on the shop floor. Crushed, torn, scattered. All the books and book what was lying there was a book and book pirated!
I can't bear to see books Books by great Islamic authors are being pirated and sold at will. The world of book piracy is truly cruel., cruel, disturbing, and detrimental to both authors and publishers, who have worked hard to write and publish their ideas. This truly cannot be allowed to continue.
Book Piracy Continues
Compass, recently published an investigative finding entitled “The Book Piracy Money Machine Keeps Roaring” In its investigation on May 19, 2026, Kompas stated that the book printing machines in Senen area Production almost never stops. This play is performed openly. This industry has become a money-making machine, generating billions in revenue every month, not every year.
A tragic phenomenon, when book piracy They generate more profits than publishers and authors themselves. The distribution of pirated books, on the other hand, is more widespread than that of publishers. Suppliers and perpetrators of piracy are even able to distribute pirated books daily for sale and marketing in various markets. platform social media.
Is this a reality of neglect or chaotic regulations that are reluctant to be enforced? A reality that everyone must acknowledge. On a large scale, The production of pirated books is a book literacy disaster that will not be able to enlighten readers spiritually, but will only enlighten readers intellectually.
Book piracy is injustice In any form. Because, printing, producing, and distributing without permission from the publisher and author. Book pirates are intellectual robbers who must be arrested and tried. Not the other way around, allowed, defended, and protected.
How long will these book pirates continue to be a parasite on this country? They (the pirates) are hosts that must be eradicated within the government. Hopefully, regulations, rules, and laws will be truly enforced against those who engage in piracy. Amen
And Allah knows best
