Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Question: Assalamu alaykum
Can I damage the database of a website promoting nudity or could I do things like such as a good deed? Or if I find money anywhere from such websites, can I take that thinking that as a war booty and spend it for the cause of Allah?
If it isn’t something allowed in Islam, can I help them instead, by for example, reporting them the weaknesses in their websites, which in some cases, wins me a bug bounty, any amount of money, or something as a gift?
Answer: Wa ‘alaykum as-salam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh
I pray you’re well.
It would not be permissible for you to hack this particular website, nor any which resemble it. Nor would taking any money from it be permissible because it is not considered ‘war booty’. Rather, it would be a criminal act according to the laws of the country you live in, and as a citizen you are bound to obey those laws.
Your dislike of the improper content, however, is praiseworthy in the Shariʿa. What we learn from the sunna of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) is that if there is anything reprehensible in the sight of the Shariʿa happening outside of of our sphere of influence we speak up if possible; otherwise one should hate it in one’s heart (Muslim).
It is unlikely that you will be able to bring about any meaningful, long-term change here, so you should direct yourself to improving as a believer through knowledge and action, and then to helping those who would need your help in your locality.
May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.
Wassalam,
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat