Q: I have pirated software installed on my laptop and mobile and now I plan to delete it. Do I have to pay for the earlier use of the software? The softwares are very costly. They cost lakhs of rupees. I can’t afford that amount of money. What to do when I get the money? Do I have to pay or will tauba suffice?
A: According to our senior Ulama’, copyright is not recognised in Islam. Hence if you had acquired the pirated software, you are the sole owner of it and you may use it as you please.
And Allah Ta’ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
حدثنا أبو الوليد، حدثنا شعبة، قال: أخبرني عبد الله بن دينار، سمعت ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما، يقول: نهى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم عن بيع الولاء، وعن هبته (بخاري #2535)
قال وإذا كان السفل لرجل وعلوه لآخر فسقطا أو سقط العلو وحده فباع صاحب العلو علوه لم يجز لأن حق التعلي ليس بمال لأن المال ما يمكن إحرازه والمال هو المحل للبيع بخلاف الشرب حيث يجوز بيعه تبعا للأرض باتفاق الروايات ومنفردا في رواية وهو اختيار مشايخ بلخ لأنه حظ من الماء ولهذا يضمن بالإتلاف وله قسط من الثمن على ما نذكره في كتاب الشرب (هداية 3/56)
Answered by:
Mufti Zakaria Makada
Checked & Approved:
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)
Q: You told me that copyright is not recognized in islam, how about this http://www.askimam.org/public/question_detail/21108
A: We respect Hadhrat Mufti Taqi Saheb (Daamat Barakaatuhum) for his services in deen. However, in the issue of copyright Hadhrat Mufti Taqi Saheb (Daamat Barakaatuhum)’s seniors (his respected father Hadhrat Mufti Shafee Saheb (Rahmatullahi alaihi), Hadhrat Mufti Mahmood Saheb (Rahmatullahi alaihi), Hadhrat Moulana Gangohi (Rahmatullahi alaihi) etc.) did not concur with him in this mas’ala.
And Allah Ta’ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
Answered by:
Mufti Zakaria Makada
Checked & Approved:
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)