Q:) I want to know if copying software on
my hard drive that I have not bought is
wrong?
A:) Praise be to
Allaah
The Permanent Committee for Iftaa
(Islamic Rulings), chaired by Sheikh
Abdul-Aziz bin Baz, has replied to this
question by ruling that it is not
permissible to copy software without
permission from the original author or the
copyright holder based on the following
three
ahaadeeth of the Prophet (peace be upon
him):
(1) "Muslims are to honour their
agreements (with others)";
(2) "A Muslim's wealth is forbidden for
others to use without his permission;"
and,
(3) "Whoever is the first to acquire a
mubaah (something lawful to acquire) is
entitled to keep it". This applies to both
Muslims and non-believers (who are not
engaged in an act of war with Muslims)
because the right of a non-believer is
respected in the same manner as a Muslim's
right. Allah knows best. (Committee Fatwa
no: 18453)
Also, Sheikh Muhammad bin Salih Al-Uthaimeen
has ruled that whatever is customary among
people should be the rule except when a
user wants a copy for himself and the
author or the copyright holder did not
explicitly prohibit copying the software
for private or public use. However, if the
author or the copyright holder
specifically stated that private and
public copying of the software is
prohibited, then it is not permissible to
copy that software.
(Committee Fatwa no: 18453, Sheikh
Muhammad bin Salih Al-Uthaimeen)
Answered by Shaykh Saalih al-Munajjid
