Fatwa ID: 05434

Answered by: Maulana Sibghat Ullah

Question:

I am a medical student studying at Cumilla Medical College, Bangladesh. The books written by foreign authors are very expensive here. Many cannot afford them. So, they buy photocopied versions of the books.

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

The scholars have differed with regard to the issue of copyrights. Copyrights are considered to be intellectual property and is a valid shari right.

Therefore, the use of pirated copies or pirated software is not permissible as it is considered a violation of a valid right.”[i] 

Only Allah knows best

Written by Maulana Sibghat Ullah

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

[i] Contemporary Fatawaa, Mufti TaqiUsmani (DB), Pg 188, Idara Islamiyat