Using cracked software to spread Islamic knowledge

29-10-2017 | IslamWeb

Question:

Assalaamu alaykum. Please, I am a student of the Quran, and I always want to share the stuff that I learn in the Quran with others by using MS Word. However, because it was expensive to get Word and I am still a student with a very weak financial status, my friend gave me a cracked version which supports all that I needed to share the message. Is it haram to use this cracked version? Also, does it mean that I cannot use that one to share the message of Islam since it is cracked? Please, I would be happy if you do not refer me to other fatwas. Thanks.

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

The view which we adopt here at Islamweb is that it is not permissible to infringe the rights of authors and owners of software programs, etc., by copying them or cracking them without the permission of their owners.

So it is not permissible for you to use the pirated copy that your friend gave you, whether you use it to spread the sciences of the Quran or to cooperate in Da‘wah (calling to Allah) and the propagation of Islam.

You can easily find another permissible means – Allah willing – to spread knowledge and to cooperate in Da‘wah and the propagation of Islam.

Allah knows best.