Using copies of CDs

18-7-2011 | IslamWeb

Question:

What is the ruling on buying a CD that contains Islamic information that I need? When I start the CD I find the oath, “I swear by Allaah The Most High and the Most Great that this copy is original and I have purchased it.” The fact is that I did not buy an original copy. Is it permissible for me to benefit from this CD? Please advise and many thanks for your efforts. May Allaah grant you success.

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu 'alyhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

 

It is not permissible to either buy or benefit from a copied CD that is not original if the developers have stated the copyright to be preserved for them or a section of the CD includes an oath to be made by the holder that he uses an original copy.

 

The oath must be made in compliance with the intention of the one who asks for it, because it is related to his rights, and it is not permissible to resort to Ta‘reedh concerning it (Ta‘reedh is to say something that can be understood in different ways in a way that the listener understands it wrongly). In addition, you are not forced to use these CDs, because you can obtain Islamic information in other ways. 

 

Allaah Knows best.