Privacy

The Copyright Issue

Question

Ahmad The Repenter:

Asalaamu Alaykum.

I was listening to one of your responses on copyright issues,

Now I wanted to know, that the Islamic lectures which are produced and have copyright labels; shouldn't we obey it because lets look at it this way:

All the time and effort to record that lecture, then all the time and effort to edit and all the time and effort to make the cover and to make copies onto dvd and to place them in cases. now if we look at all of this it all adds up money, weather the ink, cd's etc..

And lets say an Islamic organization sells Islamic lectures and they produce it. Are we not suppose to support them by buying the product so they can produce more islamic lectures in the future and also people do this job as a living, so is the copyright feature haram to have after all these points are into thought?

So Insh'Allah can you clear up things for me.

May Allah reward you brother Shaykh Feiz Insh'Allah with the best of rewards Jannah.

Wasalaam Walakum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.

Answer

Sheikh Feiz:

Asalaamu Alaykum warahmatAllah wabarakatahu.
Dear brother Ahmad the Repenter i ask the Almighty to increase your knowledge,knowledge that is implemented then taught then patience in the face of adversity is observed.

I appreciate your understanding to this issue,the issue of copyright in islam, and i do respect your view.However there are a few things that i believe that should be looked at before passing any judgements on this issue, for indeed it is an issue of great controversy.

-Firstly:Islam is not the property of an individual.The Quran and the sunnah are divine revelations revealed to man in order that they be followed.

-Secondly: There is no precedent in the glorious Word of the Almighty nor in the sunnah, nor in the views of the early jurists (fuqaha) that knowledge of islam can be subjected to private ownership or to sale and purchase.

-Thirdly:I see it as a major obstuction in the spreading of this beautiful deen,as many people can only afford their basic daily needs which i believe are the majority,therefore copyright prevents these people from learning their deen.

-Forthly:Many people buy their islamic material on line which in reality could lead to a prohibited act (i.e) credit cards etc...

-Fifthly:Copyright today for most people has become no more than business,where many people have lost the real focus of dawah which should be solely for the sake of Allah.

What i see from all this and much more my beloved brother Ahmad is that copyright is a major prevention of spreading this beautiful deen to the world.

Allah the Most High says in surat Ad-Duha:11 (interpretation of its meaning):
"And proclaim the grace of your Lord"

The prophet (peace be upon him) said:"Convey regarding me even if it were one verse"

He (peace be upon him) also said:"Whoever calls people to right guidance will have a reward like that of those who follow him,without that detracting from their reward in the slightest..."Narrated by Muslim, "

So how can one convey this beautiful deen which is the greatest treasure on this earth when he is prevented from doing so because of copyright.

May Allah the Almighty forgive us for our shortcomings and guide us to that which He loves and is pleased with.
This is my opinion and Allah knows best.
Sh Feiz,wa salam alaykum warahmatAllah wabarakatahu
Courtesy Of: Dhikrullah.com/forum

Copyright Issue By Shaykh Sulayman Ibn Nasir Al-‘Ulwan

Shaykh Sulaymaan was asked about this issue once, and his reply included the following:

1-This is a contemporary issue in which the Scholars have differed.
2-Some have unrestrictedly rejected the idea, some have unrestrictedly accepted the idea, and some have explained it according to details.
3-His conclusion was that things that aren't your work cannot be copyrighted, such as works from the Scholars of the passed, like if someone takes it and claims rights to the work itself because the person happened to publish it.
4-If the person does the work himself, he has the right to copyright it in terms of buying and selling, in that it is not allowed for anyone to copy it and make money off of it except with his permission.
5-If someone wants to copy it in order to learn or teach, spread Da'wah, etc. he has the right to do so even if it is copyrighted, but cannot make money off of it. Also, if he can pay, he should, as it took time and money for the thing to be written and published to begin with.

Wa Allaahu A'lam.