Fatwa

Income of work done using cracked software

Question

As-Salāmu ʿAlaykum,

-If someone works using unlicensed (cracked) software (while working for themselves, i.e. not in a company), and the work itself is Halāl, is the income Harām due to having used cracked software? For example, if someone uses a cracked version of windows or microsoft word and earns money by working with it, is that money Harām? If so, in its entirety? and if so, is microsoft the owner of the money(theft), or would it be classed as Harām money like ribā

-If someone then buys the programs, does that make the income gained before Halāl, like are the rights now restituted? And if the programs are purchased using the income that was gained while working with the pirated versions of these same programs, what is the ruling in that case? Are the rights returned, or does that income is Harām?

-If someone intends to work in a Halāl way, but the computer they bought and the now-paid programs were purchased with income earned while working with pirated versions of these programs, does that mean all income they gain from that computer, despite now working with licensed programs, is Harām?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

If one’s actual work and employment is Halal, then one’s earnings are Halal too. This is irrespective of whether one used cracked software or not.

If one has the means, it is best to utilise paid versions of the software’s.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Mufti Bilal Pandor

Concurred by
Mufti Muhammad Patel

Darul Iftaa Mahmudiyyah
Lusaka, Zambia

www.daruliftaazambia.com