Can I Watch the Videos First Downloaded and Then Re-uploaded on YouTube?
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
On YouTube it may be expected that people download videos from YouTube and re-upload them. Even Islamic videos, people might download a lecture and re-upload it, or download a video, cut out a shorter clip from it and upload it.
To my understanding, one cannot download videos from Youtube; this may be a breach of the terms of service. Though I cannot be 100% certain they downloaded the video from Youtube.
Am I allowed to watch such clips and lectures, and videos that appear to be downloaded from YouTube and re-uploaded on unofficial channels since they may have breached the terms of service by downloading the video? I don’t think I would be breaching the terms of service myself.
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate
I pray you are well. Thank you for your question.
Downloading videos from YouTube is in breach of YouTube’s Terms of Service, and the company could sue you. Although, YouTube has shown no desire to penalize users for downloading videos. One should follow the laws of Youtube service and take permission from the uploader.
The following restrictions apply to your use of the service. You are not allowed to:
- Access, reproduce, download, distribute, transmit, broadcast, display, sell, license, alter, modify, or otherwise use any part of the Service or any Content except (a) as expressly authorized by the service; or (b) with prior written permission from YouTube and, if applicable, the respective rights holders;
It would be good practice to get permission from the uploader, link the video to the organization, etc.
Atiyya al-Sadi reports from the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “no person can be a believer unless he leaves something which is not wrong with the fear that it might be wrong.” [Ibn Maja; Tabrani, Al-Mujam al-Kabir]
Anyway, one can watch any such clip that appears to be re-uploaded from Youtube.
Check this link as well:
Terms of Service (youtube.com)
Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on Seekersguidance?
SeekersAcademy (seekers.flywheelstaging.com)
I pray this helps with your question.
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied within UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan and Turkey.
He started his early education in UK. He went onto complete hifz of Qur’an in India, then enrolled into an Islamic seminary in UK where he studied the secular and Alimiyyah sciences. He then travelled to Karachi, Pakistan.
He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for a number of years. He has taught hifz of the Qur’an, Tajwid, Fiqh and many other Islamic sciences to both children and adults onsite and online extensively in UK and Ireland. He was teaching at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences.
He currently resides in UK with his wife. His personal interest is love of books and gardening.
