Questionable Access To Intellectual Property

Question: An online course provider has given me access to intellectual property, but I am not sure if he himself has the right to access it. What should I do?

Answer:

Wa alaykum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

Dear questioner,

Intellectual property is the property and as such, this scenario would be like buying a car from someone who may have stolen it.

If it is just a possibility, then one can ignore it. If it is very likely, one should double-check. If it is not possible to check, one should not use that material.

Given that some people don’t see intellectual property as actual property, and they follow certain other juristic opinions, one has to be careful not to just follow what everyone else is doing.

‘Ask your heart, and ask your soul!’ (He said it three times) ‘Goodness is that which the soul is at peace with, and sin is that which weighs on your heart and one’s heart is uncertain about. Even if they all say it is halal! Even if they all say it is halal!’ (Ahmad and Ibn Hibban).

I pray this helps.

[Ustadh] Farid

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Farid Dingle has completed extensive years of study in the sciences of the Arabic language and the various Islamic Sciences. During his studies, he also earned a CIFE Certificate in Islamic Finance. Over the years he has developed a masterful ability to craft lessons that help non-Arabic speakers gain a deep understanding of the language. He currently teaches courses in the Arabic Language