How Do I Make Amends after Benefitting from Hacked Modems and Accounts?
Hanafi Fiqh
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
When I was younger, I used a “hacked” internet modem to get free internet access for personal use.
Also, I used “hacked” video streaming platform accounts to access other people’s accounts for free. For some accounts, I made a “trade” with others for something of value (i.e., six months of access to streaming platform A for XYZ), but the issue is that I don’t have a record of everything I’ve gained (i.e., the XYZ), so I don’t know how to expiate for it.
Of course, I am very ashamed of these actions and have repented for doing this, but how do I expiate for this?
Also, does the expiation of haram income need to go to zakatable options, or can we give it to general sadaqa?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.
I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question and seeking guidance.
Hacked Internet Access and Hacked Media Accounts
You should make repentance (tawba) and seek forgiveness for hacking internet access in this way.
Also, giving the poor a form of charity (sadaqa) would be advisable without expecting a reward.
Trading a Hacking Account with Something of Value
If you don’t have a record of your tradings and it is difficult to ascertain, estimate the total and give it to charity (sadaqa) to remove the haram and dubious from one’s ownership and not with the intention of charity. [Usmani, Fiqh al-Buyu‘; Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]
Continue to repent (tawba), seek forgiveness and be grateful to Allah Most High for directing you to seek guidance.
Related:
- How Does One Dispose of Haram Wealth? – SeekersGuidance
- How Does One Dispose of Haram Wealth? – SeekersGuidance
- A Reader on Tawba (Repentance) – SeekersGuidance
- Purification of the Heart for Youth: Diseases of the Heart and Their Cure – YouTube
- The Path of Muhammad: Birgivi’s Manual of Taqwa Explained – YouTube
- Prayer of Repentance: Salat al-Tawba – SeekersGuidance
Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on SeekersGuidance?
I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied in the UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, and Turkey. He started his early education in the UK. He went on to complete the hifz of the Quran in India, then enrolled in an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied the secular and ‘Aalimiyya sciences. He then traveled to Karachi, Pakistan. He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for several years. He has taught hifz of the Quran, Tajwid, Fiqh, and many other Islamic sciences to children and adults onsite and online extensively in the UK and Ireland. He taught 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 the UK with his wife. His interest is a love of books and gardening.
