Is It Permissible to Collect Contact Information by Scraping Data from Websites?
Answered by Shaykh Muhammad Carr
Question
Is it permissible in Islam to collect contact information, such as emails and phone numbers, for B2B lead generation using email finder tools or scraping data from websites and LinkedIn, considering these tools may violate LinkedIn’s terms of service?
ِAnswer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.
Thank you for reaching out and seeking clarification on this important matter.
Personal data has become a form of wealth because of its immense economic value in the digital age. Allah says, “O you who believe, devour not your wealth between you through falsehood; but only through trade by your complete mutual consent.” [Quran, 4:29].
Processing and collecting personal information without consent is impermissible and constitutes unlawful appropriation (ghasab). The scope of unlawful appropriation includes items not traditionally regarded as wealth (mal), such as a grain of wheat or manure. Similarly, personal information—whether classified as wealth or not—cannot be unlawfully usurped. [Refer to Bajuri, Hashiya]
I pray this is of benefit and that Allah guides us all.
[Shaykh] Muhammad Carr
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Muhammad Abu Bakr Badhib
Shaykh Muhammad Carr has dedicated his life to studying and transmitting our beautiful deen. His studies have taken him around the globe, where he has benefitted from many luminaries. Under the guidance of his teachers – Shaykh Taha Karan, Shaykh Yaseen Abbas, Shaykh Muadh Ali, and many others – Shaykh Muhammad has grown to appreciate the beauty and benefits of diverse scholarship. He completed his memorization of the Qur’an at Dar al-Ulum Zakariyyah in September 1997 and received an Alimiyya Degree in 2006 from DUAI (Darul Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah). He is also affiliated with Masjid Auwal in Bo Kaap, Cape Town (the oldest mosque in South Africa), where he serves as a co-imam, and Dar Al-Safa, where he has taught since 2018. As a teacher, he imparts the wisdom of our heritage and tradition by opening the door for students. As an imam, he has the unique opportunity to serve his community in daily life.
In addition to his roles as a teacher and imam, Shaykh Muhammad Carr has contributed significantly to the administrative and advisory aspects of Islamic institutions. Since 2023, he has served as the Administrative Director at The Imam Kurani Institute, contributing to the institution’s growth and development. He continues to pursue traditional Islamic Sciences, possessing a keen interest in Islamic Contract Law and Finance. Shaykh Muhammad has been a Shari’ah Board Member for Islamic Asset Management & Insurance Companies since 2001, aligning financial practices with Islamic principles.
