Does One Have to Admit to Watching Copyright Material on YoutTube?
Hanafi Fiqh
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
I haven’t done this, but I just now learned there are penalties for watching copyrighted content. If I watch a video, must I admit to my mistake even if I wasn’t caught? Also, my friend is saying there are probably so many copyrighted videos on YouTube, and she doesn’t know when to know if she watched.
I’m writing to say that I need to find out if this info is valid, so I’m just letting you know because I think if you stream copyrighted content, there is a penalty. Otherwise, I don’t think there is, although you should probably research this yourself because I don’t understand copyright law well since I don’t have a YouTube channel.
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.
You will not have to admit to watching copyrighted material if you ever did so. It is a different matter. One can be penalized. In that case, one should avoid watching such type of material. It would be best to only watch something on YouTube if you know it’s not copyright material. This way, one will avoid falling into doubt and misgivings.
If the original website of the video content does not allow for download, then it is not permissible to download it from the other website. This is usurping the rights of another without their consent.
Leave that Makes You Doubt
Hasan ibn ‘Ali (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Leave what makes you doubt for what does not make you doubt. Verily, truth brings peace of mind, and falsehood sows doubt.” [Tirmidhi]
Intellectual Property is a Legally Recognized Right
Intellectual property is a legally recognized right to the respective authors or inventors. This is the conclusion of many individuals, senior contemporary jurists, and various fiqh academies from across the Muslim world. Accordingly, it isn’t permissible to infringe or violate it, mainly when it goes against the laws of the land, and doing so would be a form of theft. [Usmani, Fiqh al-Buyu‘; Buhuth Fi Qadaya Fiqhiyya Mu‘asara]
I would like you to go through the valuable answers and links below. You will receive guidance and direction, in sha’ Allah.
Related:
- YouTube copyright and fair use policies – How YouTube Works
- The Question of Illegal Downloading
- What Is The Ruling of Intellectual Property Rights?
- Does Copyright Law Violate Islamic Ownership Rights By Denying the Right to Pass on Or Sell Your Property Freely?
- A Reader on OCD and Waswasa (Baseless Misgivings)
- Prayer of Repentance: Salat al-Tawba
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.
