Theft and Cracked Software: What You Need to Know
Question: I want to learn a software that costs fifty thousand but I can’t afford it. If I can obtain a cracked version for free, would that be considered theft?
Answer: You should use the property of others only with their permission. Islam prohibits using someone’s personal property without permission. If the software costs fifty thousand and cracking it is against the company’s policy, then obtaining a cracked version is indeed theft. Both the cracker and the user of the cracked software share the responsibility for this legal violation.
Respondent: Sheikh Maqbool Ahmed Salafi Hafizahullah
Jeddah Dawah Center, Saudi Arabia
Interpreter: Hasan Fuzail