What is the ruling on playing with pirated games that I unknowingly purchased, and am I obligated to destroy them even though I paid for them, and would destroying them be considered wasteful?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
Purchasing a pirated copy does not make it permissible to benefit from its copyrighted materials and programs. Refraining from doing so is not extravagance or squandering of money; rather, it is a requirement of repentance for infringing upon the rights of others. The purchaser can seek absolution from the producing company or pay them the value of the right. If it is impossible to reach the rights holder, the value of the right can be estimated and given in charity, after which the copy may be used.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/166631
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 166631
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy