What is the ruling on using a password for a scientific research website given to me by a friend, and what is the ruling on the research that I downloaded or printed from the website?
If the website owners gave your friend the password for his sole benefit, then it is not permissible for anyone else to use it, based on the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) saying: “Muslims are bound by their conditions in what is permissible.” You must refrain from using it. As for the research papers you downloaded, ask for their forgiveness, or return them, or pay their price, because one of the conditions for repentance is to restore rights to their owners.
However, if they gave him the password without stipulating personal use, then there is no harm in using it and benefiting personally. But it is not permissible to sell the research papers except with the permission of the website owners, because the goal is often personal benefit, not material gain.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/68675
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 68675
- 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