Is it permissible to profit from publishing documentary films on YouTube for which I do not own the copyrights, given that YouTube allows this unless the original producer files a complaint?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
It is not permissible for you to work and earn from YouTube as long as it requires ownership of copyrights and you do not own them; because of the saying of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him: "Muslims are bound by their conditions," and because of the saying of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah: "The default is the validity of contracts and conditions." Furthermore, this involves transgression against the rights of publishers if they do not allow publication by others, and mere conjecture is not sufficient to ascertain their permission or lack thereof.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/167780
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 167780
- 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