Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Is it haram if I watch stolen channels from dish. I am not the one who install it its my dad

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Piracy watch stolen channels

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

If one uses another’s product without the owners approval, it would definitely be akin to theft in the sight of Shariah. The one who creates a product has a right to demand a fee for its usage; thus if one, without the prior approval and permission of the owners finds a way to crack the code and use the product or service, then one would be accountable for his theft in the Court of Allah Subhanah on the Day of Judgment.

Just because some of the television viewers or computer users are able to get away with this theft in the life of this world, does not in any way justify their theft in the sight of Allah Subhanah. Islam guides its followers towards the principles of righteousness, and paying the rightful owners their due for the usage of their created product is considered fair and just not only in the law of this world, but also in the Law of Allah Subhanah. The ones who illegally use another’s product against their will would be in transgression of the law of Allah Subhanah and would be held accountable for their deeds in the Just and Supreme Court of the Lord of the Worlds on an Inevitable Day.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verse 135:

135 O ye who believe! Stand out firmly for justice as witnesses to Allah even as against yourselves or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for Allah can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts) lest ye swerve and if ye distort (justice) or decline to do justice; verily Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do.

If the stolen channels one watches on television are programs of ‘fahisha’ and indecency and shamelessness, etc., that is so prevalent on television today, then not only will the person be responsible for stealing, but also for the sin of indulging and/or witnessing ‘fahisha’ which has so clearly been declared as absolutely unlawful for the believers by Allah and His Messenger (saws).

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 268:

268 The Shaytaan threatens you with poverty and bids you to conduct ‘fahisha’ (indecency). Allah promiseth you His Forgiveness and Bounties, and Allah Careth for all and He Knoweth all things.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 24 Surah Noor verse 21:

O ye who believe! Follow not Shaytaan's footsteps: if any will follow the footsteps of Shaytaan, he will (but) command what is ‘fahisha’ (shameful and indecent): and were it not for the Grace and Mercy of Allah on you, not one of you would ever have been pure: but Allah doth purify whom He pleases: and Allah is One Who hears and knows (all things).

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 7 Surah Aaraaf verse 33:

33 Say: The things that my Lord hath indeed forbidden are: ‘fahisha’ (shameful or indecent deeds) whether open or secret; sins and trespasses against truth or reason; assigning of partners to Allah for which he hath given no authority; and saying things about Allah of which ye have no knowledge.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 7 Surah Aaraaf verse 28:

28 When they do aught that is shameful they say: "We found our fathers doing so"; and "Allah commanded us thus": say: "Nay Allah never commands what is ‘fahisha’ (shameful or indecent): do ye say of Allah what ye know not?"

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan