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Question
I bought a multimedia computer program called "Qur'an, Ver. 6.3.1". It is made by www.sakhr.com. I thought that I would make a copy of this program on another CD so that I can give it to a brother as a gift so that he can learn to read Qur'an. However, the brother told me that it could be copyrighted and that it would be wrong to make a copy of it.My question is, since when was the Qur'an copyrighted? Why is that Islamic books and multimedias are not for free? Why would it be wrong to copy them for yourself so that you can benefit from them? Since when was Islamic knowledge copyrighted? Did the Sahabah copyrighted there knowledge with each other? Did the Messenger sell his revelations for a price or did he give it for free and told everyone to pass the message?
Answer
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the World; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.
Companies with computer render a great service to Muslims, since they produce scientific programs that facilitate operations for acquiring knowledge, search, Qur'an memorization and recitation and other useful programs.
Preparing and making such programs require great effort, incur great expense and employ many skilled workers and specialists. So, according to Shari'a, it becomes natural for such companies to reserve the right of reproducing these programs and to prevent others from any form of transgression in this matter.
The above-stated rule is not restricted only to rights of programs. In other words, rights of reproducing or trading in others' written works, inventions and every human work, are reserved. If it is said that everyone can reproduce or use such works in trade or any other way, then it constitutes a great injustice against those who work day and night to produce and invent. After that, such companies will close their doors; inventers and authors will not be able to think any more, and then, Muslims will be deprived of such useful works and productions.
In this concern, Academy of Islamic Fiqh issued a decision in 1405 A.H. that reserved rights of authorship and invention. In other words, all rights of such works are reserved by their owners.
Some scholars believe that it is permissible to reproduce computer programs only to be given as a gift, not for trade. But, it is more proper and with greater reason to avoid such a work.
Allah knows best.
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