Why Is It Is Not Haram to Use Cracked Software
C.J Ahmed-26.04.2023
Cracked software is a process of removing the copy protection of a software by means of cracking the software to enable it to be used for free instead of paying for it. This process is similar to using certain tricks using websites or for an example certain software designing programs to access features which needs a paid subscription to use it. It is not haram in cracking software because software cracking is different from copyrights, trademarks and patents. Using copyrighted works with out the permission of its owner is a form of theft but software cracking has nothing to do with copyrights or trademarks but is using an already downloaded software which has been permitted by the software developer himself.
The only exception that would make it haram is when the owner forbids cracking the software using a serial number. There is a difference between theft and using something without a persons knowledge and using an already cracked software is not haram because it is already cracked by someone else. Using a paid software is mostly expensive and using a cracked or free version or suing a method to delay or take awy the paid version is not theft but is used as a form of necessity which otherwise will involve paying a large amount of money. Even if we agree for the sake of argument that it is haram to use cracked software, still it can be used under necessity.
Why Necessity Dictates Exception
According to the shariah even the forbidden becomes halal due to necessity and if there is no transgression. Allah says in the Quran,
"And why should you not eat of that (meat) on which Allaah’s Name has been pronounced (at the time of slaughtering the animal), while He has explained to you in detail what is forbidden to you, except under compulsion of necessity?”
(6:119)
And
"He has only forbidden you carrion, blood, and swine, and that which has been consecrated to any other than Allah. But who is driven by necessity, neither craving nor transgressing, it is no sin for him. For Allah is Forgiving, Compassionate."
(2:173)
And again
“Whoever disbelieved in Allah after his belief, except him who is forced thereto and whose heart is at rest with Faith but such as open their breasts to disbelief, on them is wrath from Allah, and theirs will be a great torment”
(16:106)
The above verses clearly explains that things which are haram becomes halal for a necessity If there is no transgression. In this instance watching porn becomes a necessity and it cannot be regarded as transgression. There are many hadiths which proves that even major sins are halal when there is a necessity and this is the basic Asl (Principle). This was also the understanding of the Salaf. I have uploaded a two part videos series on why watching porn is halal for a necessity. You can watch both the videos by clicking below
Necessity in the Hadiths
"Narrated Anas (rali):
The Prophet (sal) allowed `Abdur-Rahman bin `Auf and Az-Zubair bin Al-`Awwam to wear silk because they were suffering from an itch" .
(Sahih Al Bukhari)
The Prophet (sal) said in a hadith narrated by Ibn Abbas (rali):
"Allah has forgiven my nation for mistakes and forgetfulness, and what they are forced to do."
(Ibn Majah- Graded Sahih by Albani in Sahih Sunan Ibn Majah and narrated by Baihaqi and others and graded Hasan Sahih)
Let me mention another hadith to prove the point where watching porn is halal due to necessity. The hadith is as follows
‘A woman was brought to ‘Umar bin al Khattab May Allah be pleased with him who had been extremely thirsty, and had passed by a shepherd and asked him to give her something to drink; he had refused to give her something to drink unless she let him have his way with her. (Umar) consulted with the people as to whether he should have her stoned. ‘Ali May Allah be pleased with him said, ‘She was forced to do it, you should let her go.’ So he did so."
(Sunan Baihaqi-Uthenticated by Albani in Irwa al Ghaleel 7/341)
In the above hadith it is clear that when the women who had committed zina due to her thirst, Umar (Rali) never criticized her by saying "Are you going to die because of your thirst" or Umar (Rali) or Ali (Rali) never found fault with her for committing adultery to quench her thirst. This hadith clearly proves that if there is a reason of necessity then the haram becomes halal.
Cracked software is a process of removing the copy protection of a software by means of cracking the software to enable it to be used for free instead of paying for it. This process is similar to using certain tricks using websites or for an example certain software designing programs to access features which needs a paid subscription to use it. It is not haram in cracking software because software cracking is different from copyrights, trademarks and patents. Using copyrighted works with out the permission of its owner is a form of theft but software cracking has nothing to do with copyrights or trademarks but is using an already downloaded software which has been permitted by the software developer himself.
The only exception that would make it haram is when the owner forbids cracking the software using a serial number. There is a difference between theft and using something without a persons knowledge and using an already cracked software is not haram because it is already cracked by someone else. Using a paid software is mostly expensive and using a cracked or free version or suing a method to delay or take awy the paid version is not theft but is used as a form of necessity which otherwise will involve paying a large amount of money. Even if we agree for the sake of argument that it is haram to use cracked software, still it can be used under necessity.
Why Necessity Dictates Exception
According to the shariah even the forbidden becomes halal due to necessity and if there is no transgression. Allah says in the Quran,
"And why should you not eat of that (meat) on which Allaah’s Name has been pronounced (at the time of slaughtering the animal), while He has explained to you in detail what is forbidden to you, except under compulsion of necessity?”
(6:119)
And
"He has only forbidden you carrion, blood, and swine, and that which has been consecrated to any other than Allah. But who is driven by necessity, neither craving nor transgressing, it is no sin for him. For Allah is Forgiving, Compassionate."
(2:173)
And again
“Whoever disbelieved in Allah after his belief, except him who is forced thereto and whose heart is at rest with Faith but such as open their breasts to disbelief, on them is wrath from Allah, and theirs will be a great torment”
(16:106)
The above verses clearly explains that things which are haram becomes halal for a necessity If there is no transgression. In this instance watching porn becomes a necessity and it cannot be regarded as transgression. There are many hadiths which proves that even major sins are halal when there is a necessity and this is the basic Asl (Principle). This was also the understanding of the Salaf. I have uploaded a two part videos series on why watching porn is halal for a necessity. You can watch both the videos by clicking below
Necessity in the Hadiths
"Narrated Anas (rali):
The Prophet (sal) allowed `Abdur-Rahman bin `Auf and Az-Zubair bin Al-`Awwam to wear silk because they were suffering from an itch" .
(Sahih Al Bukhari)
The Prophet (sal) said in a hadith narrated by Ibn Abbas (rali):
"Allah has forgiven my nation for mistakes and forgetfulness, and what they are forced to do."
(Ibn Majah- Graded Sahih by Albani in Sahih Sunan Ibn Majah and narrated by Baihaqi and others and graded Hasan Sahih)
Let me mention another hadith to prove the point where watching porn is halal due to necessity. The hadith is as follows
‘A woman was brought to ‘Umar bin al Khattab May Allah be pleased with him who had been extremely thirsty, and had passed by a shepherd and asked him to give her something to drink; he had refused to give her something to drink unless she let him have his way with her. (Umar) consulted with the people as to whether he should have her stoned. ‘Ali May Allah be pleased with him said, ‘She was forced to do it, you should let her go.’ So he did so."
(Sunan Baihaqi-Uthenticated by Albani in Irwa al Ghaleel 7/341)
In the above hadith it is clear that when the women who had committed zina due to her thirst, Umar (Rali) never criticized her by saying "Are you going to die because of your thirst" or Umar (Rali) or Ali (Rali) never found fault with her for committing adultery to quench her thirst. This hadith clearly proves that if there is a reason of necessity then the haram becomes halal.