Does Religion matter?
First this that I want to be clear is that "Is Online Working Halal or Haram?" is not a MUSLIM question. I mean we should not consider it as a question asked by a Muslim. Let me first list down the reasons why you ask this question.
- I am using copyright content to make my own YouTube vidoes
- I am using pirated themes.
- All my software's including my windows are pirated.
- My content is music, movies, songs or any other.
Aren't these all questions valid for a non-Muslim ?
Does their religion, or even if someone has no religion they have ethics, allow them to use copyright content or use tools without paying?
Can they distribute various copies of a tool/theme/windows when there vendors say one license only.
So please don't mix up ethics, professionalism and way of dealing with being how Muslim you are, because Muslims are taught these things in the best possible way. We, Muslims, are not allowed to cheat, lie, fraud, double-cross, misuse or mishandle tools and laws.
Response That I Hate
Saying that aren't you using pirated windows and software's is like a thief caught saying "Aren't there anyone else looting?" A corrupt politician saying: "Every one in the power is getting his benefits". A manager saying "I am pushing my son to this job and he will be a good resource to the company".
To be honest if we start questioning what is Haram and Halal we might have to quit using paper money because everything in today's economy revolves around Interest. What will you do then? But we are forced to use it, there is no escape at a "Certain Level". But after a certain level, it is our power and will do adopt this corrupt/illegal and unethical system or stay away from it.
I Hit Back With These Questions
- So should be stop thinking?
- Should we stop questioning our self?
- Isn't a thinking person better than a ignorant one?
- Please don't stop thinking and don't humiliate someone who asks.
- Isn't it wrong/illegal/Haram that we use pirated stuff?
Many of you might be earning good enough that they can pay for all these windows, software's. tools and services. Have you paid for these services? Or you feel better being ignorant and are now happy with this way of Haram life?
So let's get to the point whether Online work is Halal or Haram. For a straight forward answer: NO, it is not Haram. But their are more details to it. :)
We all use pirated software's, themes, tools and other stuff. Even our base is pirated and we can say that we are working 100% legal. But when some one asks you about a specific field on online work that is this work Haram or Halal.
Why do we act smart and react with probing questions.
Society Problem
For GOD sake, every one knows and uses these pirated stuff. Because of two reasons:
1 - From our school, homes and all social environment we have never seen anyone purchasing these things. So we are the same as well.
2 - We don't have the money/right way of paying them or there might be any other reason.
Answer
So in the first place it is our societies fault that we did not teach our children that we are feeding you with pirated stuff, schools and even our universities are doing the same. But in all those worst cases a person emerges and his mind clicks that he is doing something wrong. And asks you a specific question about a field, if you can not answer it.
Why you push him with questions that everyone knows answer of?
Why we could not encourage him with the answer that:
Yes there are various aspects wrong in it, but you can start and as you get better and you come back and pay for those pirated software's, themes and tools.
Why can't we appreciate that person that he/she has at least enough moral, ethical or even religious spark in him to ask himself questions like that. And for me "A person asking questions to himself and pointing fingers at himself is the best person".
Hadith
On the authority of Abu Sa’eed al-Khudree (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say, “Whosoever of you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand; and if he is not able to do so, then [let him change it] with his tongue; and if he is not able to do so, then with his heart — and that is the weakest of faith.” [Muslim]
In this Hadith, prophet tells if you can not change something with hand, at least say it with tongue and even if you can not do that at least feel it in your heart.
When it is Haram
It is Haram, If you are in a condition that you can pay for these services and you don't. Even with your own content and publish a website/channel or whatever you are doing.
It is again unethical, If you are teaching people "How to make tons of dollars using tricks and other ways" but you are not telling them pay for these tools and services. If not now, at least after you have earned these hundreds of dollars.
You have crossed the weakest part of faith (according to Hadith) , If you do or see wrong and don't still say or feel in you heart.
How I Deal?
If I am operating a website using pirated WordPress theme, I am doing wrong. Later when i start earning money and i don't pay for it, I am in Haram mode now.
I have successfully paid for about 3,4 WordPress themes that i used in my projects, paid for assets that i used for game development and I had never used paid assets of worth over $2000 for my personal use. I had used them to learn their knowledge and still working on few of them and i have decide that whenever i will launch a game using any of these assets, i will purchase it as well.
So it is just matter of making a trigger in your mind that i have to go back and correct things as well. Yes we all came in using the pirated Windows and tools. But we are in good shape now, so we should come forward and start paying one by one.
If i have missed anything please let me know and if i have said something wrong, feel it as your obligation to correct me because i will happily accept it.
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