By: Jordan’s General Iftaa’ (fatwa) Department
Source: Jordan’s General Iftaa’ (fatwa) Department
MV editor’s Note: This question and response from Jordan’s General Iftaa’ (fatwa) Department sheds some light on modern application of Islamic ethics to technology related questions. Minor edits were done for clarity and style.
Question: What is the ruling on using [Wi-Fi] without a permission from its owner? Are the materials , such as applications, files..etc, downloaded from this network considered unlawful and so they should be discarded?
Answer: All perfect praise be to the Lord of the Worlds, and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.
Use of a paid internet subscription is the right of the subscriber only. Therefore, no one may use it without his permission, as indicated by the words of the Prophet (pbuh) in the sermon of the Farewell pilgrimage on the Day of Sacrifice at Mina:
” Verily your blood, your property and your honour are as sacred and inviolable as the sanctity of this day of yours, in this month of yours and in this town of yours.”{ Related by Bukhari and Muslim}. He also said:” A Muslim’s property is forbidden for others except by his permission and consent.”{Musnad Al-Imam Ahmad}.”.
Therefore, the permission of the subscriber should be sought before using his Wi-Fi, even if using it doesn’t affect him. However, not being protected with a password does not give the people the right to use a person’s Wi-Fi because he might have forgotten to get one or might have left it running unintentionally, and a true Muslim is the one who avoids ambiguous matters.
As regards the already downloaded materials, deleting them is no compensation for the owner. Therefore, doing so isn’t an obligation. However, it is imperative to compensate the owner or ask for his forgiveness in order to be absolved from the liability.
We would like to point out here that it is permissible to use and download from wireless networks set up in public places since they are available and open for the public. And Allah knows best.