What is the ruling on preserving the copyright of an Islamic tape if its profit goes to charitable causes?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : May Allah preserve you, Shaykh. Some scholars release some lectures for a sum of money, saying, for example, "I am releasing the tape or lecture for three hundred thousand riyals, for example, or four hundred thousand," and they put it in charitable causes, meaning they preserve the copyright of the tape. Is this permissible, Shaykh?
The Shaykh : No, it is not permissible.
The questioner : He says, "I do this and put it in charitable causes."
The Shaykh : This is one of the charitable causes; spreading it among the people is one of the charitable causes.
The questioner : Okay, Shaykh...
The Shaykh : It is better than giving it in charity to a poor person.
The questioner : Okay, some scholars do not take amounts in exchange for preserving the copyright of the tape, meaning they preserve the copyright of specific recordings, Shaykh, and these recordings do not make the tape available in all regions, meaning it is difficult to provide it in some regions, for example, some villages in the north and south, and it is difficult to find the tape in that region. Shaykh, is this correct?
The Shaykh : It is obligatory for the one who agreed with the owner of the lectures to provide this for everyone. If he is unable to do so, let him open the way for others.
The questioner : Okay, Shaykh, your lessons are rarely found in the villages, Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Why?
The questioner : Because the copyright is preserved.
The Shaykh : No, no, I am telling you that Al-Istiqamah, with whom we agreed, is conditioned to deliver it to a house in al-Sha'r where there is an old woman. It is necessary.
The questioner : But, Shaykh, this...
The Shaykh : The important thing is, if they neglect something, inform us.
The questioner : But, Shaykh, one recording in the Unaizah region cannot provide for the southern region and the entire region.
The Shaykh : They claim that it is possible.
The questioner : This is difficult, Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, you have presented this now.
The questioner : Some of the youth went to some villages and did not find your tapes, Shaykh, so they said, "This is from the preserved copyright for Al-Istiqamah."
The Shaykh : No, but are they... we do not want to prolong this to take up time.
The questioner : Very well.
The Shaykh : I say, if you find something, present it to us. There is a written contract between us and them that it will be provided to all villages, inside and outside, at a reasonable price we have agreed upon. We have no interest, but we do not want these tapes to be a mess and recorded on poor tapes that do not last long and get ruined. They are committed to us regarding the strong tape and delivering it to every place. And you, may Allah reward you with good, cooperate in righteousness and piety. If it does not reach some places, present it to us.
The questioner : It does not reach some places... some villages... the recording.
The Shaykh : This is the representative of Al-Istiqamah.
The student: ...
The Shaykh : That is enough,[Ar-Ra'd 13:39].
The questioner : Oh Shaykh
The Shaykh : Yes
The Shaykh : No, it is not permissible.
The questioner : He says, "I do this and put it in charitable causes."
The Shaykh : This is one of the charitable causes; spreading it among the people is one of the charitable causes.
The questioner : Okay, Shaykh...
The Shaykh : It is better than giving it in charity to a poor person.
The questioner : Okay, some scholars do not take amounts in exchange for preserving the copyright of the tape, meaning they preserve the copyright of specific recordings, Shaykh, and these recordings do not make the tape available in all regions, meaning it is difficult to provide it in some regions, for example, some villages in the north and south, and it is difficult to find the tape in that region. Shaykh, is this correct?
The Shaykh : It is obligatory for the one who agreed with the owner of the lectures to provide this for everyone. If he is unable to do so, let him open the way for others.
The questioner : Okay, Shaykh, your lessons are rarely found in the villages, Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Why?
The questioner : Because the copyright is preserved.
The Shaykh : No, no, I am telling you that Al-Istiqamah, with whom we agreed, is conditioned to deliver it to a house in al-Sha'r where there is an old woman. It is necessary.
The questioner : But, Shaykh, this...
The Shaykh : The important thing is, if they neglect something, inform us.
The questioner : But, Shaykh, one recording in the Unaizah region cannot provide for the southern region and the entire region.
The Shaykh : They claim that it is possible.
The questioner : This is difficult, Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, you have presented this now.
The questioner : Some of the youth went to some villages and did not find your tapes, Shaykh, so they said, "This is from the preserved copyright for Al-Istiqamah."
The Shaykh : No, but are they... we do not want to prolong this to take up time.
The questioner : Very well.
The Shaykh : I say, if you find something, present it to us. There is a written contract between us and them that it will be provided to all villages, inside and outside, at a reasonable price we have agreed upon. We have no interest, but we do not want these tapes to be a mess and recorded on poor tapes that do not last long and get ruined. They are committed to us regarding the strong tape and delivering it to every place. And you, may Allah reward you with good, cooperate in righteousness and piety. If it does not reach some places, present it to us.
The questioner : It does not reach some places... some villages... the recording.
The Shaykh : This is the representative of Al-Istiqamah.
The student: ...
The Shaykh : That is enough,
Allah eliminates what He wills or confirms
يمحو الله ما يشاء ويثبتThe questioner : Oh Shaykh
The Shaykh : Yes