Can You Use Islamic Lecture Subtitles in a Paid App Without Permission?
Hanafi Fiqh
Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Question
Is it permitted to use corrected auto-generated subtitles from Islamic lectures in a paid Arabic-learning app, without the content owner’s permission?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful and Compassionate.
It is not permitted to use corrected auto-generated subtitles from Islamic lectures in a paid app without the clear permission of the content owner.
The only exception is when the use is clearly lawful and recognized. For personal or non-commercial study, follow the owner’s terms. For commercial use, permission is required.
The Hanafi Principle: The Rights of Others Are Sacred
Allah Most High says, “devour not your wealth between you through falsehood; But only through trade by your complete mutual consent” [Quran 4:29, in the translation of Shaykh Nuh Keller’s Quran Beheld]. The rights of people (huquq al-‘ibad) are sacred in Islamic law, including their financial and usage rights.
The contemporary Hanafi position recognizes intellectual property and licensed content as a financial right (haqq mali). This is the view of Mufti Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) and the Islamic Fiqh Academy. When law, custom, and the owner’s terms protect a right, the Sacred Law honors it. Such a right may not be taken without permission.
Why Auto-Generated Subtitles Remain the Owner’s Right
Auto-generated subtitles are based on the speaker’s lectures. Correcting these captions and using them in a paid app is a commercial use of the speaker’s material. The process of generating captions does not transfer the underlying right to you.
If obtaining permission is difficult, this does not remove the owner’s right. The process may take time, but the right remains with the owner until they release it.
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Whoever deceives is not of us” [Muslim]. He also taught the principle of avoiding the doubtful: “Leave what makes you doubt for what does not make you doubt” [Tirmidhi, rigorously authentic (sahih)]. Using another’s material commercially without clear permission sits squarely on the doubtful side of the line, and often beyond it.
A Practical Path Forward
For personal learning or non-commercial study, follow the platform’s terms and the permissions set by the owner. Many lecturers allow this freely and openly.
For a paid app, you have several options. Seek written permission or a license from the content owner. Use content that is clearly in the public domain or licensed for commercial reuse. Or create your own content in-house. A safer and more creative approach is to summarize concepts in your own words, develop original examples, and avoid reproducing the lecture’s transcript or proprietary wording.
If your project is significant, consult both a qualified scholar and a copyright lawyer in your country. This will help ensure your work is sound both legally and religiously.
A Reminder on Speech and Good Character
Trade in knowledge is among the most consequential of trades. Build your project on clear permissions, content you truly own, and gratitude to those whose work you benefit from.
Asking Is a Key to Guidance; The Path Is Through Knowledge
Your asking is itself a sign of care, and a key to guidance. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “The cure for ignorance is to ask.” [Abu Dawud]
Let this be an invitation to learn. The SeekersGuidance reader, The Etiquette of Earning a Livelihood, gathers Imam Ghazali’s (Allah have mercy on him) chapter from the Ihya’ ‘Ulum al-Din. You may also benefit from a SeekersGuidance course on the Hanafi fiqh of transactions, the prophetic ethics of earning, and the inner dimensions of work as worship. Beauty in trade brings blessing to life.
May Allah bless your project, make it beneficial, and keep it free of any infringement on others’ rights. May He grant you halal sustenance and the depth of knowledge that brings beauty to every endeavor.
And Allah knows best.
[Shaykh] Faraz Rabbani
Related Answers
- Is It Permissible to Use Pirated Software If You Are Poor?
- Is Piracy and Watching Movies Illegally Online Considered Theft? — Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat
- Are We Violating Copyright Ethics If the Book Is Recited in a Class and Later Shared on YouTube?
- “Set Aside What Causes You Doubt” by Shaykh Yahya Rhodus
SeekersGuidance Courses and Readers
- The Etiquette of Earning a Livelihood — Comprehensive Reader
- SeekersGuidance Courses Catalogue
- Run a Business Islamically: The Witness of History
Shaykh Faraz Rabbani is a recognized specialist scholar in the Islamic sciences, having studied under leading scholars from around the world. He is the Founder and Executive Director of SeekersGuidance.
Shaykh Faraz stands as a distinguished figure in Islamic scholarship. His journey in seeking knowledge is marked by dedication and depth. He spent ten years studying under some of the most revered scholars of our times. His initial studies took place in Damascus. He then continued in Amman, Jordan.
In Damascus, he was privileged to learn from the late Shaykh Adib al-Kallas. Shaykh Adib al-Kallas was renowned as the foremost theologian of his time. Shaykh Faraz also studied under Shaykh Hassan al-Hindi in Damascus. Shaykh Hassan is recognized as one of the leading Hanafi jurists of our era.
Upon completing his studies, Shaykh Faraz returned to Canada in 2007. His return marked a new chapter in his service to the community. He founded SeekersGuidance. The organization reflects his commitment to spreading Islamic knowledge. It aims to be reliable, relevant, inspiring, and accessible. This mission addresses both online and on-the-ground needs.
Shaykh Faraz is also an accomplished author. His notable work includes “Absolute Essentials of Islam: Faith, Prayer, and the Path of Salvation According to the Hanafi School,” published by White Thread Press in 2004, which is a significant contribution to Islamic literature.
His influence extends beyond his immediate community. Since 2011, Shaykh Faraz has been recognized as one of the 500 most influential Muslims. This recognition comes from the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center. It underscores his impact on the global Islamic discourse.
Shaykh Faraz Rabbani’s life and work embody a profound commitment to Islamic scholarship. His teachings continue to enlighten and guide seekers of knowledge worldwide.
