QUESTION:
I started working as a freelancer(remotely) online where a person can make money from selling his services. A few days ago a client wrote to me on the platform and requested me to secure him a website by cloning one that already exists, which he in turn will customize to feature his own brand. Would this be permissible for me to do?
ANSWER:
In simple terms, you are copying another person’s website and selling it to your client in lieu of a fee. Since the laws of copyrights are not applicable in terms of Shariah, it will be permissible to clone or copy a website. Again, this is the ruling in terms of Shariah only.
الحقوق المجردة لا يجوز الاعتياض عنها (الأشباه والنظائر 1/178)
والحقوق المفردة لا تحتمل التمليكa، ولا يجوز الصلح عليه (بدائع الصنائع 6/190)
ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Maulana Abdul Kader Fazlani
Date: – 09 Jumadal Ula 1445 / 23 November 2023
CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai Saheb