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Pirated Softwares
I am seeking your urgent Shariah guidance on a severe dilemma where my livelihood is directly threatened. I work as a structural engineer and my boss has strictly ordered me to download and use a pirated, cracked version of an essential engineering software (ETABS), which costs roughly 1.5 million PKR an amount I cannot afford and my employer refuses to pay. I have been explicitly told that if I do not comply, I will be fired immediately. Given the severe economic crisis in Pakistan, losing this job means sudden financial ruin. I know violating intellectual property rights is generally prohibited, but I am acting under direct coercion (Ikrah), with no intention of using this software for my own personal freelance work or enrichment.
Given my trapped position, I humbly ask if this situation qualifies under the Shariah principles of necessity (Al-darurat tubih al-mahzurat) and choosing the lesser of two evils (Ahwan al-Sharrain). I draw hope from the Hadith where the Prophet (PBUH) stated that Allah pardons what a person is forced to do (Sunan Ibn Majah), as my heart completely detests this act. Until I can secure alternative employment abroad, am I temporarily permitted to follow my employer’s mandate to protect my job, understanding that the primary burden of this theft falls upon the business owner who forces it upon his employees?
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1 Reply
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Pirated Softwares
updated 3 days, 22 hours ago
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If you feel you are facing the situation of Iztirar (compulsion), you may use the pirated software unless you find some other way.
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