Is it Halaal to download islamic material...

[ILM seeker]

E.g Anwar al awlaki lectures, they are available to buy in shops and also available to download...

if i downloaded would this be halaal ?

the person who uploaded the lectures may not have permision to do so. loads of islamic sites are doing it, it is also on youtube but I dont feel right watching it..... feels like im cheating or stealing.

[fnaeem]

Here is sheikh Nuhs opinion on it

http://www.shadhiliteachings.com/tar...t=article&id=6

The operating principle as I understand in that link is "harm" to a fellow muslim. I feel that when we listen to whole lectures online, we are hurting the content producers and the like and that is haram. Now if somehow all the content producers and distributors were supported by a benevolent king, the equation would change.

In the end it comes down to your determination if produciton/distribution of this stuff is a persons job or hobby.