The issue of rights—preserving them and avoiding their violation—is unfortunately among the matters most overlooked by users. Many pay little attention to it or even ignore it altogether.
Allah Almighty says: “And do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly or send it [in bribery] to the rulers in order that [they might aid] you [to] consume a portion of the wealth of the people in sin, while you know [it is unlawful]” (Al-Baqarah 2:188). Private property is among people’s rights. He also says: “Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due” (Al-Nisāʾ 4:58).
Qur'an “And do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly or send it [in bribery] to the rulers in order that [they might aid] you [to] consume a portion of the wealth of the people in sin, while you know [it is unlawful].” (Al-Baqarah 2:188) “Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due.” (Al-Nisāʾ 4:58)
Preserving rights is generally simple: cite the name of the creator and the source from which the work was taken. Documentation and attributing knowledge to its people has always been a hallmark of this Ummah. From the earliest Islamic writings until today, when an author quoted from another book, they would mention the writer and the source. If not from a book, they would name the speaker. The careful recording of chains of narration (isnāds) by the early scholars is the best testimony to this tradition.
This does not apply to texts alone; it is broader than that. Using images or videos without naming their owner also falls under this. The only exception is if the creator has explicitly permitted their use without attribution. There are many platforms that provide resources (videos, images, fonts, etc.), some granting full freedom to use with attribution, others as paid services requiring purchase or subscription, and some free of charge. It is not permissible to redistribute such materials if their owners have not allowed it, and many clearly state these conditions in their terms.
Some users excuse themselves by claiming these materials are overpriced. Yet in reality, there are many alternatives available for free that are comparable. The same applies to software used for creating and editing content—numerous free alternatives exist.
It is also important to note the type of rights being granted. Some content may be licensed for personal use only, while others allow both personal and commercial use, and so on.
To illustrate the importance of this matter: imagine you purchased expensive photography equipment—from cameras to lighting tools and professional lenses—then spent long months studying and practicing until you mastered photography. You then decided to earn some income from your expertise by capturing landscapes and offering them for sale online.
Then imagine discovering that someone took these photos, erased your rights, and used them in their work without purchasing them. How would you feel? How much time and effort would you need to spend to reclaim your rights—if you could even reclaim them at all? The same applies to many similar situations.
We frequently encounter disputes online about this issue, and many legal cases have been raised due to negligence, carelessness, or deliberate disregard.
Therefore, one must beware of violating the rights of others, avoid what is religiously forbidden, and stay clear of what may lead to lawsuits and criminal trials. Every person should be given their rightful due.