Question:
What is the ruling of using unsecured Wi-Fi connection where one does not need to enter a password?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the many countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
Referring to the above issue, our society as a whole is used to using the Wi-Fi. In this matter, usually, the person who subscribes to any internet service provider would secure his Wi-Fi connection by placing a password requirement for anyone who wants to connect to his Wi-Fi. However, there are also people who did not secure their line and did not put any password requirement. Hence, there is a confusion as to whether it is permissible for us to use any Wi-Fi connection that is not secured.
Generally, we are prohibited from unjustly benefitting or using the property of another person. This is clear according to the statement of Allah SWT:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَأْكُلُوا أَمْوَالَكُمْ بَيْنَكُمْ بِالْبَاطِلِ
“O you who have believed, do not consume one another's wealth unjustly,”
Surah al-Nisa’ (29)
Al-Maraghi said: “Bathil means meaningless, while the term is used to mean taking another person’s property without reasonable payment or compensation, or consent from the owner.” Refer Tafsir al-Maraghi (3/1168)
Syeikh Prof Dr Wahbah al-Zuhaili said, the meaning of consuming another’s wealth unjustly is through prohibited means such as usury, gambling, ghasb (forcefully) and deception or fraud in trade. (Refer Tafsir al-Munir, 5/31)
From Anas bin Malik RA, the Prophet PBUH said:
لَا يَحِلُّ مَالُ امْرِئٍ مُسْلِمٍ إِلَّا بِطِيبِ نَفْسِهِ
“It is impermissible to take the property of a Muslim except with his consent.”
Narrated by al-Daraqutni (2885)
The Prophet PBUH also said:
فَإِنَّ دِمَاءَكُمْ، وَأَمْوَالَكُمْ، وَأَعْرَاضَكُمْ، بَيْنَكُمْ حَرَامٌ، كَحُرْمَةِ يَوْمِكُمْ هَذَا، فِي شَهْرِكُمْ هَذَا، فِي بَلَدِكُمْ هَذَا
"Verily! Your blood, property and honor are sacred to one another (i.e. Muslims) like the sanctity of this day of yours, in this month of yours and in this city of yours.”
Sahih al-Bukhari (67) and Sahih Muslim (1679)
Conclusion
In this issue, in our opinion, it is impermissible to use unsecured Wi-Fi connection except after we have obtained the permission of the owner. However, using it is permissible if we know that the owner of the Wi-Fi gives his consent for others to use it.
Lastly, let us all supplicate that we are distanced and protected by Allah SWT from anything that He dislikes and continue to live under His blessings. Amin.