Praise be to Allah.
It is not permissible for you to sell these programs to one who you know will use them to commit sin, such as selling them to riba-based banks or to those who will use them to sell books that go against the ‘aqeedah of Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaa’ah, because that is cooperating in sin and transgression, and Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Help you one another in Al‑Birr and At‑Taqwa (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression. And fear Allaah. Verily, Allaah is Severe in punishment”
[al-Maa’idah 5:2]
The fuqaha’ stated that it is not permissible to sell or rent to anyone if it is known that he will use it for sinful purposes.
Ibn Qudaamah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: To sum up, selling fruit juice to one who is certain to use it to make alcohol is haraam. Then he said: The same ruling applies in all cases where the aim is something haraam, such as selling weapons to those who are at war with the Muslims, or to bandits, or at times of fitnah, or selling slave women to become sinners, or renting them out for such purposes, or renting out one’s property for alcohol to sold from it, or to be used as a church, and so on. This is haraam, and the contract is invalid. End quote from al-Mughni (4/154).
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: It is not valid to sell to one who intends to use it for haraam purposes, such as selling fruit juice to one who will use it to make alcohol, if that is known, according to the view of Ahmad and others, or if it is thought most likely, as is one of the two views narrated from Ahmad. This is supported by the fact that our companions said: If the landlord thinks that the renter will rent the building for sinful purposes, such as selling alcohol and the like, it is not permissible for him to rent that building to him, and the rental contract is not valid. Selling and renting are the same. End quote from al-Fataawa al-Kubra (5/388).
He also said in Sharh al-‘Umdah (4/386): All clothing which it is thought must likely will be used for sinful purposes, it is not permissible to sell it or sew it for one who will use it for sinful purposes and wrongdoing. End quote.
It says in al-Mawsoo’ah al-Fiqhiyyah (9/213): The majority are of the view that everything that is intended for haraam purposes, and every transaction that leads to sin is haraam, so he should refrain from selling anything where it is known that the purchaser intends to use it for something that is not permissible.
End quote from al-Mawsoo’ah al-Fiqhiyyah al-Kuwaitiyyah.
The questioner should note that whoever gives up something for the sake of Allaah, Allaah will compensate him with something better than it, as is narrated in a saheeh report from our Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and that what is with Allaah cannot be attained except by obeying Him, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The Holy Spirit (Jibreel) has inspired to me that no soul will die until it has completed its appointed term and received its provision in full, so fear Allaah and do not be desperate in seeking provision, and no one of you should be temped to seek provision by means of committing sin if it is slow in coming to him, for that which is with Allaah can only be attained by obeying Him.” Narrated by Abu Na’eem in al-Hilyah from the hadeeth of Abu Umaamah; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, no. 2085.
And Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And whosoever fears Allaah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty).
3. And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in Allaah, then He will suffice him. Verily, Allaah will accomplish his purpose. Indeed Allaah has set a measure for all things”
[al-Talaaq 65:2-3]
We ask Allaah to help and guide us and you.
And Allaah knows best.
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