✦ Islamic Software Licenses

Islamic Software License - Permissive (ISL-P), Version 1.0

SPDX: LicenseRef-ISL-P-1.0 Version: 1.0 Effective: July 2026 Raw license (LICENSE.md) ↓

Effective Date: July 2026

Copyright (c) 2026 Ikhbat Foundation (ikhbat.org). All rights reserved.

Contents
  1. Preamble
  2. 1. Definitions
  3. 2. Grant of Rights
  4. 3. Conditions
  5. 4. Ethical Use Restrictions — Prohibited Industries and Activities
  6. 5. Genocide, Injustice, and State-Level Restrictions
  7. 6. Contributions
  8. 7. Determination and Dispute Resolution
  9. 8. Termination
  10. 9. Disclaimer of Warranty
  11. 10. Limitation of Liability
  12. 11. Severability
  13. 12. No Endorsement and Trademarks
  14. 13. Assignment
  15. 14. Future Versions
  16. How to Apply This License

Preamble

This license is rooted in the principles of Islam, which commands justice ('adl), forbids oppression (dhulm), and prohibits that which is harmful (haram) to individuals and societies. The Quran states:

"Cooperate with one another in goodness and righteousness, and do not cooperate in sin and transgression." — Quran 5:2

"O you who believe, do not consume one another's wealth unjustly but only in lawful transactions by mutual consent." — Quran 4:29

"And whoever kills a soul — it is as if he had slain all of mankind. And whoever saves one — it is as if he had saved all of mankind." — Quran 5:32

This License is modeled on permissive open-source licensing conventions (in the tradition of licenses such as the MIT License), adapted so that every grant of rights is conditioned on compliance with Islamic ethical principles. Subject to that condition, the Licensee may use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and sell copies of the Software, for commercial or non-commercial purposes, without seeking further permission from the Licensor, provided that the restrictions in Sections 4 and 5 travel with the Software and bind every person who receives it, at every step of distribution.

This is not an open-source license. Although this License is drafted in the tradition of permissive open-source licenses, it does not meet the Open Source Definition maintained by the Open Source Initiative (OSI) or the Free Software Definition maintained by the Free Software Foundation (FSF), because it restricts use according to the field of endeavor and identity of the Licensee. No claim of OSI approval, FSF endorsement, or "open source" certification is made or implied. This License is best described as a source-available, ethically restricted software license.

1. Definitions

1.1 "Software" means the source code, object code, documentation, and any associated files made available under this License.

1.2 "Licensor" means Ikhbat Foundation (ikhbat.org) and any authorized successors or assigns.

1.3 "Licensee" means any individual, organization, company, government entity, or other legal person exercising rights under this License, including any recipient of the Software or a Derivative Work under Section 2.

1.4 "Contributor" means the Licensor and any individual or entity that submits a Contribution that is incorporated into the Software.

1.5 "Contribution" means any work of authorship, including any modification or addition to the Software, that is intentionally submitted to the Licensor or to the maintainers of the Software for inclusion in the Software.

1.6 "Derivative Work" means any work, in source or object form, that is based upon, derived from, incorporates, or is a modification, translation, or adaptation of the Software.

1.7 "Distribute" or "Distribution" means to make the Software or a Derivative Work available to any third party, in source or object form, by sale, lease, transfer, hosting as a service that conveys the underlying software, or any other means of conveyance. It does not include internal use of the Software solely within a single Licensee entity and its majority-owned affiliates.

1.8 "Patent Claims" means claims of a patent that are owned or controlled by a Contributor and that are necessarily infringed by that Contributor's Contribution alone, or by combination of that Contribution with the Software to which it was submitted.

1.9 "Prohibited Activity" means any activity described in Section 4 (Ethical Use Restrictions) or Section 5 (Genocide, Injustice, and State-Level Restrictions).

1.10 "Primary Business" means the principal revenue-generating activity or core operational purpose of an entity. An entity's Primary Business is the single activity or line of business from which it derives the largest share of its consolidated annual revenue or to which it dedicates the largest share of its operational resources. Where an entity's revenue is genuinely diversified across multiple lines of business such that no single activity constitutes the largest share, each activity that independently accounts for 25% or more of consolidated annual revenue is treated as a Primary Business of that entity. Where reliable revenue data is unavailable, Primary Business is determined by the activity the entity holds itself out to the public as principally engaged in.

1.11 "Material Association" means a relationship in which an entity:

1.12 "Compliant Licensee" means a Licensee that is not engaged in, and does not have a Material Association with, any Prohibited Activity.

2. Grant of Rights

2.1 Copyright License. Subject to the terms and conditions of this License, and provided the Licensee is and remains a Compliant Licensee, the Licensor hereby grants to each Licensee a worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive license to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so, for commercial or non-commercial purposes, subject to the conditions in Section 3.

2.2 Patent License. Subject to the same conditions, each Contributor hereby grants to each Licensee a worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive patent license under that Contributor's Patent Claims to make, have made, use, offer to sell, sell, import, and otherwise transfer the Software. This patent license is irrevocable except as provided in Section 8.3 (Patent Litigation Termination).

2.3 No Implied Licenses. No rights or licenses are granted except as expressly set forth in this License. All rights not expressly granted are reserved by the Licensor and each Contributor.

3. Conditions

3.1 Notices. Any copy or substantial portion of the Software, and any Derivative Work that is Distributed, must retain: (a) the copyright notice reproduced above; (b) the full text of this License, including Sections 4 and 5; and (c) any NOTICE file provided with the Software.

3.2 Propagation of Ethical Use Restrictions. The Ethical Use Restrictions in Sections 4 and 5 bind every recipient of the Software and every Derivative Work, regardless of how many times the Software is copied, modified, sublicensed, or redistributed, and regardless of any additional or different terms imposed by an intermediate Licensee. No Licensee may relicense the Software or a Derivative Work under terms that remove, narrow, or waive the Ethical Use Restrictions as to any downstream recipient. Every Licensee that Distributes the Software or a Derivative Work must ensure that each recipient is bound by Sections 4 and 5, either by including this License in full or by including terms that are at least as protective of the restrictions in Sections 4 and 5.

3.3 No Trademark License. This License does not grant permission to use the trade names, trademarks, service marks, or product names of the Licensor or any Contributor, except as required for reasonable and customary use in describing the origin of the Software and reproducing the content of the NOTICE file.

3.4 Compliance. Only a Compliant Licensee may exercise the rights granted in Section 2. A Licensee that ceases to be a Compliant Licensee must immediately cease exercising those rights, subject to Section 8 (Termination).

4. Ethical Use Restrictions — Prohibited Industries and Activities

The rights granted in Section 2 are expressly conditioned on the Licensee not being engaged in, and not having a Material Association with, any of the following.

4.1 Shirk (Polytheism and Idol Worship)

The Quran states:

"Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills." — Quran 4:48

The Software may not be used by any entity whose Primary Business involves:

  • (a) the promotion, propagation, or organized facilitation of polytheism (shirk), idol worship, or the attribution of divine partners to Allah;
  • (b) the operation of institutions, platforms, or organizations whose primary purpose is the organized promotion of polytheistic worship or the production and distribution of idols or objects of polytheistic veneration; or
  • (c) the development or operation of technology platforms whose primary purpose is the propagation of polytheistic theology or recruitment into polytheistic religious movements.

Clarification: This restriction targets organized institutional promotion and propagation. It does not restrict individuals of any faith from using the Software in their personal or professional capacity, nor does it restrict academic study, interfaith dialogue, or historical scholarship.

4.2 Riba (Usury and Interest-Based Finance)

The Software may not be used by any entity whose Primary Business involves:

  • (a) lending money at interest (riba);
  • (b) conventional banking, credit card issuing, or consumer lending where interest is the primary revenue mechanism;
  • (c) payday lending, predatory lending, or debt collection practices built on interest-bearing instruments; or
  • (d) the creation, trading, or facilitation of interest-based financial derivatives, bonds, or securities.

4.3 Pornography and Sexual Exploitation

The Software may not be used by any entity whose Primary Business involves:

  • (a) the production, distribution, hosting, or monetization of pornographic or sexually explicit content;
  • (b) the operation of platforms whose primary purpose is the distribution of adult sexual content;
  • (c) escort services, sexual services, or the facilitation thereof; or
  • (d) any form of human trafficking or sexual exploitation.

4.4 Maisir (Gambling and Games of Chance)

The Software may not be used by any entity whose Primary Business involves:

  • (a) operating casinos, sportsbooks, betting platforms, or lottery systems;
  • (b) developing or distributing gambling software or platforms;
  • (c) facilitating, promoting, or profiting from games of chance where money or valuables are wagered; or
  • (d) providing payment processing, odds calculation, or infrastructure services primarily for gambling operations.

4.5 Khamr (Intoxicants)

The Software may not be used by any entity whose Primary Business involves:

  • (a) the production, distillation, brewing, or fermentation of alcoholic beverages;
  • (b) the wholesale or retail distribution of alcoholic beverages as a primary commercial activity;
  • (c) the manufacture, distribution, or sale of recreational drugs or controlled substances (except where used for legitimate, regulated medical purposes); or
  • (d) the operation of bars, nightclubs, or establishments whose primary revenue derives from the sale of intoxicants.

4.6 Pork Industry

The Software may not be used by any entity whose Primary Business involves:

  • (a) the farming, slaughtering, processing, or packaging of pork or pork-derived products; or
  • (b) the wholesale distribution of pork as a primary commercial activity.

4.7 Weapons and Arms

The Software may not be used by any entity whose Primary Business involves:

  • (a) the manufacture of weapons, munitions, explosives, or military equipment designed for offensive warfare;
  • (b) the international arms trade; or
  • (c) the development of autonomous weapons systems or weaponized artificial intelligence.

Exemption: Entities engaged in legitimate national defense of a country not identified under Section 5, cybersecurity defense, or law enforcement equipment for entities not engaged in Prohibited Activities are not subject to this restriction.

4.8 Tobacco

The Software may not be used by any entity whose Primary Business involves:

  • (a) the manufacture or production of cigarettes, cigars, or other tobacco products; or
  • (b) the manufacture or production of electronic nicotine delivery systems (e-cigarettes, vaping devices) marketed for recreational use.

4.9 Fasad (Corruption, Anti-God Ideology, and Moral Subversion)

The Quran states:

"And do not cause corruption on the earth after it has been set in order. That is better for you, if you are believers." — Quran 7:85

"And of the people are some who say, 'We believe in Allah and the Last Day,' but they are not believers. They seek to deceive Allah and those who believe, but they deceive not except themselves and perceive it not." — Quran 2:8-9

The Software may not be used by any entity whose Primary Business involves:

  • (a) the organized promotion, propagation, or institutional advocacy of atheism, anti-theism, or the denial and mockery of God (Allah) and divine revelation as a primary organizational mission;
  • (b) the practice, promotion, or organized facilitation of Satanism, devil worship, occultism, or any ideology that venerates or invokes evil as a primary purpose;
  • (c) the production or distribution of media, literature, or technology whose primary purpose is to mock, defame, or incite hatred against Islam, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), the Quran, or the fundamental tenets of Islamic faith; or
  • (d) the organized promotion of fasad (corruption and moral decay in society), including entities whose primary mission is the systematic undermining of family structure, modesty (haya), or moral order as understood in Islamic tradition.

Clarification: This restriction does not apply to secular organizations, governments, educational institutions, or individuals who hold non-religious views, provided their Primary Business is not the active, organized promotion of the activities described above. Legitimate philosophical inquiry, academic research, and civil discourse are not restricted.

4.10 Gender Ideology and Bodily Mutilation

The Quran states:

"He created you from one soul. Then He made from it its mate." — Quran 39:6

"[Satan said]: 'I will command them and they will change the creation of Allah.'" — Quran 4:119

The Software may not be used by any entity whose Primary Business involves:

  • (a) the promotion, facilitation, or provision of surgical or hormonal procedures for the purpose of changing an individual's biological sex, except in cases of medically diagnosed intersex conditions treated by licensed physicians;
  • (b) the organized promotion or institutional advocacy of gender ideology that denies the biological reality of male and female as created by Allah, as a primary organizational mission;
  • (c) the operation of platforms or organizations whose primary purpose is facilitating or promoting such procedures for minors; or
  • (d) the production or distribution of educational materials whose primary purpose is the promotion of gender transition among children.

Clarification: This restriction does not apply to general healthcare providers, hospitals, or medical institutions that may offer such services among a broader range of medical care. It targets entities whose Primary Business is the activities described above. It does not restrict individuals from using the Software regardless of their personal identity.

4.11 Zina and Fahisha (Extra-Marital Relations, Lewdness, and Sexual Promiscuity)

The Quran states:

"And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is ever an immorality and is evil as a way." — Quran 17:32

"Those who love that immorality should be spread among the believers will have a painful punishment in this world and the Hereafter." — Quran 24:19

The Software may not be used by any entity whose Primary Business involves:

  • (a) the operation of platforms, applications, or services whose primary purpose is facilitating extra-marital sexual encounters, casual sexual hookups, or adultery (including but not limited to dating platforms explicitly marketed for affairs or casual sexual encounters);
  • (b) the production, distribution, or promotion of media, content, or entertainment whose primary purpose is the glorification or normalization of zina (fornication and adultery) or sexual promiscuity as a lifestyle;
  • (c) the operation of businesses whose primary purpose is the facilitation of fahisha (lewdness, indecency, or public obscenity), including but not limited to strip clubs, adult entertainment venues, or sexualized performance establishments; or
  • (d) the organized promotion or institutional advocacy of the dissolution of marriage and family structure through the normalization of promiscuity as a primary organizational mission.

4.12 Abortion and the Taking of Innocent Life

The Quran states:

"And do not kill your children for fear of poverty. We provide for them and for you. Indeed, their killing is ever a great sin." — Quran 17:31

"And when the girl buried alive is asked for what sin she was killed." — Quran 81:8-9

The Software may not be used by any entity whose Primary Business involves:

  • (a) the performance or provision of abortion procedures as a primary medical service, except in cases where the life of the mother is in genuine medical danger as determined by qualified physicians;
  • (b) the operation of organizations whose primary mission is the promotion, advocacy, or facilitation of abortion as a routine form of contraception or family planning;
  • (c) the manufacture or distribution of abortifacient drugs or devices as a primary commercial activity; or
  • (d) the operation of platforms or organizations whose primary purpose is connecting individuals with abortion services or promoting abortion.

Clarification: This restriction does not apply to general hospitals, medical institutions, or healthcare providers that may perform procedures to save the life of the mother among a broader range of medical services. It does not restrict entities providing maternal healthcare, prenatal care, or family planning services that do not center on abortion as their Primary Business.

5. Genocide, Injustice, and State-Level Restrictions

The rights granted in Section 2 are further conditioned on the Licensee not being engaged in, and not having a Material Association with, any of the following.

5.1 Genocide

The Software may not be used by:

  • (a) any state, government, regime, or military force that is committing, has committed and not acknowledged or made reparations for, or is credibly accused of committing genocide, as determined by:
    • (i) the International Court of Justice (ICJ);
    • (ii) the International Criminal Court (ICC);
    • (iii) a United Nations Commission of Inquiry or Fact-Finding Mission; or
    • (iv) three or more internationally recognized human rights organizations (including but not limited to Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, or Médecins Sans Frontières) publishing independent findings of genocide;
  • (b) any entity that is an instrumentality, agency, or official body of such a state or regime;
  • (c) any entity that provides weapons, military technology, surveillance technology, or intelligence services to such a state or regime in furtherance of the genocide;
  • (d) any entity that provides financial services, investment, or economic support that directly sustains the military or security apparatus of such a state or regime; or
  • (e) any entity that engages in commercial activity within territories under illegal military occupation by such a state, where that activity sustains or benefits from the occupation.

5.2 Ethnic Cleansing and Forced Displacement

The Software may not be used by:

  • (a) any state, government, or entity engaged in the systematic forced displacement, deportation, or transfer of a civilian population from their homes or territories;
  • (b) any entity that facilitates, finances, or provides material support for such displacement; or
  • (c) any entity that profits from the settlement, development, or exploitation of land or property from which a population has been forcibly displaced.

5.3 Apartheid and Systemic Oppression

The Software may not be used by:

  • (a) any state or regime maintaining a system of institutionalized racial, ethnic, or religious segregation and domination, as recognized by international legal bodies or credible human rights organizations;
  • (b) any entity that is an instrumentality of such a regime; or
  • (c) any entity that provides technology, infrastructure, or services specifically designed to enforce or maintain such a system (including but not limited to surveillance systems, biometric tracking of oppressed populations, checkpoints, walls, or detention infrastructure).

5.4 Torture, Extrajudicial Killing, and Persecution

The Software may not be used by:

  • (a) any entity that engages in, facilitates, or provides technology or services used for torture, cruel or inhumane treatment, or extrajudicial killing;
  • (b) any entity that operates or provides services to extrajudicial detention facilities; or
  • (c) any entity engaged in the persecution of individuals or groups based on their religion, ethnicity, race, gender, or political beliefs.

5.5 Country and Regime Association

A Licensee is in violation of this License if it:

  • (a) is a government agency, military branch, or state-owned enterprise of a state or regime identified under Sections 5.1 through 5.4;
  • (b) holds active government contracts with such a state or regime that provide military equipment, surveillance technology, security services, or policing infrastructure;
  • (c) is headquartered in or organized under the laws of such a state and directly serves the functions of its government or military; or
  • (d) engages in lobbying, public relations, or legal services on behalf of such a state or regime with the purpose of concealing, denying, or justifying the Prohibited Activities described in Sections 5.1 through 5.4.

Clarification: Ordinary civilians, independent businesses, humanitarian organizations, journalists, academics, and civil society groups operating within or from a country identified under this Section are not subject to this restriction solely by reason of their nationality or residence, provided they are not themselves engaged in or materially associated with the Prohibited Activities described herein. This License does not collectively punish populations — it restricts complicit entities.

6. Contributions

6.1 Submission Under License Terms. Unless a Contributor and the Licensor have executed a separate written agreement stating otherwise, any Contribution intentionally submitted for inclusion in the Software is submitted under, and is licensed to the Licensor and to every Licensee under, the terms of this License, including the copyright license in Section 2.1 and the patent license in Section 2.2.

6.2 Representations. Each Contributor represents that it is legally entitled to grant the licenses described in Section 6.1 and that, to its knowledge, its Contribution does not infringe the intellectual property rights of any third party.

6.3 No Obligation. Nothing in this License obligates the Licensor to accept, incorporate, review, or maintain any Contribution.

7. Determination and Dispute Resolution

7.1 Good Faith Determination. The Licensor will make determinations regarding violations of Sections 4 and 5 in good faith, with reference to publicly available information, credible reporting, and the determinations of recognized international bodies.

7.2 Notice and Cure. Before treating this License as terminated under Section 8.1, the Licensor will provide written notice to the Licensee specifying the alleged violation. The Licensee shall have sixty (60) days from receipt of such notice to:

7.3 Governing Principles. In the event of ambiguity in the interpretation of this License, the following principles of Islamic jurisprudence (usul al-fiqh) shall guide interpretation:

7.4 Governing Law. This License shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction in which the Licensor resides, without regard to conflict of law principles.

8. Termination

8.1 Termination for Ethical Violation. If the Licensor determines, following the notice and cure process in Section 7.2, that a Licensee has failed to demonstrate it is not in violation of Section 4 or 5 and has not cured the violation within the sixty (60) day period, this License terminates automatically as to that Licensee at the end of that period, and the Licensee must immediately comply with Section 8.4.

8.2 Termination for Other Breach. If a Licensee breaches any other term of this License (including Section 3), the Licensor will provide written notice, and the License terminates automatically if the breach is not cured within thirty (30) days of such notice, or immediately if the breach is incapable of cure.

8.3 Patent Litigation Termination. If any Licensee institutes patent litigation (including a cross-claim or counterclaim in a lawsuit) alleging that the Software or a Contribution incorporated within it constitutes direct or contributory patent infringement, then the patent license granted to that Licensee under Section 2.2 terminates immediately as of the date such litigation is filed.

8.4 Effect of Termination. Upon termination as to a Licensee, that Licensee must:

Termination as to one Licensee does not affect licenses already properly granted by that Licensee to other Licensees who remain Compliant Licensees, provided those other Licensees continue to comply with this License, including Sections 4 and 5.

8.5 Survival. Termination does not relieve any party of obligations or liabilities arising from acts or omissions occurring prior to termination.

8.6 Reinstatement. The Licensor may, at its sole discretion, reinstate a terminated License if the Licensee demonstrates that the violation has been cured and that it is once again a Compliant Licensee.

9. Disclaimer of Warranty

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS," WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NONINFRINGEMENT. THE LICENSOR AND EACH CONTRIBUTOR MAKE NO WARRANTY THAT THE SOFTWARE WILL BE ERROR-FREE, UNINTERRUPTED, OR FREE OF HARMFUL COMPONENTS.

10. Limitation of Liability

IN NO EVENT SHALL THE LICENSOR OR ANY CONTRIBUTOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES, OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT, OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF, OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES.

11. Severability

If any provision of this License is held to be unenforceable or invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable, and the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

12. No Endorsement and Trademarks

Nothing in this License shall be construed as an endorsement by the Licensor of any Licensee, its products, or its services. As provided in Section 3.3, this License grants no trademark rights, and the Licensee may not use the name, trademarks, or branding of the Licensor or any Contributor to imply endorsement without prior written consent.

13. Assignment

The Licensee may not assign or transfer this License, whether by operation of law, merger, or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the Licensor, except that a Licensee may assign this License without consent in connection with a merger, acquisition, reorganization, or sale of all or substantially all of its assets relating to the Software, provided the assignee is not engaged in a Prohibited Activity and agrees in writing to be bound by this License. This provision governs only the Licensee's own contractual relationship with the Licensor and does not limit the independently granted rights of other recipients under Section 2. The Licensor may freely assign or transfer its rights, title, and obligations under this License, including its copyright in the Software, to any successor in interest.

14. Future Versions

The Licensor may publish revised versions of this License. Each version will be given a distinguishing version number. The Licensee may choose to follow the terms of the version under which it originally received the Software or any later version published by the Licensor.

How to Apply This License

Include the following notice in your source files:

SPDX-License-Identifier: LicenseRef-ISL-P-1.0

Copyright (c) [Year] [Copyright Holder]

Licensed under the Islamic Software License - Permissive (ISL-P), Version 1.0
(the "License"). You may use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute,
sublicense, and sell copies of this Software, for commercial or
non-commercial purposes, subject to the Ethical Use Restrictions in
Sections 4 and 5 of the License, which bind every recipient of this
Software and every derivative work.

You may obtain a copy of the License at:

  [URL to license]

This Software is provided "AS IS", without warranty of any kind.

The Islamic Software License - Permissive (ISL-P) v1.0 was drafted to align permissive software licensing with Islamic ethical principles and universal human rights. It is a source-available, ethically restricted license. It is not certified by the Open Source Initiative or the Free Software Foundation and does not claim to be an open-source or free software license.

This license is provided as a legal template and should be reviewed by a qualified attorney before use in production. The Licensor assumes no liability for the legal sufficiency of this document in any jurisdiction.