Assalam alaikum, I am from India working in the Gulf. To call to my relatives in India I was using internet telephony (VOIP) because calling through inernet costs 10 times less than normal phone. But recently local Telephone Regulatory Authority have banned internet telephony with heavy penalty if caught. So now my old parents are not happy as I can not talk to them for long in details as call rates are very high. Under these circumstances I am confused to use internet telephone to talk to my parents. What is right in the light of Qur'an & sunna. Jazakallah

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

If the authorities forbid the use of these programmes in order to achieve a general benefit or in order to repel harm, or that these programmes rely in its communications on the use of some devices or facilities of other companies without their permission, then it is not permissible for you to use these programmes.

However, if the forbiddance is for no preponderant benefit, then it is permissible for you to use these programmes as long as this does not cause any harm to you or expose you to a penalty.