Terms of Use

Effective Date: January 2025 | Last Updated: June 2026

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using Ahkam101 ("the Service"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Use ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use the Service.

Ahkam101 is operated by Mārefa Source ("we," "us," or "our"). These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and Mārefa Source.

2. Description of Service

Ahkam101 is an AI-powered platform that provides information about Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) based on the rulings of Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali al-Sistani. The Service retrieves and presents content from authenticated religious texts and Q&A archives.

Educational Purpose Only

The Service is provided for educational and informational purposes only. Ahkam101 is:

  • A reference tool to help users access Islamic rulings
  • NOT a substitute for consultation with qualified religious scholars
  • NOT a source of personalized religious advice
  • NOT officially affiliated with Grand Ayatollah Sistani or his office

No Religious Authority

Ahkam101 does not issue religious rulings (fatāwā). All content is sourced from existing published materials of Grand Ayatollah Sistani available on sistani.org. The Service merely retrieves and presents this information—it does not interpret, modify, or create rulings.

3. User Eligibility

By using the Service, you represent that you:

  • Are at least 13 years of age
  • Have the legal capacity to enter into these Terms
  • Will use the Service in compliance with all applicable laws

4. User Accounts

Account Creation

To access certain features, you may create an account. You agree to:

  • Provide accurate and complete registration information
  • Maintain the security of your account credentials
  • Promptly update any changes to your information
  • Accept responsibility for all activities under your account

Account Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that:

  • Violate these Terms
  • Engage in abusive or harmful behavior
  • Attempt to circumvent usage limits
  • Use the Service for unauthorized purposes

5. Usage Limits

User TypeRegular ModeScholar Mode
Free account10 per month2 per month
Premium ($5/month)50 per month50 per month

Current limits are shown in the app and may be adjusted; monthly limits reset at the start of each month (UTC).

Fair Use

You agree not to:

  • Create multiple accounts to circumvent usage limits
  • Use automated systems, bots, or scripts to access the Service
  • Attempt to overwhelm or disrupt the Service
  • Share account credentials with others
  • Resell or commercially exploit access to the Service

6. Payments & Subscriptions

Premium Subscription

Ahkam101 offers an optional Premium subscription ($5 USD per month) with higher usage limits and Scholar Mode capacity. By subscribing you agree that:

  • Payments are processed by Stripe; we do not store your card details
  • Subscriptions renew automatically each month until cancelled
  • You can cancel anytime from the billing portal (Upgrade page, Manage subscription); access continues until the end of the paid period
  • Prices and plan limits may change with notice; changes apply from your next billing cycle

Refunds

Except where required by law, payments are non-refundable once a billing period has started. If you believe you were charged in error, contact us within 14 days and we will review it in good faith.

Donations

Voluntary one-time or monthly contributions made through the Support page help cover operating costs. Donations are not payments for services, confer no additional features, and are non-refundable.

7. Acceptable Use

Permitted Uses

You may use the Service to:

  • Ask questions about Islamic jurisprudence
  • Research rulings from Ayatollah Sistani's books
  • Learn about fiqh terminology and concepts
  • Access citations and source references

Prohibited Uses

You may NOT use the Service to:

  • Generate or distribute misinformation about Islamic rulings
  • Misrepresent AI-generated responses as direct fatāwā from scholars
  • Harass, abuse, or harm others
  • Violate any applicable laws or regulations
  • Infringe upon intellectual property rights
  • Attempt to reverse-engineer or extract the underlying technology
  • Use the Service for any commercial purpose without authorization

8. Intellectual Property

Service Content: The Ahkam101 platform, including its design, software, algorithms, and proprietary technology, is owned by Mārefa Source and protected by intellectual property laws.

Source Materials: The religious content presented through the Service is derived from the published works of Grand Ayatollah Sistani, available on sistani.org. We do not claim ownership of this religious content.

User Content: By submitting questions or feedback, you grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use this content to improve the Service. We may use anonymized interaction data for research and development purposes.

9. Disclaimers

Warranty Disclaimer

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO: Accuracy or completeness of information, Fitness for a particular purpose, Non-infringement, Uninterrupted or error-free operation.

Religious Disclaimer

IMPORTANT: Ahkam101 is an AI system that retrieves information from religious texts. While we strive for accuracy:

  • Responses may contain errors or inaccuracies
  • AI interpretation of queries may not always be correct
  • Complex or nuanced rulings require human scholarly judgment
  • Personal circumstances may affect the application of rulings

Always verify important religious matters with a qualified scholar or the official sources at sistani.org.

Not Professional Advice

The Service does not provide:

  • Legal advice
  • Medical advice
  • Financial advice
  • Personalized religious counseling

Consult appropriate professionals for such matters.

10. Limitation of Liability

No Liability for Decisions

Mārefa Source shall NOT be liable for any decisions you make based on information obtained through the Service. You assume full responsibility for:

  • How you interpret and apply religious rulings
  • Any actions taken based on Service responses
  • Verifying information with authoritative sources

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, MĀREFA SOURCE SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR: Any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages; Loss of profits, data, or goodwill; Service interruptions or errors; Any damages exceeding the amount you paid to use the Service (if any).

11. Privacy & Data

This section describes our privacy practices. By using the Service, you consent to the collection and use of information as described here.

Data Collection

We collect:

  • Account information (for registered users)
  • Questions and interactions (for service improvement)
  • Usage statistics
  • Device and browser information

Data Use

We use collected data to:

  • Provide and improve the Service
  • Enforce usage limits
  • Analyze usage patterns
  • Develop new features

We do not sell your personal data to third parties.

12. Modifications & Termination

Changes to Terms: We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Changes become effective upon posting to the Service. Your continued use after changes constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms.

Changes to Service: We may modify, suspend, or discontinue any aspect of the Service at any time without notice or liability.

Termination by You: You may stop using the Service at any time. To delete your account, contact us through the Service.

Termination by Us: We may terminate or suspend your access immediately, without prior notice, for breach of Terms, abusive behavior, legal requirements, or service discontinuation.

13. Legal

Governing Law: These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with applicable laws, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any disputes arising from these Terms or the Service shall be resolved through appropriate legal channels.

Severability: If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

Entire Agreement: These Terms, including the Privacy & Data section and any other policies referenced herein, constitute the entire agreement between you and Mārefa Source regarding the Service.

Indemnification: You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Mārefa Source, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses arising from your use of the Service or violation of these Terms.

14. Contact

For questions about these Terms, please contact us through the feedback channels provided in the Service.

Acknowledgment

BY USING AHKAM101, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT:

  1. You have read and understood these Terms of Use
  2. You agree to be bound by these Terms
  3. You understand that Ahkam101 is an educational tool, not a substitute for scholarly consultation
  4. You accept full responsibility for how you use information obtained from the Service
  5. You understand that Ahkam101 is not affiliated with Grand Ayatollah Sistani's office

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