Is using a VPN to access a banned app permissible?

 If the government has officially imposed a ban on a particular app, and a person deliberately uses a VPN to bypass that ban and access the app, then doing so is not permissible, because it constitutes a deliberate violation of an enforceable legal order. In Islamic law, Muslims are required to obey the lawful regulations of the ruler as long as they do not command disobedience to Allah.

Allah Almighty says:

> ﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَأُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنْكُمْ﴾ "O you who believe! Obey Allah, obey the Messenger, and those in authority among you." (Surah An-Nisa 4:59)

The Prophet ﷺ said:

> «السَّمْعُ وَالطَّاعَةُ عَلَى الْمَرْءِ الْمُسْلِمِ فِيمَا أَحَبَّ وَكَرِهَ، مَا لَمْ يُؤْمَرْ بِمَعْصِيَةٍ» "It is obligatory upon a Muslim to listen and obey (the ruler), whether he likes it or dislikes it, so long as he is not commanded to commit a sin." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)

Therefore, if the government bans an app, and this ban is an administrative or legal measure rather than an order to commit a sin, then deliberately violating that restriction is not permissible. Using a VPN solely to circumvent the ban falls under this prohibited action.

However, if a VPN is itself legal in a particular country and is used for a lawful purpose that does not involve bypassing a government restriction, then its ruling is different.