Friday Nasiha

Do Not Pry

Do not grope after the secrets of the people; do not search for their defects and weaknesses; do not pry into their conditions and affairs. Whether this is done because of suspicion, or for causing harm to somebody with an evil intention, or for satisfying one's own curiosity, it is forbidden by the Shariah in every case. It does not suit a believer that he should spy on the hidden affairs of other people, and should try to peep at them from behind curtains to find out their defects and their weaknesses. This also includes reading other people's private letters, listening secretly to private conversation, peeping into the neighbour's house, and trying to get information in different ways about the domestic life or private affairs of others. This is grave immorality which causes serious mischief in society. That is why the Prophet once said in an address about those who pry into other people's affairs:

"O people, who have professed belief verbally, but faith has not yet entered your hearts: Do not pry into the affairs of the Muslims, for he who pries into the affairs of the Muslims, Allah will pry into his affairs, and he whom Allah follows inquisitively, is disgraced by Him in his own house." (Abu Dawud).

Muawiyah, may Allah be pleased with him, says that he himself heard the Prophet say: “If you start prying into the secret affairs of the people, you will corrupt them, or at least drive them very near corruption." (Abu Da'ud).

In another Hadith he said: "When you happen to form an evil opinion about somebody, do not pry about it." (AI-Jassas, Ahkam al-Quran).

According to still another Hadith, the Prophet said: "The one who saw a secret affair of somebody and then concealed it is as though he saved a girl who had been buried alive." (AI-Jassas).

This prohibition of spying is not only applicable to the individuals but also to the Islamic government. The duty of forbidding the people to do evil that the Shariah has entrusted to the government does not require that it should establish a system of spying to enquire too curiously into the people's secret evils and then punish them, but it should use force only against those evils which are manifested openly. As for the hidden evils spying is not the way to reform them but it is education, advice and counselling, collective training of the people and trying to create a pure social environment.

The only exception from this command are the special cases and situations in which spying is actually needed. For instance, if in the conduct of a person (or persons) some signs of corruption are visible and there is the concern that he is about to commit a crime, the government can enquire into his affairs; or, for instance, if somebody sends a proposal of marriage, or wants to enter into business with a person, the other person can, enquire and investigate into his affairs for her own satisfaction.