Working in the Surveillance of Preachers
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner:
Another says: I work in the investigations department, and I spy on preachers and lecturers, and I receive a reward for it. Is it permissible for me to choose this? I am confused.
The Shaykh:
If the spying is, as you call it, for the purpose of identifying the wrongdoers and those who oppose Islam, then there is no blame on him. But if it is for the purpose of talebearing, and he calls to the truth, clarifies the truth, and explains the religion to the people, then you are an oppressor with the oppressors. Why do you not believe? Or do you? No, he has not harmed anyone; he is ignorant of himself, so he should hold himself accountable. If his work is for the sake of Allah, there is no blame on him, and if his work is for the sake of Satan, then he is in a state of blame.
Another says: I work in the investigations department, and I spy on preachers and lecturers, and I receive a reward for it. Is it permissible for me to choose this? I am confused.
The Shaykh:
If the spying is, as you call it, for the purpose of identifying the wrongdoers and those who oppose Islam, then there is no blame on him. But if it is for the purpose of talebearing, and he calls to the truth, clarifies the truth, and explains the religion to the people, then you are an oppressor with the oppressors. Why do you not believe? Or do you? No, he has not harmed anyone; he is ignorant of himself, so he should hold himself accountable. If his work is for the sake of Allah, there is no blame on him, and if his work is for the sake of Satan, then he is in a state of blame.
Source
ندوات الجامع الكبير مع الأسئلة - 58 — archive.org (59:43)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.