Is it permissible for me, as a father, to search my sons' mobile phones and computers for fear that they contain something?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. The questioner asks: Is it permissible for me, as a father, to search my sons' mobile phones and computers for fear that they contain something?
The Shaykh:
Yes, it is obligatory for you to check them and look into them. As I mentioned to you, do not buy them mobile phones that contain more than just calls, as they come with offers and troubles and forbidden things. Do not buy this device for them. Yes.
The questioner:
He says: Some people say that this action by the father is considered the spying that is prohibited. Does their statement have any basis?
The Shaykh:
This is a false statement. The father is commanded to raise his children, supervise them, and take care of them. This is his obligation, and it is not spying. This is fulfilling the obligation that Allah has made obligatory upon him. But now, what has happened is that they say: Do not say anything to your sons, your wives, or your daughters. This is domestic violence. Leave them to do whatever they wish. Freedom. Do not interfere with them. This is domestic violence. There is no power or strength except with Allah. They want no one to fulfill their obligations, and everyone to do whatever they please.
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. The questioner asks: Is it permissible for me, as a father, to search my sons' mobile phones and computers for fear that they contain something?
The Shaykh:
Yes, it is obligatory for you to check them and look into them. As I mentioned to you, do not buy them mobile phones that contain more than just calls, as they come with offers and troubles and forbidden things. Do not buy this device for them. Yes.
The questioner:
He says: Some people say that this action by the father is considered the spying that is prohibited. Does their statement have any basis?
The Shaykh:
This is a false statement. The father is commanded to raise his children, supervise them, and take care of them. This is his obligation, and it is not spying. This is fulfilling the obligation that Allah has made obligatory upon him. But now, what has happened is that they say: Do not say anything to your sons, your wives, or your daughters. This is domestic violence. Leave them to do whatever they wish. Freedom. Do not interfere with them. This is domestic violence. There is no power or strength except with Allah. They want no one to fulfill their obligations, and everyone to do whatever they please.
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، [911 -939] هل يجوز لي كوالد أن أفتش في جوال وكمبيوتر أبنائي خشية أن يكون فيها شيء؟ - صالح الفوزان — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.