The ruling on using a surveillance device to eavesdrop on children and the maid for the sake of raising them and protecting them
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There are now devices on the market that help a person eavesdrop on the telephone. Generally, a person can access the speakers and hear what they are saying. Some people have used them in what they consider a good way, to find out who is calling their sons so they know where they will be, for example, when they come home tonight or where they are going tonight, with whom, who will visit them, and what conversation will take place between them. Based on this, they determine the type of upbringing they give their sons, or to find out who is calling the maid if she is in the house, or who she is calling. Is it permissible for such a person if his intention is good?First: May Allah reward you. What I know is that this type of device is prohibited.
The questioner: No.
But it is sold now.
The Shaykh: Now?The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh: Openly?The questioner: In the form of a recorder that he places in his house on his own phone. If someone calls me and I am in the house, he can hear who is calling me.
The Shaykh: But my point is, is it allowed?The questioner: It is permissible, O Shaykh! It is an ordinary recorder.
The Shaykh: But if you eavesdrop on people, that is forbidden, and there is no doubt in it; because this falls under the category of prying into people's secrets and betraying a trust.Until the scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) said: If a person speaks to you and turns around to see if anyone is around him, that is part of the trust. So it is not permissible for you to disclose his secret to anyone. How much more so for the one who snatches or intercepts people's words? There is no doubt in its prohibition, whether he knows and keeps it secret or knows and discloses it.
As for the one who takes it to eavesdrop, for example, on his children to see where they went and where they are, or on the maid or his family, if there is clear evidence of corruption that he wants to verify, then there is no harm. Otherwise, it is spying, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade spying. How many people have spied and heard what they dislike or seen what they dislike, and then they cannot change anything, so their affliction increases due to it, and they also increase in hatred for the one they heard or saw if they are spying with their eyes while they are in no need of it. It was even narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in a hadith of Abdullah ibn Mas'ud that he said about the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): "No one should tell me about anyone anything, for I love to come out to you with a pure heart." Look at the upbringing: be of a pure heart. Perhaps Allah will guide this man and he will become upright. But if you hate him for a sin you knew of him, perhaps this hatred will not go away even if he becomes upright.
Then, if a person hears or sees something he dislikes from someone, the effect of that appears on him in his view of him, in his looking at him, and in his face when he meets him. Each one becomes disgusted with the other, and enmity and hatred arise.
So the important thing is that I see that safety from this device that spies on people is preferable in all cases.
The questioner: There is a difference between other people and children. The Shaykh: Listen, O man, the words. Safety is certainly better than this. If the need calls for it regarding his children or his family, then there is no harm in this. And even so, it is better not to do it.Because first: The nature of the human soul is that it moves. Perhaps one day will come when he says: "Here, I want to spy on the police, on this, on that, on that." This is like magic; it enters the body without the person realizing it. Similarly, this enters the heart without the person realizing it. So I see that safety from this device is better in every case.
And this brother Musa, after returning from his family, may Allah reward him with good, indicates that the time has ended.
So, Glory is to You, O Allah, and praise, I testify that there is no god but You, I seek Your forgiveness and I repent to You.
And until the next meeting, if Allah wills, unless you see that we should cancel the next session due to the exam?Interjections: It does not affect.
The Shaykh: So: things are proceeding as they are, with the permission of Allah.
The questioner: No.
But it is sold now.
The Shaykh: Now?The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh: Openly?The questioner: In the form of a recorder that he places in his house on his own phone. If someone calls me and I am in the house, he can hear who is calling me.
The Shaykh: But my point is, is it allowed?The questioner: It is permissible, O Shaykh! It is an ordinary recorder.
The Shaykh: But if you eavesdrop on people, that is forbidden, and there is no doubt in it; because this falls under the category of prying into people's secrets and betraying a trust.Until the scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) said: If a person speaks to you and turns around to see if anyone is around him, that is part of the trust. So it is not permissible for you to disclose his secret to anyone. How much more so for the one who snatches or intercepts people's words? There is no doubt in its prohibition, whether he knows and keeps it secret or knows and discloses it.
As for the one who takes it to eavesdrop, for example, on his children to see where they went and where they are, or on the maid or his family, if there is clear evidence of corruption that he wants to verify, then there is no harm. Otherwise, it is spying, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade spying. How many people have spied and heard what they dislike or seen what they dislike, and then they cannot change anything, so their affliction increases due to it, and they also increase in hatred for the one they heard or saw if they are spying with their eyes while they are in no need of it. It was even narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in a hadith of Abdullah ibn Mas'ud that he said about the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): "No one should tell me about anyone anything, for I love to come out to you with a pure heart." Look at the upbringing: be of a pure heart. Perhaps Allah will guide this man and he will become upright. But if you hate him for a sin you knew of him, perhaps this hatred will not go away even if he becomes upright.
Then, if a person hears or sees something he dislikes from someone, the effect of that appears on him in his view of him, in his looking at him, and in his face when he meets him. Each one becomes disgusted with the other, and enmity and hatred arise.
So the important thing is that I see that safety from this device that spies on people is preferable in all cases.
The questioner: There is a difference between other people and children. The Shaykh: Listen, O man, the words. Safety is certainly better than this. If the need calls for it regarding his children or his family, then there is no harm in this. And even so, it is better not to do it.Because first: The nature of the human soul is that it moves. Perhaps one day will come when he says: "Here, I want to spy on the police, on this, on that, on that." This is like magic; it enters the body without the person realizing it. Similarly, this enters the heart without the person realizing it. So I see that safety from this device is better in every case.
And this brother Musa, after returning from his family, may Allah reward him with good, indicates that the time has ended.
So, Glory is to You, O Allah, and praise, I testify that there is no god but You, I seek Your forgiveness and I repent to You.
And until the next meeting, if Allah wills, unless you see that we should cancel the next session due to the exam?Interjections: It does not affect.
The Shaykh: So: things are proceeding as they are, with the permission of Allah.