What is the ruling on using the device that records phone calls in one's home, i.e., eavesdropping on one's children or the maid, with the intention of upbringing and guiding the children?
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The Shaykh : Yes
The questioner : O Shaykh, peace be upon you and Allah's mercy and blessings. There are now devices in the market that help a person eavesdrop or spy on the phone.
The Shaykh : Eavesdropping.
The questioner : It is derived from "listen."
The Shaykh : No, it is not "eavesdrop," it is "listen."
The questioner : Fine, let us leave the linguistic difference aside.
In general, a person can access the speakers and hear their conversation. Some people have used it in what they consider a good use, to know who is calling their sons so they can know, for example, where they will be tonight or who they are going out with tonight, and who will visit them, and what conversation will take place between them. Based on this, he determines the type of upbringing for his sons, or to know who is calling the maid if she is in the house, or who she is calling. Is this permissible if his intention is good? First: May Allah reward you. I know that this type of device is prohibited.
The questioner : 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 phone. So 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 allowed, it is an ordinary recorder.
The Shaykh : But if he eavesdrops on people, that is forbidden, there is no doubt in it, because this falls under the category of prying into people's secrets and betraying a trust. The scholars, may Allah have mercy on them, said: If a person tells you something 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 grabs people's words? There is no doubt in its prohibition, whether he knows and keeps it secret or knows and announces it.
As for the one who takes it to eavesdrop, for example, on his children, where they went and where they went, or on his maid or his family, if there is a clear indication 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.
And 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 along with their affliction, 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 is even narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in the hadith of Abdullah ibn Mas'ud that he said about the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sunan Abi Dawud 4860Da'if (Al-Albani) Look at the upbringing, be of a sound heart. Perhaps Allah will guide this man and he will become upright, but if you hate him for a sin you knew from him, perhaps this hatred will not disappear even if he becomes upright.
Then, if a person hears or sees from someone what he dislikes, 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 occur.
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 people...
The Shaykh : Listen, men, the words, safety is preferable to it without a doubt. If the need calls for it regarding his children or his family, there is no harm in this. And even so, it is better not to do it, because first: the human soul's nature is that it moves, so perhaps a day will come when he says: Here, I want to spy on the police, on such and such, on such and such. This is like magic, it becomes in the body without the person realizing it. Similarly, this becomes in the heart without him realizing it. So I see that safety from this device is preferable in all cases.
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?
The student: ...
The Shaykh : It does not affect it.
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : So the matters are proceeding as they are, by the permission of Allah.
The questioner : Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Yes
The questioner : One question. From the guests.
The Shaykh : But permission, no permission?
The questioner : Simple.
The Shaykh : Very well.
The questioner : O Shaykh, peace be upon you and Allah's mercy and blessings. There are now devices in the market that help a person eavesdrop or spy on the phone.
The Shaykh : Eavesdropping.
The questioner : It is derived from "listen."
The Shaykh : No, it is not "eavesdrop," it is "listen."
The questioner : Fine, let us leave the linguistic difference aside.
In general, a person can access the speakers and hear their conversation. Some people have used it in what they consider a good use, to know who is calling their sons so they can know, for example, where they will be tonight or who they are going out with tonight, and who will visit them, and what conversation will take place between them. Based on this, he determines the type of upbringing for his sons, or to know who is calling the maid if she is in the house, or who she is calling. Is this permissible if his intention is good? First: May Allah reward you. I know that this type of device is prohibited.
The questioner : 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 phone. So 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 allowed, it is an ordinary recorder.
The Shaykh : But if he eavesdrops on people, that is forbidden, there is no doubt in it, because this falls under the category of prying into people's secrets and betraying a trust. The scholars, may Allah have mercy on them, said: If a person tells you something 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 grabs people's words? There is no doubt in its prohibition, whether he knows and keeps it secret or knows and announces it.
As for the one who takes it to eavesdrop, for example, on his children, where they went and where they went, or on his maid or his family, if there is a clear indication 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.
And 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 along with their affliction, 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 is even narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in the hadith of Abdullah ibn Mas'ud that he said about the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
None of my Companions must tell me anything about anyone, for I like to come out to you with no ill-feelings.
لا يحدثني أحد عن أحد بشيء فإني أحب أن أخرج إليكم وأنا سليم الصدرThen, if a person hears or sees from someone what he dislikes, 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 occur.
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 people...
The Shaykh : Listen, men, the words, safety is preferable to it without a doubt. If the need calls for it regarding his children or his family, there is no harm in this. And even so, it is better not to do it, because first: the human soul's nature is that it moves, so perhaps a day will come when he says: Here, I want to spy on the police, on such and such, on such and such. This is like magic, it becomes in the body without the person realizing it. Similarly, this becomes in the heart without him realizing it. So I see that safety from this device is preferable in all cases.
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?
The student: ...
The Shaykh : It does not affect it.
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : So the matters are proceeding as they are, by the permission of Allah.
The questioner : Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Yes
The questioner : One question. From the guests.
The Shaykh : But permission, no permission?
The questioner : Simple.
The Shaykh : Very well.