Darul Ifta Ibn Masood

Impermissibility of eavesdropping

· 14 Safar 1445 AH1 min readEnglish

Question

Is it permissible for a person to hide and listen to a private conversation without the knowledge of the people having the conversation?

Answer

No, it is not permissible to eavesdrop and listen to a discussion without the consent of the panel engaged in discussion. Severe warnings have been sounded in the Mubarak Hadith for one that eavesdrops.

Abdullāh bin Abbas Radhiallahu Anhuma reports that Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam is reported to have said: “Whoever secretly listens to the talks of people whilst they dislike it, then molten lead will be poured into his ears on the Day of Qiyaamah.”

References (Arabic / Urdu sources)

عن عبد الله بن عباس رضي الله عنهما أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال من تَسَمَّع حديث قوم وهم له كارهون صُبَّ في أذنيه الآنُكُ يوم القيامة).صحيح البخاري # 7042)

Answered by
Maulana Abdul Kader Fazlani
Checked & approved by
Mufti Mohammed Desai Saheb
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Source: Darul Ifta Ibn Masood — https://fataawa.co.za/impermissibility-of-eavesdropping/
Fatawa SA: https://fatawa.co.za/fatwa/ibnmasood-26554

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