ANSWERED: Permission to use message boards?

[ibnu Rashid]

Regarding what was mentioned three posts above, I think thats the best way for a brother or sister to save themselves from falling into any problems, by letting their parents know passwords etc. Its correct, there should be absolutely nothing to hide. I think that if a parent is not concerned with what their children are doing on the internet, then this is negligance on their part. The internet is a very diverse place, but unfortunately there is clearly more evil than good.

One of the taabi'een said: If one can take all his feelings and all his thoughts and place it on a platter, and then walk around the marketplace for everyone to see, and have no shame at all about anything on this platter, then this is taqwaa.

If one were to keep this definition of taqwaa in their minds at all times and act accordingly, then the validity of notions such as a brother chatting with a sister 'discussing religious matters' is suddenly rendered null. If a sister is afraid of her brother, husband or father reading something she writes to a non-mahram male, let it be in regards to deen, then who has the more right to be feared? As it comes in the Qur'aan, Wallaahu a'haqqu an takhsaah; Allah has the most right to be feared.

As far as monitoring cell phone (mobile phone) activities, that is also very important. Laa hawla wa laa quwwata illaa billaah, i've heard stories of married sisters having conversations with random guys through text messaging, and almost being picked up by those guys. Had their husbands been occasionally keeping a check on the call logs/text msg's, this would have not started from the beginning.

Wallaahu a'alam.

[Instructor]

Assalaamu alaikum wa rahmatullah,

The default in spying over the actions of another is of course unlawfulness. Allah, most high says, wa laa tajassasu (Don’t spy on one another), similar to forcefully restricting the transactions of an individual within his or her own wealth, which also by default is primarily unlawful.

However, we see the Shariah has allowed for the guardian to restrict their children’s transactions, by not releasing to them their property, (in the case of a child inheriting a significant amount of wealth from a deceased parent for instance). In the terminology of Fiqh this is known as “hijr’, or forceful restriction of financial transactions. The scholars mention that this financial restricting is not limited to immature children who have not yet reached puberty, but may be extended to physically mature adults also. Allah, most high says, “fa in aanastum minhum rushdan, fa sallimu ilaihim amwaalahum”… If you sense from them intelligence, then surrender to them their wealth.

Spying on young children and monitoring their activities is called for and necessary as part of a healthy Islamic upbringing. This “wilayah”, (authority to spy, amongst other things normally impermissible) is given to parents and guardians by the sacred law, as it is clearly in the best interest of the children that this be done.

However, just as the parent’s authority upon the child’s wealth eventually does disappear, either with his/her maturity or with their reaching sound intelligence, similarly, the other authority (spying and monitoring their movements), also seizes in the same manner. So, after reaching this level of maturity and intelligence (such as is likely in the case of the 22 year old female), if the parent still continues to spy, it will return back to the default, and will be impermissible.

In any case, it is always part of good manners and the optimal thing for children to keep their parents informed of their activities, as mentioned by some of the other posters in this thread.

And Allah knows best.

Wassalaam,

Yusuf

[ibnu Rashid]

So, after reaching this level of maturity and intelligence (such as is likely in the case of the 22 year old female), if the parent still continues to spy, it will return back to the default, and will be impermissible.

Jazaakallaahu Khayran shaykh. Does this prohibition also apply to a female's husband?

[eat-halal guy]

However, just as the parent’s authority upon the child’s wealth eventually does disappear, either with his/her maturity or with their reaching sound intelligence, similarly, the other authority (spying and monitoring their movements), also seizes in the same manner. So, after reaching this level of maturity and intelligence (such as is likely in the case of the 22 year old female), if the parent still continues to spy, it will return back to the default, and will be impermissible.

In any case, it is always part of good manners and the optimal thing for children to keep their parents informed of their activities, as mentioned by some of the other posters in this thread.

Based on the above, it can be conculded that if the child (be it a sister or brother) is mature with sound intelligence, he/she is not required to inform or get permission from parents/walis about participation on this message board.

But as stated, it is always best if the child keeps the parents informed about his/her activities online, including participation in this forum.

Jazaakallaahu Khayran shaykh. Does this prohibition also apply to a female's husband?

According to Mufti Yusuf, the prohibition on spying also applies to the husband in the case of a female.


Allah knows best.


(This posting has been approved by Mufti Yusuf)

[eat-halal guy]

According to Mufti Yusuf, the prohibition on spying also applies to the husband in the case of a female.

Mufti Yusuf elaborates:

The only reason why spying is allowed in the case of children and immature teenagers is because it's in their best interest and because their judgements are not yet sound. This does not apply to a wife. Therefore, yes, it is prohibited for a husband to spy on his wife, by checking her e-mail, etc. If he has major suspicions, he will need to address them in a dignified manner. Spying is haram.