The Prohibition of Spying

Abd_Al_Hadi

لبيك يا الله
All Praise is to Allah (SWT) and His Salat on Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and his companions. Before we get to the Islamic verdict on those who spy against the Muslims, we would like to mention some important principles that may serve as a guideline for understanding the serious nature of this issue. We must understand that Muslims are brothers unto each other. This principle is reflected in various verses of the Qur’an and authentic Hadith of Prophet (SAW) Allah(SWT) says:

The believers are naught else than brothers. Therefore make peace between your brethren and observe your duty to Allah that haply you may obtain mercy. (The Quran 49:10)

Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. And those with him are hard against the disbelievers and merciful among themselves. (The Quran 48:29)

And those who came (into the faith) after them say: Our Lord Forgive us and our brothers who were before us in the faith, and place not in our hearts any rancor toward those who believe. Our Lord! Thou art Full of Pity, Merciful. (The Quran 59:10)

As for the Hadith of our beloved Prophet (SAW) they are numerous but it would suffice to cite only few of them.

Abdullah Ibn Umar (RA) narrated that Allah's Messenger (SAW) said, “A Muslim is a brother of another Muslim, so he should not oppress him, nor should he hand him over to an oppressor. Whoever fulfilled the needs of his brother, Allah will fulfill his needs; whoever brought his (Muslim) brother out of a discomfort, Allah will bring him out of the discomforts of the Day of Resurrection, and whoever screened a Muslim, Allah will screen him on the Day of Resurrection.” (Bukhari)

Uqbah ibn Amir (RA) narrated that Allah's Messenger (SAW) said: “A believer is the brother of a believer, so it is not lawful for a believer to outbid his brother, and he should not propose an engagement when his brother has thus proposed until he gives up.” (Muslim)

Uthman Ibn Affan (RA) narrated that whenever the Prophet (SAW)became free from burying the dead, he used to stay at him (i.e. his grave) and say: “Seek forgiveness for your brother, and beg steadfastness for him, for he will be questioned now.” (Abu Dawood)

The Disbelief of Those Who Help Disbelievers Against the Believers

Now that we have mentioned this important principle of brotherhood, we must also know that our relationship with the disbelievers is that of Baraa. [to hate and oppose anyone who opposes Allah(SWT) His Prophet (SAW), the righteous companions, and the righteous believers.] This necessitates that we do not support the disbelievers against the believers; neither do we give victory to the disbelievers over the believers. Whosoever supports the disbelievers against the believers is considered a disbeliever and apostate by the consensus of the scholars. Commenting on the verse “And if any amongst you takes them as Auliya', then surely he is one of them. “ (The Quran 5:51), the scholar of al-Andalus, Ibn Hazm said, “what is correct is that His statement, the Most High, And if any amongst you takes them as Auliya', then surely he is one of them.” Is only upon it’s appearent (meaning) in that he is a disbeliever from the generality of disbelievers, and no two Muslims disagree about that.” (al-Muhalla 11/138). Such is supported by the various verses in the Quran and the authentic Hadith of the Prophet (SAW). Allah (SWT)says:

O you who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians as Auliya' (friends, protectors, helpers, etc.), they are but Auliya' to one another. And if any amongst you takes them as Auliya', then surely he is one of them. Verily, Allah guides not those people who are the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong*!doers and unjust). (The Quran 5:51).

Verily, those who have turned back (have apostated) as disbelievers after the guidance has been manifested to them, Shaitan (Satan) has beautified for them (their false hopes), and (Allah) prolonged their term (age). This is because they said to those who hate what Allah has sent down: "We will obey you in part of the matter," but Allah knows their secrets. (The Quran 47:25-26)

Let not the believers take the disbelievers as Auliya (supporters, helpers, etc.) instead of the believers, and whoever does that will never be helped by Allah in any way, except if you indeed fear a danger from them. And Allah warns you against Himself (His Punishment), and to Allah is the final return. (The Quran 3:28)

You (O Muhammad) will not find any people who believe in Allah and the Last Day, making friendship with those who oppose Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad), even though they were their fathers, or their sons, or their brothers, or their kindred (people). (The Quran 58:22)

There are numerous Hadith that also support the view that the believers must not support the disbelievers against other believers or otherwise they take the same ruling as that of the disbelievers. A Hadith recorded by Bukhari supports this:

Abul Asswad (RA) narrated that an army unit was being recruited from the people of Medina and my name was written among them. Then I met 'Ikrima (RA), and when I informed him about it, he discouraged me very strongly and said, "Ibn 'Abbas (RA) told me that there were some Muslims who were with the pagans to increase their number against Allah's Apostle (SAW) (and the Muslim army) so arrows (from the Muslim army) would hit one of them and kill him or a Muslim would strike him (with his sword) and kill him. So Allah revealed: “Verily! As for those whom the angels take (in death) while they are wronging themselves (as they stayed among the disbelievers even though emigration was obligatory for them), they (angels) say (to them): "In what (condition) were you?" They reply: "We were weak and oppressed on earth." They (angels) say: "Was not the earth of Allah spacious enough for you to emigrate therein?" Such men will find their abode in Hell - What an evil destination! Except the weak ones among men, women and children who cannot devise a plan, nor are they able to direct their way. For these there is hope that Allah will forgive them, and Allah is Ever Oft Pardoning, Oft-Forgiving.” (The Quran 4:97)

This clearly shows that if anyone is seen in the ranks of the disbelievers, he will be treated on the basis of what is apparent in front of the Muslims. Those individuals who are coerced and under compulsion to join the disbelievers, they take the same ruling as the other disbelievers because this is what their apparent state is . Then how severe would be the case of those who voluntarily rally to support the disbelievers and give victory to them? The ruling on them is similar to that of the disbelievers that they supported. [1]

The Jasūs (Spy)

Allah (SWT)says: And spy not, neither backbite one another (The Quran 49:12)

Imam Al-Nawawi (rh) said: Some of the scholars said that tahassus with letter HA, ‘snooping’ means listening to other people’s conversations, and tajassus with letter JEEM, ‘spying’ means seeking out other people’s faults. it was also suggested that tajassus means looking for secrets. The word is mostly used in the sense of evil. The Jasūs ‘spy’ is the one who seeks out secrets for evil purposes and the nāmūs is the one who seeks out secrets for good purposes. And it was suggested that tajassus refers to looking for information for someone else, and tahassus means looking for information for oneself. This was the view of Tha’lab. And it was said that they mean one and the same, which is seeking out information about people’s state of affairs.

Kinds of Spying

Despised spying may be divided into two categories:

1. Spying that makes one sinful

2. Spying that expels one from the fold of Islam

Spying that Makes One Sinful

Spying can be a sin if a person seeks the faults of his Muslim brother for the sake of exposing him in front of other people. It may even be unveiling the secrets of a Muslim brother in front of others. Spying leads to backbiting and backbiting is Haram. Therefore, Allah has closed every door that leads to the evil of backbiting and has made spying Haram. This form of spying is condemned in various Hadith of Prophet (SAW).

Abu Huraira (RA) narrated that the Prophet (SAW)said, "Beware of suspicion, for suspicion is the worst of false tales; and do not look for the others' faults and do not spy, and do not be jealous of one another, and do not desert (cut your relation with) one another, and do not hate one another; and O Allah's worshipers! Be brothers (as Allah has ordered you!"). (Bukhari)

Ibn Abbas narrated that the Prophet (SAW)said, "Whoever claims to have seen a dream which he did not see, will be ordered to make a knot between two barley grains which he will not be able to do; and if somebody listens to the talk of some people who do not like him (to listen) or they run away from him, then molten lead will be poured into his ears on the Day of Resurrection …(Bukhari)

Abu Barza Al-Aslami (RA) narrated that the Prophet (SAW)said: O community of people, who believed by their tongue, and belief did not enter their hearts, do not back-bite Muslims, and do not search for their faults, for if anyone searches for their faults, Allah will search for his fault, and if Allah searches for the fault of anyone, He disgraces him in his house. (Ahmad and Abu Dawood)

Spying that Expels One From the Fold of Islam

Spying can be Kufr (disbelief), if it is done for the sake of helping the disbelievers against the believers. Such an action takes the person out of the fold of Islam and makes him an apostate because it entails supporting the disbelievers against the believers. The disbelief of those who help disbelievers against the believers has already been discussed earlier. One additional proof is as follows:

In the two Sahihs of Bukhari and Muslim, an incident is narrated on the authority of Ali (RA). This incident took place during conquest of Makkah. Ali (RA) said:

Allah's Apostle (SAW) sent me, Az-Zubair (RA) and Al-Miqdad (RA) saying, "Proceed till you reach Rawdat Khakh where there is a lady carrying a letter, and take that (letter) from her." So we proceeded on our way with our horses galloping till we reached the Rawda, and there we found the lady and said to her, "Take out the letter." She said, "I have no letter." We said, "Take out the letter, or else we will take off your clothes." So she took it out of her braid, and we brought the letter to Allah's Apostle. The letter was addressed from Hatib, bin Abi Balta’a to some pagans of Mecca, telling them about what Allah's Apostle intended to do. Allah's Apostle said, "O Hatib! What is this?" Hatib replied, "O Allah's Apostle (SAW)! Do not make a hasty decision about me. I was a person not belonging to Quraish but I was an ally to them from outside and had no blood relation with them, and all the emigrants who were with you, have got their kinsmen (in Mecca) who can protect their families and properties. So I liked to do them a favor so that they might protect my relatives as I have no blood relation with them. I did not do this (with the intention) of Kufr or apostasy nor did I do it to choose disbelief after Islam." Allah's Apostle said to his companions, -As regards him; he (i.e. Hatib) has told you the truth." 'Umar (RA) said, "O Allah's Apostle (SAW)! Allow me to chop off the head of this hypocrite!" The Prophet (SAW)said, "He (i.e. Hatib) has witnessed the Badr battle (i.e. fought in it) and what could tell you, perhaps Allah looked at those who witnessed Badr and said, "O the people of Badr (i.e. Badr Muslim warriors), do what you like, for I have forgiven you.

This incident shows that supporting the disbelievers and giving them victory (over the Muslims) is apostasy and it takes one out of the religion of Islam. Such is evident for three reasons.

The First Reason:

The first reason being the statement of Umar (RA), "O Allah's Apostle! Allow me to chop off the head of this hypocrite!" in another narration, Umar said: “He (Hatib) has disbelieved” and in a different narration, after the Prophet (SAW)told Umar (RA), “Has he not witnessed (fought) in the battle of Badr?” Umar (RA) responded by saying: “Certainly, but by supporting your enemies against you, he has annulled the covenant that existed between him and you.” This shows that Umar (RA) held the opinion that supporting the disbelievers against the believers is Kufr (disbelief) and Apostasy.

The Second Reason:



Even the Prophet (SAW)affirmed Umar’s (RA) stance on this issue that the act that Hatib (RA) committed was an act of hypocrisy) but he, (SAW) explained to Umar (RA) that the only reason he (SAW) has made exception to Hatib’s (RA) case because Hatib (RA) is from the warriors of the battle of Badr.

Third Reason:

Hatib (RA) himself stated, “I did not do this (with the intention) of Kufr (disbeleif) or apostasy nor did I do it to choose disbelief after Islam.” This statement proves that even Hatib himself was aware that supporting the disbelievers against the believer’s is disbelief, and apostasy.

Then how is the situation of those who support the disbelievers and help them against the believers and give them victory over the believers? They ruling on such people is surely more severe than the one mentioned in this Hadith.

The Punishment for those Who Spy Against the Believers in Support of Disbelievers and Engage in other forms of Espionage



Scholars have differed concerning the punishment reserved for the one who engages in spying and espionage spy depending on his status. Imam Nawawi stated that as far as the spy from the enemies of the Muslims is concerned, then he is to be killed and there is consensus on this issue. But the difference is concerning those spies who live under the Muslim rule. Mālik and Auzāi are of the opinion that if the spy is a Dhimmi (Disbelievers living under the Muslim rule), then he has annulled the contract that existed between the Muslims and himself, thus he and may be killed. Shāfi’ scholars are in variance with this opinion and say that he is not to be killed. They add to that that such a Dhimmi is only to be killed if it was stipulated in the Muslim contract between Muslims and the Dhimmis that they will not spy on the Muslims. Ibn Al-Qayyim is of the opinion that the case of the spy is left to the leader of the Muslims. He may kill him if he finds it beneficial and he may leave him if he finds beneficial. (See Nail al-Awtār by Shawkānī and Zad Al-Ma’ād by Ibn Al-Qayyim). The correct opinion however is that he is to be killed and his repentance is not accepted as is stated by numerous scholars. Imām Sahnūn (rh) said:

“If a Muslim corresponds with ahl al-Harb (People that the Muslims are at war with), he is to be killed and is not asked to repent…”

Ibn al-Qāsim (rh) said: He (spy) is to be killed and it is not known that he is to be asked for repentance. He is like a Zandiq.

Ibn Taymiyyah (rh) said: Mālik and a group of Ahmad’s companions (Hanbali scholars) hold the opinion that the spy is to be killed.

Wallahu A'lam wa sallallahu wa sallim alaa nabiyyinaa Muhammad wa alaa aalihi wa Sahbihi ajmaEen

[1] With this, we must also mention that Allah (SWT) has commanded us to be just and it is on account of this justice that the Messengers were sent and the Books were revealed. Allah (SWT) Who is free from all imperfections, stated: O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even though it be against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, be he rich or poor, Allah is a Better Protector to both (than you). So follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest you may avoid justice, and if you distort your witness or refuse to give it, verily, Allah is Ever Well Acquainted with what you do. (The Quran 4:135) And He عز وجل also says: Verily, Allah enjoins Al-Adl (i.e. justice and worshipping none but Allah Alone - Islamic Monotheism) and Al-Ihsan [i.e. to be patient in performing your duties to Allah, totally for Allah's sake and in accordance with the Sunnah (legal ways) of the Prophet (SAW) in a perfect manner], and giving (help) to kith and kin (i.e. all that Allah has ordered you to give them e.g., wealth, visiting, looking after them, or any other kind of help, etc.): and forbids Al-Fahsha' (i.e all evil deeds, e.g. illegal sexual acts, disobedience of parents, polytheism, to tell lies, to give false witness, to kill a life without right, etc.), and Al-Munkar (i.e all that is prohibited by Islamic law: polytheism of every kind, disbelief and every kind of evil deeds, etc.), and Al-Baghy (i.e. all kinds of oppression), He admonishes you, that you may take heed. (The Quran 16:90). The concept of justice is general for all human beings whether they be believers or disbelievers, and it is not permissible for any believer to show injustice to anyone even if such injustice is due to some resentment or hatred. Allah (SWT) says: Allah does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who fought not against you on account of religion and did not drive you out of your homes. Verily, Allah loves those who deal with equity. (The Quran 60:8)

http://lutonmuslims.com/index.php?o...cle&id=301:spying&catid=43:justdoit&Itemid=63
 

Abd_Al_Hadi

لبيك يا الله
I wrote this in regards to sister Alf2's thread: http://www.turntoislam.com/forum/showthread.php?t=87394


It turns out that some young Muslims accepted money to spy on their fellow brothers and sisters in Mosques.



Now this makes me think, could there be spies on Muslim websites like TTI? Its not hard to make up a username and pretend to a Muslim and gather information for Mossad, FBI, etc.

I beg my brothers and sisters here to be VERY VERY skeptical when other members PM you and ask for personal information. Please do not give your full names and addresses or even meet up with a fellow member unless you know for sure that they are truly pure Muslims with clean intentions.


Remember: A spy can know about Islam than you do. They trick you into giving them all of your trust!
 

John Smith

Junior Member
Paranoid much?.

Not really bothered to be honest as they can watch me as much as they want but Allah Swt watches them too,fear no one.
 
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