Spied on Her Sister Through a Friend

25-6-2018 | IslamWeb

Question:

I am not sure if this is waswasah but I was talking to my sisters friend online and I think brother told me that my sister listens to music so I asked her friend. It didn't cross my mind that I was doing something haram. How do I repent? Must I tell my sister about this?
Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

Spying and searching for the faults of others is forbidden in the Sharee’ah. Allah Says (what means): {And do not spy.} [Quran 49:12]

Al-Qurtubi may Allaah have mercy upon him said: “The meaning of the verse is: “Take what is apparent and do not search for the faults of Muslims. In other words, none of you should look for the flaws of his Muslim brother to expose him after Allah has concealed him. Abu Daawood reported from Mu'aawiyyah, who said: “I heard the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) saying: “If you search for the faults of the people, you will corrupt them, or will nearly corrupt them.” [End of quote]

Moreover, Abu Barzah may Allaah be pleased with him narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “O you people who believed by their tongue (verbally), but belief did not enter their hearts, do not back-bite Muslims, and do not search for their faults, for if anyone searches for the faults of his (Muslim) brother, then Allah will expose his faults, even if he were in the depth of his house.” [Ahmad]

Repentance from spying is achieved by regretting it and being determined not to return to it again in the future, but it is not necessary to inform the person whom someone has spied on.

Allah knows best.

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