Re: Canadian Mosques and Intelligence Agency informers
Question
Dear scholars, As-Salamu `alaykum. I want to know about the Islamic view of intelligence activities in Islamic states. Is it necessary for an Islamic state to have intelligence agencies, and can it use them against its citizens? Tell me more about this issue, please.
Date
21/Aug/2003
Topic
Imamate & Political Systems
Answer
Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
Dear questioner, we would like to thank you for the great confidence you place in us, and we implore Allah Almighty to help us serve His cause and render our work for His Sake.
In his response to the question, Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi, former President of the Islamic Society of North America states:
"Intelligence services are necessary for the states to protect their citizens from any elements that may try to break the laws or affect the security of the people.
Intelligence is not allowed to spy against people in their personal life or in managing their lawful affairs. States need intelligence to protect their borders and to make sure that there are no enemies infiltrating their states.
It is the duty of the state to provide security for all the people who live there. And for this reason intelligence activities are needed. It is important that the states use these agencies in the proper manner. It is very unfortunate that very often governments misuse the intelligence services. They abuse these services to curtail their citizens’ freedom and their human rights. Those who do that are committing wrong, but this does not mean that intelligence services in themselves are wrong."