Is there any fatwa out there about Muslim spies? I mean, scouting is one thing … but most spying these days involve a lot more that might not be considered ‘moral’.
What actual activities of spies are you thinking of? Not all spies get to act like James Bond and play around with women. Most of them spend a lot of time listening to other people and filtering tonnes of information. They lie and they cheat all the time. May be, its the end that justifies the means in this case.
Spying on enemy is allowed in Islam.
a good example wud be the spying of Hudhaifa Al-Yamani (ra) for the Prophet (saw) in ghazwa-e-khandaq....
but spies pictured as james bond r definitely not allowed....
This question recently came in my mind as well. Actually, I'm tell all my friend that we need to have a rule of 'Khilafa'. And recently a qestion came in my mind: Are muslims allowed to spy?
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a good example wud be the spying of Hudhaifa Al-Yamani (ra) for the Prophet (saw) in ghazwa-e-khandaq....
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This you see was the case in the battle. I'm more interested to know in the normal situations. For instace a Khalifa expects some one is a 'Munafiq' and informs non-muslims about the state maters. Can we bug his house or s'thing?
^
before the conquest of makkah, one man (fearing the safety of his family) decided to disclose the affair to the people of makkah and send a slave woman with a letter to makkah....
the prophet (saw) was made aware of this by wahee and he sent two companions (one was Ali and i forgot the other) who caught up with this woman and ordered her to hand over the letter....
she refused but they said that if she does not cooperate they will search her by themselves....
on this, she produced the letter from a knot in her hair....
i guess, then, searching the house in a matter where the safety of the state is concerned is very well allowed....
1- Prophet Muhammad [saw] knew it by Wahi. There was no chance of a miss-shot. Now a days if we have to bug people the result would be s'thing link 1/1000 people actually involved in s'thing dangerous to Muslim Ummah. or may be lesser.
2- Her house was not bugged. She was not follwed by the 'big brothers' whereever she went. Her phones were not tapped. All of her contacts were not observed.
Can you please also give the source of the 'incidents' & Hadiths which you quote in accordance to express your view. I would be really thankful for that.
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*Originally posted by Stupid Idiot: *
2- Her house was not bugged. She was not follwed by the 'big brothers' whereever she went. Her phones were not tapped. All of her contacts were not observed.
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True, but I'm sure any Khalifa would be willing to find Islamic scholars willing to apply the principle in Islamic jurispudence of "Qiyas" (anology), to give a fatwa stating that bugging is halaal. They'd argue that since that woman's private communication (a letter) was monitored when she was suspected, this means that the state does have the right to do the same for those who it suspects.
bearing in mind that the technology for bugs did not exist 1400 years ago, you're unlikely to find any bug-related hadiths :)
Islamic legal opinions would be made through analogies, or through ijtihad, instead.
Ref: Its Allowed
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I came through a book Profiles Of Intelligence by Brigadier Syed A.I. Trimazi ,ex Chief of Staff and Director of CI (Counter Intelligence) Bureau of ISI (Inter-Services Intellignece).
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pg 15. chp#Islam and Intelligence
Battle Of Badr
It was first battle btw muslims and the infidels of Mecca. Prior to this battle Prophet Mohummad (PBUH) wanted to secretly ascertain the situation of the enemy. He arranged a group of twelve men and ordered them,
"Go up to the orchard, secretly observe and carry out study of the situation of Quresh and bring the information to me."
This clearly indicates that the Prophet (PBUH) ordered those men to spy on the enemy and also advised them to adopt a cover so that the intentions and the identity of a spy is maintained at allcosts. Adoption of cover and formulating a cover story for deception puposes is, therfore, not a lie. The Prophet"s(PBUH) order, "Bring the information to me", meant that whatever information was gathered, had to be conveyed to the Prophet(PBUH) only. That is the principle of need to know.
Before the Battle of Badr a prisoner of was brought before the Holy Prophet(PBUH). He asked the POW," What is the strength of the enemy?" The POW could not reply. Then the Holy Prophet (PBUH) asked him "How many camels were there with the enemy?" Again he failed to give correct reply. Then the Prophet (PBUH) asked him. "How many camels are slaughtered everyday for the meals?" From his reply it was easy to calculate the enemy strength.
Intelligence Activity in Madina
After his arrival in Madina, Holy Prophet (PBUH) arranged for collection of information about the terrain, water fountains/wells, routes, trade, weapons and strength of the enemy. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) also secretly collected information about the Jews of Madina so that they do not act as fifth columnists and also directed Zaid bin Harris to study Hebrew so that intimate information and knowledge could be gained about the Jews.
Battle of Trench
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) sent Hadefa bin Yamani to secretly collect information about the infidels who had gathered around the trech that the Muslims had dug around their positions, as a defensive measure.
Quran
a. "Enemy agents (spies) are present among you".
b. "Do not confide your secrets in others than your own confidants".
ref a. It is also a word of caution against the fifth columnists and enemy agents who are present among us.
ref b. It implies that secrets should be shared on need to know basis and that too only with those who are considered worthy of this trust.
Personal Opinion
I should clear that
a. Spying or gathering intelligence
b. Survailance
c. Counter Intelligence
are often combined in a single word SPYING
I think on a natoinal level, to protect Islam, to protect a muslim country, to spread islam, and to keep an eye on other countries just for the above mentioned objectives is allowed.
Now what other member said about this Post
Stupid Idiot : 1- Prophet Muhammad [saw] knew it by Wahi. There was no chance of a miss-shot. Now a days if we have to bug people the result would be s'thing link 1/1000 people actually involved in s'thing dangerous to Muslim Ummah. or may be lesser. 2- Her house was not bugged. She was not follwed by the 'big brothers' whereever she went. Her phones were not tapped. All of her contacts were not observed.
dear stupid Idiot it is no doubt that the Prophet (PBUH) knew by wahi
but all of this spying and sending people to find the situation of enemy was to set a trend for all the coming generations of muslims who don't have wahi and had to all this by them self. so HE (PBUH) sent people to enemy for spying. and your second objection should be titled as a Survaillance matter, if she is muslim girl her brothers don't need to keep a eye on her bkoz they know that she wouldn't do anything wrong.
How to spy?
Interesting replies!
These days almost all spying deal with a deceived identity. For example, an English teacher but actually a CIA agent. Or a journalist undercover an agent etc. Which are against the very truthful teachings of Islam! Looking at the enemy movement from a tree or a settelite aren't much different but then everyone knows about those.
End justifying the means? You are sounding more and more like a Republican day by day Faisal Bhaijaan!
I'm really glad to hear such replies. I mean I really thing I would enjoy my self here.
Now coming back to the topic.
Mr. SpyGuy
You see most of the incident you quoted were from the war. Only the gathering of the information of the terrain in Madina, was not in war. That too, in my understand was not done because of the fear of an enemy.
Now my questions till remains there. Suppose we have a Khilafa system [inshaAllah we'll have one day] living in that system can we have satellites to keep an eye on the whole world.
And living in that system we feel that s'one is trying to harm us. Can you bug that person and have whole his life under oberservation
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bearing in mind that the technology for bugs did not exist 1400 years ago, you're unlikely to find any bug-related hadiths
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Dont tell me.
I was actually interested to know, if any law in this regard is there in Sharia now.
ref: stupid_idiot
u r question is simple
in a khalifa system or even pakistan becomes strong enough, we can make our state secure and safe by any means. for example if we got an unauthorized info that india or anyother country is going to attck us we can use our spy satellites to confirm the report and our basic motive or purpose of lief is to make islam safe, secure, transfereable to the next generation in the purest form possible and for this purpose we can use technology by any means. And these ways should not be contrary to the laws and shriah of islam. and i know that the next question would be that eyedropping on any one esle is not good.
but for the securty of islam i think it might be legal.
Your Truly
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