In an era where digital devices hold the most intimate details of our lives, a prominent Islamic scholar has issued a firm reminder: peeking at someone else’s mobile screen without permission isn’t just rude—it is religiously forbidden.
Dr. Saad bin Turki Al-Khathlan, a professor at Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University and a recognized teacher at the Two Holy Mosques, clarified that such behavior constitutes a violation of personal privacy and falls under the category of “spying” in Islamic jurisprudence.
The ruling, shared in a recent video address, addresses a common modern nuisance seen on public transport, in waiting rooms, and at social gatherings. Dr. Al-Khathlan emphasized that a mobile phone is a strictly private domain. Unless the owner explicitly grants consent, looking at their messages, photos, or notifications is a transgression.
To anchor his argument, the scholar cited Surah Al-Hujurat, Verse 12 of the Quran, which explicitly commands believers to “avoid suspicion” and “not spy on one another.”
“A mobile phone is an extension of one’s private home and personal thoughts,” the scholar explained. Whether the act of looking is intentional or a lingering glance out of curiosity, if it occurs without the owner’s satisfaction, it is classified as Haram (forbidden).
The ruling does, however, allow for common-sense exceptions. If a person intentionally shares a video, photo, or document with others, or holds their phone in a manner intended for group viewing, bystanders are not at fault for looking.
This fatwa highlights a growing movement among Islamic scholars to adapt traditional ethics to the digital age. As smartphones increasingly act as digital safes for personal data, scholars are emphasizing that the “sanctity of the brother” extends to their digital footprint.
The message is clear for the faithful: the “Rule of Law” in Islam begins with respecting the boundaries of others, even in the smallest spaces—like the few inches of a glowing screen.
