The sanctity and privacy of homes should be respected and no one is allowed to eavesdrop on families, said Sheikh Abdul Aziz Aal Al-Sheikh, Grand Mufti of the Kingdom and Chairman of the Board of Senior Ulema and Religious Research and Ifta Administration. In his Friday sermon at Imam Turki Bin Abdullah Grand Mosque in downtown Riyadh, Aal Al-Sheikh said, “Islam has protected the privacy of the individual in his home so that he lives a secure life away from the eavesdropping and snooping of curious persons, who love to know people's secrets.” “Islam has forbidden looking for other people's imperfections or failings from outside and it has also forbidden prying into their shortcomings and blemishes from within, without their permission. Homes have their secrets and it is impermissible to pry into them. Also, homes have their sanctity and privacy ought to be protected. Parts of the body that ought to remain covered (awrah) as required by the Shariah should not be seen to prevent adultery and the temptations of Satan.” He lamented that many Muslims have neglected the moral of asking permission. Aal Al-Sheikh said Islam has forbidden peering into other people's homes without their permission. Looking into other people's homes deserves the punishment of gouging out the eyes of the perpetrator because he has not asked for the permission of the house owner. At the conclusion of his sermon, Aal Al-Sheikh warned about websites that promote immorality. “There are bad websites that call for decadence and immorality and promote crime. Such websites distance people from moral excellence. I call on our youth to keep away from them,” the Grand Mufti said. He warned the youth against such websites and called on them to seek correct guidance. He said these immoral websites want Muslims to become like animals by not promoting virtue and preventing vice. __
