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Can the testimony of neighbors who eavesdrop on a private conversation inside a home be accepted, and can photos or video clips taken inside the home be accepted as evidence in court?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

It is not permissible to spy on neighbors, listen to their conversations, or photograph them, due to the Prophet's (PBUH) prohibition of such acts. However, it is not permissible to accuse neighbors or harbor ill suspicions about them without clear evidence. As for the testimony of neighbors against you, it is a matter of scholarly disagreement. The majority opinion is to accept it if you publicly deny the right of others but secretly acknowledge it. It is permissible for a witness to conceal himself to hear the confession of someone who publicly denies a right but secretly acknowledges it. However, photography alone is not sufficient to establish a ruling, but it is an indication that the judiciary can use to reach the truth. The ultimate decision in these matters rests with the judiciary.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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