Social Media and Privacy
359 questions
Are social media sites forbidden because they contain inappropriate content? Is one sinful for not unsubscribing from forbidden sites? Is it permissible to remain in mixed WhatsApp groups to gain benefit while avoiding forbidden things? Is it permissible not to delete old forbidden activities from accounts?
Is it permissible for a young man who suffers from sexual deviation (homosexuality) and strives to restrain himself from committing indecency, but sometimes masturbates or watches pornography, to advise thousands of Muslim homosexuals via social media, warning them against sodomy and encouraging them to repent, even though he realizes that he might be exposed to forbidden content or insults and abuse?
What is the way to get rid of the addiction to masturbation and pornography, and to sincerely repent from zina (fornication/adultery) which Allah forbids me from, especially with the belief that watching pornography leads to doctrinal deviation and atheism, and with the fear that repentance may not be accepted due to illness and a weakened ability to commit sin? And does persistence in masturbation make it a major sin necessitating eternal hellfire and nullifying good deeds? And is it permissible to use social media sites that may lead to forbidden relationships?
Is it permissible to admire pictures of an unveiled Muslim female friend on social media, what is the best way to advise her, and is following her considered a sin?
What is the ruling on writing Quranic verses on social media in a way that deviates from the Quranic orthography, considering the difficulty of writing some vocalization marks like the short alif? Is it permissible to write them in the usual linguistic form, or is adherence to the Quranic orthography obligatory?
What is the ruling on a wife posting pictures on social media showing her hand, knowing that this might be a source of temptation (fitna)?
What are the limits and methods for shunning a father who has religious transgressions and shows neglect towards his children, given the belief that shunning might lead to his improvement, and does this include not answering his calls and blocking him on social media?
Is one considered an infidel and an apostate if they write on social media: "It was the Egyptian civilization that invented the idea of God, or the existence of God," intending to disparage Egyptian civilization, not to deny the existence of God?
Will spending time browsing news and religious websites, and reading fatwas and Islamic articles, be considered a waste of time for which one will be questioned on the Day of Judgment, knowing that one only watches news, religious, and documentary channels on television?
What should I do when I associate with groups of people who backbite, and I am unable to stop them? And is announcing one's abstention from backbiting on social media considered showing off?
Is it permissible to perform congregational or Friday prayers via live broadcast (television or social media), and would the worshiper be credited with the reward of congregational or Friday prayers in this case?
What is the ruling on downloading social media applications for beneficial purposes, given the family's refusal?
What is the ruling on the divorce that occurred and the divorce certificate issued by the ma'dhoun (authorized Islamic official), knowing that a legal seclusion took place and penetration occurred to the extent of the glans before the divorce, and was the reconciliation valid 25 days after the divorce via phone, and is the wife still under the husband's marital authority, and what is the ruling on engaging in marital relations via phone?
What is the ruling on keeping anime and manga pictures that contain an innocent embrace between a girl and a boy, provided that the lower part of the picture is cut off, and they are not published on social media?
What is the ruling on one who goes to the Sacred Mosque, opens his phone to a picture of a person to supplicate for him, then sends the picture to him via Facebook and posts it on social media?
Is it permissible to communicate with a girl via social media to propose marriage, discuss its details, and the suggested engagement period (two years), knowing that the family has refused to postpone the engagement and she wishes to convince her mother to accept the long engagement period?
Is my advice to girls on social media, that they should not post eye-catching pictures of women and men and that they should choose beneficial novels for their reading lists, correct or incorrect?
Did I wrong the girl I wish to marry, and should I apologize to her, after I advised her regarding her question about how to tighten the abdomen and enlarge the buttocks via Facebook, knowing that she does not reciprocate my feelings, so should I give up on her? And what should I do now?
What should I do about the repeated abuses against the religion, the Prophet (peace be upon him), the Companions, and the Mothers of the Believers on social media, and will I be held accountable for not responding to them?
What is the ruling on opening a girl's Instagram and viewing her photos without her knowledge, given the impossibility of confessing to her, and is repentance accepted?
What is to be done in the case of a young woman and a young man who met in a da‘wah (Islamic propagation) group, and the young man wishes to marry her, but circumstances currently do not permit it, and he is suffering from lust because of her and is asking to stop communicating, while she is worried that he might marry someone else?
Is it permissible for a man or a woman to write about love on social media, or to post personal photos expressing love, whether they are married or unmarried?
Must one obey a father who forbids his daughter from posting her picture on Snapchat, knowing that the account is for girls only, and is his prohibition out of fear of the evil eye or in pursuit of his whims?
Are good invocations written on social media platforms answered, or must they be uttered to be accepted?