Friday Khutba of Tokyo Camii “Privacy Brings Along Respect”
Dear Muslims!
Every human being is born with inherent and inalienable fundamental rights. One of them is the right to privacy. The human body, created by Allah the Almighty in a state of pure nature, is an inviolable aspect of one’s privacy. The home and workplace are integral to a person’s privacy; they are private spaces that no one may enter without permission and a valid legal justification. Personal information is a fundamental aspect of an individual’s privacy; no one has the right to access or disclose another person’s information without their explicit consent. The family, where the values of goodness are nurtured, is a cornerstone of both individual and societal privacy; no one has the right to undermine its dignity.
Esteemed Muslims!
Allah the Almighty, while describing the privacy between spouses, states, هُنَّ لِبَاسٌ لَكُمْ وَاَنْتُمْ لِبَاسٌ لَهُنَّۜ “Your spouses are a garment for you as you are for them”1. Indeed, man and woman within the family are trusted confidants, shielding each other’s shortcomings and safeguarding each other’s secrets. Therefore, a Muslim must uphold the privacy of their spouse and children, refraining from sharing it on any platform, including digital media, for any reason.
Our Prophet’s (saw) warning in this regard is quite clear: “Among the greatest trusts that will be reckoned with Allah on the Day of Judgment is a man disclosing the privacy of his wife.”2 Our Lord Almighty warns us in this regard as follows: “Indeed, those who love to see indecency spread among the believers will suffer a painful punishment in this life and the Hereafter…”3
Dear Muslims!
Unfortunately, we have moved from a time when the doors of homes were locked and curtains were drawn to an era where people freely share the private matters of their families and even strangers. In such times, it is essential for everyone to be more vigilant and uphold their responsibilities with greater care. Everyone should teach their children the importance of privacy through age-appropriate guidance and exemplary behavior. They should avoid sharing content that violates privacy merely to gain likes, increase followers, or earn financial profit on social media. Everyone should refrain from prying into others’ private lives or making unsolicited comments about them. They should remember that spending time on digital media without regard for privacy can harm both their worldly life and their Hereafter.
Let us conclude this Friday’s khutbah with the Messenger of Allah’s (saw) following hadith: “…Do not backbite Muslims, and do not seek out their private matters. For whoever pursues the faults of his Muslim brother, Allah will expose his faults…”4
[1] Baqarah, 2/187.
[2] Muslim, Nikah, 124.
[3] Nur, 24/19.
[4] Tirmidhi, Birr, 85.
Friday Khutba of Tokyo Camii “Privacy Brings Along Respect” PDF
