The Prohibition against Spying

Do not spy (on one another) (al-Hujurat 49:12)

Those who affront believing men and believing women without their having done any wrong to deserve it, they have surely burdened themselves with calumny and a blatant sin. (al-Ahzab 33:58)

756. Ibn Mas’ud, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that a man was brought to him and it was said to him, “This is so-and-so and he has drops of wine on his beard.” He said, “We were forbidden to pry, but if something is clear to us, then we punish for it.” (Sunan Abu Dawud, Adab, 37).

 

Nawawi, Imam. Riyad As-Salihin; The Gardens of the Righteous: A collection of authentic hadiths. Tughra Books Press, Inc. 2014