Islam gives great importance to the fundamental human right to privacy. This is evident from the some of the verses of the Holy Quran: ‘Do not spy on one another’ (49:12); ‘Do not enter any houses except your own homes unless you are sure of their occupants’ consent’ (24:27). The Prophet has gone to the extent of instructing his followers that a man should not enter even his own house suddenly.
Trust has different forms in Islam, including faithfulness in keeping people’s secrets. This is considered so important- in Islamic- that disclosing a person’s secret- is considered as one of the capital sins. The Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him) said: When somebody says something- and looks around himself, his speech is a trust and secret. A sign or hint is sufficient for understanding this reality. If, before speaking, somebody looks around himself -to see if another person- is within hearing distance, this would be adequate- to give rise- to the trust- so that -it becomes obligatory to treat what he says as a secret of a Muslim brother.
In this day and age, our default understanding is that- a conversation between two or more people- is for public consumption- unless its- specified to be kept secret.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: المَجالِسُ بالأمانَةِ
In this hadith, Prophet Muhammad declares that meetings and gatherings, are by default, confidential and established with trust. According to Islamic ethics, we are not supposed to disclose whatever takes place in a gathering of Muslims to outsiders unless explicitly allowed to.
Umar Ibnu Khatbah says: If your brother mentions something to you in private then he walks away, it is an amanah even if he didn’t instruct you not to inform anyone.
Thabit (Radhiallaho anha) reported: Anas (Radhiallaho anha) said: Messenger of Allah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) came to me while I was playing with the boys. He greeted us and sent me on an errand. This delayed my return to my mother. When I came to her, she asked, “What detained you?’‘ I said; “Messenger of Allah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) sent me on an errand.” She asked, “What was it?” I said, “It is a secret.” My mother said; “Do not disclose to anyone the secret of Messenger of Allah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam).” Anas (Radhiallaho anha) said to Thabit (Radhiallaho anha): By Allah, were I to tell it to anyone I would have told you.'[Muslim]
Here, an emphasis has been laid on keeping a secret. When Anas (Radhiallaho anha) told his mother about the cause of secrecy, she refrained from insisting that the secret should be disclosed to her. Rather, she lent support to her son’s standpoint and advised him to conceal the secret. To be sure, it is part of moral teaching that we should keep the secrets of friends in our hearts. This is the Tabeeyah- the correct way to upbring our children.
The relationship between a husband-wife is unlike any other. The Qur’an speaks beautifully about the bond between a husband and wife. They (your wives) are a clothing (covering) for you, and you too are a clothing (covering) for them” (Surah 2, Verse187).
Here Allah (SWT) uses the word, which translated is clothing/covering. The purpose of clothes or covering is to protect you, keep you warm, etc. This is the type of relationship that must exist between a husband-wife. It must be a relationship where both are protected, both emotionally and physically by each other and another important thing which needs our attention is the secrets between them must be protected.
Talking about that- which is private- between a husband and wife- is one of the most hated things of disclosing secrets. The disclosure of a secret that the Prophet had entrusted to Hafsah, who told it to ‘Aa’ishah, led to the plotting and conspiracy in his household that caused him to keep away from his wives for a whole month because he was so upset with them. Then they ( Hafsah & Aishah) are issued with a stern warning and the terrifying prospect that if they persist in their error, they may lose the honor of being the wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), This incident which is mentioned in Surah Tahrim presents a valuable lesson to the Muslim woman on the importance of keeping her husband’s secret, and the effect this confidentiality has on the stability of the individual and the home.
“Among the worst type of people in the sight of Allah (subhaanahu wa ta’aalaa) on the Day of Judgment is a man who enjoys his wife’s intimate company, and she enjoys his intimate company, then one of them goes and discloses the secret of the other.”
