~*~ Is chatting on internet with non-mahram haram?~*~

Answer 1:

Chatting on the internet is similar to speaking on the telephone. It is
not permissible for male or female to speak on the telephone to the
opposite gender who is a Ghayr Mahram (not prohibited in marriage) freely
and without necessity. If there is a genuine need which is valid in
Shari’ah, then members of the opposite gender may speak through the
telephone with modesty and confine the discussion to the need.


To speak freely and beyond necessity is a sin. The same rule applies for
chatting on the internet. No person should decide him/herself what is a
valid reason in Shari’ah to speak on the phone or chat on the internet.
Many people have their own interpretations of genuine need which is not
acceptable in Shari’ah. We are aware of many such people who have caused
ruin to their lives especially by chatting on the internet with the
opposite gender. The expression of smiley faces and sad faces through
internet chatting falls in the category of drawing pictures of animate
objects which is prohibited. As an alternative, one may express his/her
happiness and sadness in words.


and Allah Ta'ala Knows Best

By:
Mufti Ebrahim Desai

Answer 2:

Asalam o alaikum warehmatullahi wabarakatu hu

Islam not only prohibits fitna but it also prohibits those things which may lead to Fitna. The general ruling is that if someone has a strong nafs and believes that he/she will not fall into temptations and fitnas by chatting to opposite sex(only on required issues-like Islam and not talking uselessly) then its allowed..But if one fears that he or she might fall in the fitna of relationship and traps of sheytaan then its not allowed and he or she should withdraw from all such chatrooms and discussion forums where intermingling of sexes is happening and male/females are talking openly and joking around etc…

Allah Almighty says:

“O you who believe! Follow not the footsteps of Shaitân (Satan). And whosoever follows the footsteps of Shaitân (Satan), then, verily he commands Al-Fahshâ’ [i.e. to commit indecency, and Al-Munkar [disbelief and polytheism (i.e. to do evil and wicked deeds; to speak or to do what is forbidden in Islâm, etc.)]. And had it not been for the Grace of Allâh and His Mercy on you, not one of you would ever have been pure from sins. But Allâh purifies (guides to Islâm) whom He wills, and Allâh is All-Hearer, All-Knower.”
(Surah Nuur chapter 24 verse 21)

i- The evidence that it is not allowed for male and female to talk shamelessly on internet and joke around is the following verse of the Glorious Quran:

“O wives of the Prophet! You are not like any other women. If you keep your duty (to Allaah), then be not soft in speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease (of hypocrisy, or evil desire for adultery) should be moved with desire, but speak in an honourable manner”
[Surah al-Ahzaab chapter 33 verse 32]

NOTE: If this applies to the pure Mothers of the Believers, then it applies even more so to other women.

ii- The evidence that it is haraam for women to put an arousing picture of some celebrity or even of themselves in their display pic of their profile to tempt men are the following ahadith of our beloved Prophet Muhammad(pbuh):

1- The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There are two types of the people of Hell whom I have not seen. People with whips like the tails of cattle with which they beat the people, and women who are clothed yet naked, going astray and leading others astray, with their heads looking like the humps of bakht camels, leaning to one side. They will not enter Paradise nor even smell its fragrance, although its fragrance may be detected from such and such a distance.”
Sahih Muslim hadith number 2128

The bakht camel is a type of camel that has a long neck.

2- WOMAN WHO WEARS THIN GARMENT (SEE THROUGH) GARMENT, OR WHO AROUSE PASSION IN MEN, OR MEET MEN, THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO MIX OR MOVE ABOUT OPENLY WHILE HEAVILY MADE UP OR WHO LIVE WITHOUT PARDAH, WILL NEVER ENTER JANNAT. IN FACT THEY WILL NOT EVEN SMELL THE FRAGRANCE OF JANNAT.
(Sahih Muslim)

iii- The evidence that a women should only talk to males when it is extremely required- for example when asking some Islamic issue or some question or some other thing related to daily life(but not jokes and non useful things like How are you? What is your age? what do u do? etc) is the following verse:

“And when ye ask (his ladies) for anything ye want, ask them from before a screen: that makes for greater purity for your hearts and for theirs.”
(SURAH AHZAAB CHAPTER 33 VERSE 53)

In the above verse Allah Almighty is telling the believers that if they want to ask the Prophet’s wives for anything then they should ask from behind the screen. Now who was more modest than the Prophet’s (Pbuh) wives? So when they are being ordered to talk to some na-mehram or ask something from na-mehram from behind the screen(means parda), then howcome the weak nafs men and women of today’s age be allowed to talk openly on internet and yet they claim that internet chatting is not harmful?

The sahabas used to come to Hazrat Aisha(May Allah be pleased with her) and ask her questions about Islam and learn from her. She used to be behind the screen and she would put her finger in her mouth so that her voice doesn’t look attractive and soft to the men.

Share By: Bimmi Fahmeeda Khan