𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻'𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 (388)

Consider This Before Handing Over Your Phone for Repair Sheikh Fat-h Al-Qadasi hafidahullah says: This is a brother drawing attention to an important matter: some women may take their mobile phones for repair, and the phones may contain private images. The technician may then copy these images and use them to threaten or blackmail the owner. This indeed does happen. For this reason, it is not just recommended but obligatory for those working in mobile phone repair and software services to uphold the highest levels of trustworthiness. If honesty is required from everyone involved in buying and selling, then those in this profession are required to carry not just one trust, but ten, due to the serious risks involved. They must fear Allāh, the Almighty, regarding the phones entrusted to them. People’s phones contain private information and secrets. It is absolutely impermissible for them to copy or extract anything from a phone—whether with the intention of blackmail or even without that intention. Even if the purpose is merely to browse or view the images, it remains strictly forbidden and unlawful. When a phone is handed over to a technician, it is an amānah (trust), and it is a religious obligation upon him to fear Allāh regarding that trust. Furthermore, it is also the responsibility of the state to enforce strict oversight over those involved in phone repair and programming. There must be strong regulatory control and firm, deterrent punishments for anyone who violates people’s trusts. And Allāh is the One Whose help is sought.