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Revealing a secret to her mother after instructions not to

Question

Can I reveal a secret to my mom when I've been informed not to tell anyone? I have heard people saying that Allah Said in the Qur'an, "Verily Allah does not like the corrupters." So can I reveal this secret? What is the ruling in Islam?

Answer

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.

Spreading one’s secrets is forbidden since it hurts the person and violates his personal rights. Imam Abu Dawood reported that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: "If a person tells something and thereafter turns around then it is a trust". Imam al-Hasan said: 'It is a breach of trust to spread the secret of your brother'.

The details of spreading secrets are as follows:

1) If you have promised one you would not divulge his secret then you have to abide by your promice.

2) If you do not have any such promice with the person and there is some considerable benefit in spreading the secret then there is no harm to spread it. Imam Ibn Hajar deduced this point from the Hadith reported in Saheehain that a woman from Ansar and the wife of Ibn Masoud (Radiya Allahu Anhu) asked Bilal to enquire something from the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) without informing their names but when the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) asked him about the enquiring persons, he mentioned their names to the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam).

3) You may use indirect and illusive expressions that could be understood in more than one way. If you have promised the person that you would not inform anyone about his secret then you should not do so and should not inform your mother, or anyone else. If there is no such promice and there is considerable benefit in informing others then you may inform your mother or those who can benefit from that. As for the verse: {….Verily, Allâh likes not the Mufsidûn (those who commit great crimes and sins, oppressors, tyrants, mischief-makers, corrupts).}[28:77], it is general and applies to any matter that could cause harm.

Allah knows best.

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