Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

As-Salaamu Alaikum Warahmatullah

Brothers in Islam

Is internet chat allowed in Islam ? cause when you chat on net you don't know wether the person you r talking is man or woman & you can't even, see the person. You don't even know , what is that person's age. I just want to know in that Is it allowed in Islam ? & if we talk or chat or discuss to an unknown person about our religion (Islam) like i'm asking questions on from you , so is that prohibited in Islam ?

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Answer:

Internet Chatting in Islam

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and who-ever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Islam does not prohibit writing and asking questions and giving answers on the internet or otherwise. If one is indeed seeking knowledge, be it Islamic or even otherwise, or doing some worthwhile work, and needs to ‘chat’ for a specific reason on the net, it is allowed.

Prohibition has more to do with the content of the talk. It is prohibited in Islam for a man and woman to talk or ‘chat’, where the topic involved is ‘sexual’ or vain in nature. This is absolutely prohibitted. But to write on the internet in search of knowledge, and especially to ask or question about the ‘deen’ is absolutely permissible. But one must be careful to ask and reply in a business-like and professional manner, and not in some personal or ‘soft’ tone, giving rise to any desires, etc.

And Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

May Allah guide you and us all to the Siraat al-Mustaqeem

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan