Source: Sharḥ Kitāb al-Jāmiʿ from Bulūgh al-Marām by Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī
Translation: Ḥāfiẓ ʿAbd al-Salām bin Muḥammad Bhaṭwī
وعن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم:
من تسمع حديث قوم وهم له كارهون صُبَّ في أذنيه الآنك يوم القيامة ، يعني الرصاص
It is narrated from Ibn ʿAbbās (رضي الله عنهما) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“Whoever eavesdrops on the conversation of people while they dislike it, molten lead will be poured into his ears on the Day of Judgment.”
Narrated by al-Bukhārī
This ḥadīth clearly shows that listening secretly to someone’s private conversation against their will is prohibited.
The punishment of molten lead being poured into the ears on the Day of Judgment proves that it is not merely disliked, but a serious sin.
This can be understood through obvious indications:
When two or more individuals sit apart, it indicates a desire for privacy.
If they explicitly express discomfort or say they prefer not to be overheard, this is a direct indication.
If, despite such verbal or non-verbal signs, someone attempts to listen in — secretly, from a distance, or through any means — he falls under the severe warning mentioned in this ḥadīth.
The punishment is specified for the ears because the sin was committed through the ears.
Saʿīd al-Maqburī narrates:
“I once passed by Ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنهما) while he was conversing with a man. I stood near them. Ibn ʿUmar pushed me in the chest and said:
When you see two men talking privately, do not stand with them unless you are given permission.”
[Musnad Aḥmad, ḥadīth 5949 — Chain is Ṣaḥīḥ, authenticated by Aḥmad Shākir]
If someone asks for permission to sit or listen and is granted half-hearted approval, it is still not allowed to listen if it is clear that the approval was given out of shyness or politeness, not genuine willingness.
Sitting nearby and catching a few words, then inferring the rest
Peeking into someone’s home
Sniffing or prying into private matters
Asking children about confidential household matters
Attempting to spy in any form — all are ḥarām
Exception:
If a person has strong evidence or clear indications that a sin or oppression is being plotted, then listening for the sake of forbidding evil (nahy ʿan al-munkar) becomes permissible, but only with sincerity and precaution.
✔ Eavesdropping is a major sin, not a trivial act
✔ The severe punishment — molten lead in the ears — shows the gravity of violating others' privacy
✔ Even indirect or partial eavesdropping is included in the warning
✔ The righteous forbade such behavior strictly, as seen in the actions of Ibn ʿUmar
✔ Intrusions into people’s private lives are only permissible if there is a clear purpose of enjoining right and forbidding wrong
Translation: Ḥāfiẓ ʿAbd al-Salām bin Muḥammad Bhaṭwī
❖ Ḥadīth
وعن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم:
من تسمع حديث قوم وهم له كارهون صُبَّ في أذنيه الآنك يوم القيامة ، يعني الرصاص
It is narrated from Ibn ʿAbbās (رضي الله عنهما) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“Whoever eavesdrops on the conversation of people while they dislike it, molten lead will be poured into his ears on the Day of Judgment.”
Narrated by al-Bukhārī
Referencing
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī (7042) — Kitāb al-Taʿbīr, Bāb: Whoever Lies About a Dream
- In Bulūgh al-Marām, the wording is "من تَسَمَّع" while al-Bukhārī uses "من استمع" — both verbs mean to eavesdrop and the meaning remains the same.
✿ Key Points & Benefits
➊ Eavesdropping on Private Conversations Is
This ḥadīth clearly shows that listening secretly to someone’s private conversation against their will is prohibited.
The punishment of molten lead being poured into the ears on the Day of Judgment proves that it is not merely disliked, but a serious sin.
➋ How to Know If One's Listening Is Disliked?
This can be understood through obvious indications:
When two or more individuals sit apart, it indicates a desire for privacy. If they explicitly express discomfort or say they prefer not to be overheard, this is a direct indication.If, despite such verbal or non-verbal signs, someone attempts to listen in — secretly, from a distance, or through any means — he falls under the severe warning mentioned in this ḥadīth.
The punishment is specified for the ears because the sin was committed through the ears.➌ Example from the Salaf
Saʿīd al-Maqburī narrates:
“I once passed by Ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنهما) while he was conversing with a man. I stood near them. Ibn ʿUmar pushed me in the chest and said:
When you see two men talking privately, do not stand with them unless you are given permission.”
[Musnad Aḥmad, ḥadīth 5949 — Chain is Ṣaḥīḥ, authenticated by Aḥmad Shākir]
➍ Even Hesitant or Reluctant Permission Doesn’t Justify Listening
If someone asks for permission to sit or listen and is granted half-hearted approval, it is still not allowed to listen if it is clear that the approval was given out of shyness or politeness, not genuine willingness.
➎ Other Forms of Unlawful Intrusion
Sitting nearby and catching a few words, then inferring the rest Peeking into someone’s home Sniffing or prying into private matters Asking children about confidential household matters Attempting to spy in any form — all are ḥarām Exception:If a person has strong evidence or clear indications that a sin or oppression is being plotted, then listening for the sake of forbidding evil (nahy ʿan al-munkar) becomes permissible, but only with sincerity and precaution.
Summary
✔ Eavesdropping is a major sin, not a trivial act
✔ The severe punishment — molten lead in the ears — shows the gravity of violating others' privacy
✔ Even indirect or partial eavesdropping is included in the warning
✔ The righteous forbade such behavior strictly, as seen in the actions of Ibn ʿUmar
✔ Intrusions into people’s private lives are only permissible if there is a clear purpose of enjoining right and forbidding wrong
