Q. is it fair for a male or female to hack into another’s email system or data base to gain information for marital purposes. This happened to me a while back and unfortunately I was in the process of changing my life and just got caught doing things I should not have been doing. Now was this correct for the other party to do? Was it a sinful action?

A. Hacking by private citizens is prohibited. What the ‘other’ party did to you was wrong. For them to expose your private actions would constitute a sin.

The information gained cannot be used against you by a true Muslim. More so if it was gained through wrongful methods. To pass such private information on would be a sin, more so if it was linked to personal incorrect behavioral choices.

This does not justify wrongful actions on your part. If you happened to be guilty of inappropriate behavior, ask Allah (Subhanahu Wata’Ala) for forgiveness. Do not get stuck on your past. Have hope in the Mercy and Love of Allah (Subhanahu Wata’Ala).

If one needs information on a potential spouse, it can be sort through close friends and family. Not by violating the law of the land and peoples private data collection systems, regardless of how tempting.

Allah Certainly Knows Best.