A secret

A secret remains a secret as long as no one knows it besides oneself. As soon as a second person knows it, it does not remain a secret anymore. It is already publicised even if it becomes known by only one individual of the public. Now one must not expect that this will remain a secret between the two. The friend with whom one has shared one's secret will have another intimate friend with whom he will share that secret and so on. A level will be reached where everyone will know it but it will be believed that it is still a secret. That is everyone will know it but at most, they will not say it in an assembly. One must not be angry when one comes to know that the friend, in whom one had confided one's secret, has circulated it everywhere, because if one could not keep it as a secret, one must not expect the same from others. The first culprit is oneself. Now one must accept the outcome. One must just do Taubah and make Dua to Allah Ta'ala because it is He alone who can remove one out of this mess.

And one must not forget that committing sins is serious already. But this sin aggravates when one informs one's friends about it. Although, Allah Ta'ala has concealed one, yet one has disclosed what Allah Ta'ala has concealed.

According to the sayings of Nabi (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam), Allah Ta'ala does not forgive such a person. That is, a person who discloses the sins that he committed will not get the will to ask for forgiveness. Thus, Allah Ta'ala will not forgive him. It is lack of modesty that makes a person act like that. Likewise, it is very bad for a person to narrate to his friends what goes on between him and his wife when he is intimate with her. Women also commit this stupidity. Friends also take great pleasure in listening to these things. According to a Hadith which is found in Saheeh Muslim, Nabi (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) said:

"The most despicable / undignified person by Allah on the day of Qiyamah, is a person who copulates with his wife and after that, he discloses the intimacy that occured between them."

If this is reprehensible and extremely serious, then would it be permissible to film such scenes? Would it be permissible to watch such films? Actually, only lowly people will commit such stupidity. The person who does this with his own wife, who will become the mother of his children, is even lowlier than this.

As for Nikah, it continues to remain a secret according to the Shari'ah as long as it remains between the husband and wife. If it is done in front of a single person also, then too it is considered a secret according to the Shari'ah. Moreover, it is only due to namesake that it is called Nikah but in reality, it is not a Nikah. And no one becomes Halaal for his spouse through such a Nikah. And actually it is this type of Nikah which is called a secret Nikah and it is not valid. For a Nikah to be valid, it must be performed in public. And the minimum is to do it in front of two men or one man and two women. Thereafter, it will neither be undercover nor will it be secret according to the Shari'ah. It is a valid Nikah.

[English version of "Secret" – Al Jamiat – Vol.5 No.8]