Ruling on installing YouTube app on someone's phone
Fatwa No: 469186

Question

I'm a convert and currently still hiding it. So, my mother gave my cousin a phone so she could watch kiddie stuff there. my cousin watches videos with background music but she doesn't play a video solely for songs. The thing is I installed YouTube kids for her using the phone my mother gave while completely forgetting that she'd watch videos with music. Am I sinful every time she watches with music? I can't tell my aunt to uninstall it for me as I really can't tell anyone yet that I'm a Muslim. What should I do?

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

It is a great blessing that Allah, The Exalted, guided you to Islam.

Congratulations on your conversion and we ask Allah to help you and guide you to all that is good. We would like to advise you to thank Allah, The Exalted, for this blessing, showing gratitude to Him for His blessings is a reason for fostering and increasing such blessings. Allah, The Exalted, Says (what means): {And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, 'If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor].} [Quran 14:7]

The YouTube app is used for lawful and unlawful purposes and there is no problem in installing it for someone when it is not believed that he would most likely use it for unlawful purposes. If you do not know that the person for whom you have installed the app wants to use it for unlawful purposes, you bear no sin if she used it afterward for unlawful purposes.

We would like to point out that it is permissible for you to conceal your faith if you fear incurring any harm to yourself. However, it is obligatory that you perform the religious obligations, especially the Prayer. You may perform them secretly, away from people's eyes. If you are not married, you should look for a righteous man to help you with your religious and worldly affairs.

Allah knows best.

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