“CENTRAL MUSLIM BURIAL ABUSED AN AMAANAH”
“Unauthorized use of ID photograph”
The Family of Marhoom Younos Bhoola taking strong exception at the publication of the Marhoom’s photograph by the Central Muslim Burial, states in a letter:
CMB Central Muslim Burial abused amanah – dignity of the deceased betrayed.
#AmanahIsSacred
Unauthorized Use of ID Photograph of our beloved brother YOUNOS BHOOLA
THE TRUSTEES CENTRAL MUSLIM BURIAL
السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ
We, the Bhoola and extended family write with deep concern regarding a serious matter.
It has come to our attention that a photograph of our loved one, taken from his official ID document, was shared by your organization and subsequently published in a local media outlet. At no point did the family provide consent for this photograph to be released or used publicly.
This raises several serious issues:
- Legal:
- The use of an ID photograph without the family’s consent constitutes a breach of the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), as ID documents are private and protected information.
- Ethical:
- As a burial organization, you are entrusted with highly sensitive documents during a time when families are most vulnerable. To use those documents outside of their intended purpose is an abuse of trust.
- Islamic:
- In Islam, handling personal information and the dignity of the deceased is an amanah (sacred trust). Misusing it without consent is a form of khiyanah (betrayal of trust), which the Qur’an warns strongly against (Surah Al-Anfal 8:27).
- The sanctity (hurmah) of the deceased must be preserved. Sharing an ID photo without necessity or permission disrespects that sanctity.
We therefore request the following:
- A written acknowledgement of this breach.
- Immediate steps to ensure the photograph is removed from all public platforms.
- Confirmation of what measures your organization will implement to prevent such an incident from happening again.
We raise this matter not only for the sake of our family, but also so that other grieving families may never face such a violation of trust in future.
We hope you will treat this matter with the seriousness it deserves.
Was-Salaam,
On behalf of the family of beloved Mahroom YOUNOS BHOOLA
(End of letter)
Comment
The Family has omitted the most important fact which is a kabeerah sin perpetrated by this burial entity. Pictures of people and animals are Haraam. This factor has greater importance than the three elements mentioned by the Family of the Marhoom.
25 Rabiul Awwal 1447 – 18 September 2025