Oh,
what a beautiful day: Twenty-two degrees Celsius; a clear sky; the sun
passionately declaring its warmth to the land below. I put on my
cap and decide to go out for a walk. Moments later, I come across
two scantily dressed girls, “enjoying” the wonderful weather.
Nervously, I look down towards the cement sidewalk and walk past them.
I look up, only to encounter a couple, roller-blading towards me in the
most fashionable, spandex exercise gear.
I
fidget with my cap using it to shield myself from obscenity and continue
walking. With my head down and cap covering my view, it was bound
to happen some time: I walk into a lamppost and hit my head!
As I lay on the sidewalk recovering from the accident, I hear a male
voice asking me, “Are you alright?” As I open my eyes to
figure out what is going on, I see a bare-chested man, jogging in
position, offering his hand to help me get up. Subhan-Allah,
what a day! I get up, run home, go to my room, and close my door.
How am I expected to survive in such a filthy environment? Am I supposed
to isolate myself from the society to escape such temptations?
No.
Obviously, with every trial and difficulty Allah always provides us
practical defensive tools. Keep in mind, though, that the command to
control our eyes is not just a ‘fatwa’ of some
‘conservative’ scholar ‘from the East’. It is explicitly
expressed in the words of Allah and the Prophet Muhammad (sal
allaahu alayhi wasallam).
Many
of us who are used to watching Sinbad or
“The
secretive glance is one of the poisoned
arrows
of Shaytan, on him be Allah's curse. Whoever forsakes it for the fear of
Allah, will receive from Him (Great and Gracious is He) a faith, the
sweetness of which he will find within his heart.”
(al-Haakim)
Therefore,
a secret lustful look at a person of opposite gender has been compared
by the Prophet (sal allaahu
alayhi wasallam) to an arrow from Shaytan
that:
Allah
commands us: "Say to
the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their
private parts; that will make for greater purity for them..."
[24:30.] In the verse following this one, Allah commands “the
believing women” in the similar manner.
Yes,
it’s hard, especially when you’re constantly bombarded with obscene
images: that hot, scantily clad guy or gal in the magazine luring you;
or the persistent emphasis on sex in the movies (even Toy Story or
Spider Man!); or the pervasive links to pornography while you may simply
be checking your e-mail. How can you protect yourself from all of this?
It
is the most powerful of all the defenses. Regular reading of prescribed Du'as
will develop your Taqwa (consciousness) and keep you mindful
of what thoughts you entertain.
In
Islam, you're fully accountable as soon as you understand and feel such
temptations. Your eyes will testify about what you looked at on the Day
of Judgment.
But
make sure not to bump into a hydro post! Lowering the gaze does not mean
that you cannot have any ‘eye contact’ as you walk or during a
conversation. It means that you keep your eyes under control.
In
a public place (e.g. café), choose a seat that minimizes your
view-frame and avoid mixed-crowds. It is precisely about such
comfortable gazing at the attractive features of the passers-by that the
Prophet (sal allaahu alayhi
wasallam) advised 'Ali ibn Abi Talib: "Ali,
do not let a second look follow the first. The first look is allowed to
you but not the second.''(Ahmad,
Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi)
When
you are around good people, they can remind you to abstain from that
which Allah dislikes. As the Prophet (sal
allaahu alayhi wasallam) said, “A
person is likely to follow the faith of his friends, so be careful about
who you make your friend.” (Ahmad)
Such
activities are the tools of Shaytan that promote the idea of
‘love based on looks’ or ‘love at first sight’. Such friends
would take you into an artificial world of fantasies and false hopes,
away from reality, before it’s too late! Therefore, either you help
your friends change through gentle advice, or abandon frequent contact
with them. As Allah warns us: "If
anyone withdraws himself from Allah's remembrance, Most Gracious, We
appoint for him an evil one to be his intimate companion."
[43: 36.]
Always
try to go out with a family member or a good friend, whose company may
help you avert your eyes from the objectionable billboards and
inappropriately clothed people. In summer, step out only when you have
to.
The
temptation to sneak a look at dirty pictures is heightened when you're
alone in your room watching TV or surfing the internet. Shaytan's
primary target is always a lonely person! Try to avoid late night TV and
internet surfing.
Shaytan
loves 'bored and idle' people. If you are feeling bored, do the dishes,
or take out the garbage, or read some book. Allah says, "Do
not throw yourself into destruction with your own hands."
[2: 195.]
Your
Jihad against immorality in the society is one reason for you to
join Muslim youth groups in your community. Your involvement with such
activities, along with the love of helpful brothers or sisters
struggling for a good cause, will keep your mind, energies, and thoughts
focused away from the Haram.
Yes,
read as many Islamic books and articles as possible. Reading keeps your
mind and eyes busy! It keeps you motivated to live your Islam and
strengthens your relationship with Allah.
Try
following the advice of the Prophet Muhammad (sal
allaahu alayhi wasallam): “Remain
conscious of Allah and fear Him wherever you are. And follow a bad deed
with a good deed which will wipe it out, and behave well towards people.”
(Tirmidhi)
Allah is All-forgiving and loves those who return to Him, promising not to repeat their sins. “Ask forgiveness from your Lord, then turn towards Him in repentance; He will loosen the sky over you in abundance, and He will add strength unto your strength.” [11: 52].
(for more info contact: loveislam@aol.com)