IB_21

Page 9

The Islamic Bulletin

Issue 21

Sabeel Ahmed

“If I were not a Muslim, I would

have contacted AIDS!” proclaimed

my friend. “The ayahs in Sura Nur

about lowering our gazes don’t af-

fect me anymore”, expressed anoth-

er youth, talking about the intense

temptations felt by today’s youth.

Difficulty in lowering the gaze by

both the young and old is readily

perceived on the street, weddings,

parties and even in the Masjids.

What has gone wrong with our Um-

mah? Why are we adopting the atti-

tudes and routes of the non-believers?

How can we rectify ourselves? What

follows are a series of practical advice

which can work for us and set us free

from Satan’s stronghold, insha Allah.

Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: “I

have not left a fitnah (trial, calam-

ity or cause for calamity) after me

more than (the fitnah) with women

for men.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

Our Prophet also related: “The

world is sweet and verdant, and Al-

lah having put you in it in your turn

watches how you act; so fear the world and fear women, for the

first trial of the Bani Israel had to do with women.” (Muslim)

Being optimistic, a ray of hope was also wisely provided during

Prophet’s Last Sermon on way to avoid the above pitfall: “If the

Ummah hold on to the Quran and the Sunnah, it will not go

astray.” When Allah created us humans with all the desires and

urges, He also revealed to us sufficient and complete guidance to

contain them through proper channels. All we need to do is seek

this guidance, contemplate on it and implement it.

“This day I have perfected your deen for you, completed my

favors upon you and chosen Islam as your deen.” (Quran 5:3)

Realize the fact that the great Sahabas were humans beings too.

Biologically they were no different from us, they too had desires and

temptations of the human species, and yet they controlled them in

the best of ways. We can too, insha Allah. To possess sensual pas-

sions is Human, to control them is Muslim.

When confronted with a luring situation, like passing by a woman

on the street, office, or a school, Satan is constantly tempting us to

glare at her with evil thoughts. Satan is probably excitingly saying with

a big smile ‘Yes’, ‘Yes’, ‘Yes’, when we steer into the bait he is set-

ting. During these situations immediately and consciously realize that

when we give a second or following glances, we are obeying Satan.

“O you who believe, follow not the footsteps of the devil...”

(Quran 24:21)

By immediately averting our gazes and disobeying Satan, we are

giving him a punch in the face which leaves him frustrated, ac-

cursed and defeated. Satan rebelled and was expelled by Allah.

Let’s all rebel against Satan then and expel him from our hearts.

Satan intents to fight a war against the believers, so let’s gather our

forces behind Quran and Sunnah and defeat him.

Remember that even if no human eye is watching us, the ever

watchful Allah is constantly monitoring the innermost regions of

our heart. Our eyes, limbs, tongue and private parts will all be wit-

nesses for or against us on the Day of Judgment and not an atom’s

worth of our deeds will remain unexamined.

Psychologically, our minds are conditioned to associate our

thoughts of stealing clothes from a store to being in handcuffs and

hauled into a police van. Likewise, we should condition our minds

to bring the verses of Surah Nur in front of our eyes during any

tempting situation and imagine that during that particular instance

Allah (SWT) is speaking to us directly:

“Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and

guard their modesty, that will make for greater purity for them.

Say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze

and guard their modesty; O you believers! Turn you all together

towards Allah that you may attain success.” (Quran 24:30-31)

What a beautiful guidance and what a sublime reward for imple-

menting it. With practice, the above associations and the remem-

brance of Allah during tempting situations will prevent us from

getting stuck by devilish arrows.

Successful controlling of our gaze also depends upon our avoidance

of sinful situations. An Islamic idiom (Usul Al-Fiqh) says: “Anything

that leads to haram is haram in itself.” Therefore cutting any unlawful

situation in their bud is what we should strive for. Performance of a

pious deed is rewarded and avoidance of a sinful deed is also reward-

ed, Al-Hamdulillah. One of the biggest culprits which encourage us

to disobey the ayahs in Surah Nur, are the movies. In the name of

entertainment, to please our peers and children and as an excuse to do

something together as a family, we astonishingly allow the development

of un-Islamic scenes and dialogues in front of our eyes. Can we ever

imagine (Na’udubillah) any Sahaba renting the latest hit from Block-

buster videos, or listening to music with luring lyrics at high volume?

Likewise, we watch news on TV and stare at the anchorwomen, female

gymnasts, and female swimmers who are scantily dressed. Thus we are

not supposed to stare at the faces of non-Mahrams of opposite gender,

be they our fellow students, elders, saleswomen or someone on TV.

Each one of us may have become culprits of not obeying the ayahs

in Surah Nur. It is not too late to realize these shortcomings and

work at rectifying ourselves. Above all, we should always ask for-

giveness of Allah (SWT).

Indeed blessed are those Muslims who are able to check their gaz-

es. Let’s contemplate on the above humble advice and constantly

make the following supplication: “O Allah help us in controlling

our sensual desires until we get married, and after our marriage,

let our desires be only towards our spouses ... aameen.”

Editor’s note: This should apply to both sexes, naturally!

‘I feel compelled to respond to the letter that the sister wrote in

your last issue on hardly ever reading articles about Muslim men

lowering their gaze. The sister is right in reminding brothers to

lower their gaze.’ ---Sabeel Ahmed

ower our

aze