Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Raheem.
Assalaamu’alaykum Wa’rahmatulahi Wa’barakatahu my dear and respected brothers and sisters!!!
After pondering day after day after day about what I shall make my next post about I came to no success, for everything I thought of just did not feel right.
Amongst other posts, the message of exams already put across as well as moving on to a new chapter of our lives and so forth. So alas with no ideas I thought I would clean out my room. After all it really needed sorting out, as me any my sister had really had enough tripping over my philosophy folder and stumping our feet on my psychology books. So I thought that is what I’ll do for now.
Upon bringing all my work from my room, downstairs to the spare room, it came to my attention that even the spare room was in such a state! So I thought I have to clear this up as well otherwise I have no where to put my work. And that is when Alhumdulilah inspiration struck.
I came across a book my beloved father had gifted to me as a child, and upon finding it memories came flooding back of my childhood, and how a huge portion of it was spent…wanting to be a PRINCESS!
The book was part of the collection of Anastasia books, titled: ‘How to behave like a princess’. Stupid as I felt and thinking ‘I have no idea why I’m flicking through this’ it came to my attention that subhan’Allah, how our culture in the west is filled with fooling and corrupting the young children of our Ummah, giving young girls false hope, and the wrong ideas of life, romance and yep…PRINCE CHARMING.
As I read on “…a real princess never plays with the same toys twice…she has new ones delivered everyday”…“a real princess should ALWAYS dress like a princess…she must have dozens of wardrobes filled with elegant gowns and glittering tiaras”…“a proper princess will host wonderful parties.” …“a real princess does not wear the same clothes twice.” She lives in her castle, waiting for Prince Charming or her Knight in shinning armour to rescue her pretty self.
The more I read, the more this book began to sound like something out of Brother Baba Ali’s marriage video from Ummah Films. Many sisters, acting just like this princess, just like this damsel in distress, waiting for her knight in shinning armour to battle the fire breathing dragon, climb the tall tower and whisk her away into an happily ever after. If any of you have seen Shrek 2, it is exactly how the film starts with Prince Charming’s adventurous journey for his bride to be.
Subhan’Allah wa bi Hamdi! But if one looks at the REAL GEMS, the REAL PRINCES and PRINCESSES of the dunya and the hereafter, the Sahabah, the Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam and the Umm ul’Mu’mineen, this absurd notion the west portray was not their conduct at all!!!
This question is for the sisters, be honest how many fairy tales have you seen as a child, how many times did you fink ‘Where’s my prince charming?’
Brothers, how many cartoons of superheroes did you watch and think ‘that’s gonna be me in the future, and I will be saving a pretty woman too who will be my wife’ ???
As insignificant as it may seem, what’s the harm, there only cartoons right? No! Many a times I myself have spoken to sisters looking for a spouse in marriage, and they have such deluded ideas of what marriage is like. They really are waiting for Mr Perfect to come falling into their laps!!
How many narrations are there of A’ishah radi Allahu Anha, playing with her dolls with her friends, and the Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam would join in on young A’ishah’s play and games. Yet she did not complain and throw a tantrum for more dolls. One famous parable is when the Prophet Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam went to A’ishah’s room on the day of Id-Ul-Adha, to find A’ishah playing a game that the prophet had not seen before, when he asked her what she was playing, A’ishah replied ‘this is Solomon’s horses’ upon which the prophet Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam smiled.
Subhan’Allah, even when the children of the Ummah in the past played with their toys and gave performances, it was in relation to Islam and Allah’s Prophets and Messengers. A’ishah’s play, that same day the Abysinnians performance of the Battle of Badr, and Allahu’Alim how many other such plays.
Yes, plays related to Islam, not Barbie being looked away in her big Barbie house by her step-mother, and Ken climbing up to Barbie’s room to save her. (Or is it Blaine now, ‘cos apparently Barbie dumped Ken! More absurdity!!!)
As for the dress of our beloved Prophet Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam, the Sahabah, the Sahabiyaat, and the Tabi’een. Subhan’Allah so humble were they, that they only had enough cloth to shroud themselves and their families. They indulged in no extravagance nor squandering of money. So that means they didn’t have any designer jilbaabs and jubbas and so forth! (Subhan’Allah Chanel and Dior have themselves come out with designer jilbaabs!!!)
A parable of Ali Radi Allahu Anhu comes to mind, after Ali Radi Allah Anhu had passed away. Mu’awiyah bin Abu Sufyan Radi Allahu Anhu went to Dirar bin Damrah and asked him to describe Ali Radi Allahu Anhu to him.
After much deliberation and Mu’awiyah refusing to excuse Dirar, in a long citation Dirar said: “…He showed a liking to coarse garments and lower-quality food.”
&
Dirar also said: “I swear by Allah, that on certain occasions, I saw him (Ali) in his place of prayer when the night was dark and few stars could be seen; he would be holding his beard and crying the way a very sad person cries; and I would hear him saying, ‘O World, O World, are you offering yourself to me? Do you desire me? Never! Never! Deceive someone other than me. I have divorced you for the third time, so that you cannot return to me!”
[The author of the book adds: Ali is speaking metaphorically, alluding to the fact that in Islam, the third divorce is final, whereas in the case of the first or second divorce, a man may take his wife back.]
[Sifatus-Safwah 1/66 & Hilyatul-Awliya’ 1/84-85]
Subhan’Allah Wa Bi Hamdi! The cousin of the blessed Muhammad Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam himself, his (Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wa Sallam) son-in-law, and Sahabi. A true prince indeed! And even the status of princehood seems so common when talking about the Messenger of Allah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam and his companions!
Yet this man, this true prince, showed a liking to coarse, crude, and rough garments over the finer, yet indeed he is more deserving to be dressed in the finer fabrics of the dunya. Ali preferred foods of inferior and lower quality though his sacrifices make him more worthy to be fed with the best of best!
These are the ‘How to…’ guides we should be reading, preaching, learning from and giving to others.
However as we learn from the Qur’an and the Sunnah, it is much more worth its weight to be the Kings and Queens in Jannah forever, over this temporary and short life. My sisters desire to be the Queens of Jannah beside your spouse with command over his Hoor Al’Ayn.
In another lengthy parable of Malik bin Dinar preaching to a King in which he described the worth of the Hoor Al’Ayn in comparison to the women of the Dunya, (this should get us off our high horse!) Malik said: “If mixed with salty water, her spit will make that water fresh and sweet. If a dead person is invited by her speech, he will answer her. If her shirt is put beside the sun, the sun will seem to be a dark object. If her sweat falls onto the earth, it will be like perfume on it. She is sweet-smelling, with beautiful eyes, and a flirtatious nature for her male companion only. And she passionately loves her male companion. Her beauty never changes; she never becomes unfaithful; and her love is everlasting.”
[Bahrud-Damu’ Pg. 91-93]
Subhan’Allah Wa Bi Hamdi, and that description is just of the male’s maidens in Jannah, so imagine what will be the status of his Queen???
Western culture will have you belive being a prince/princess is all about the amount of wealth one has accumulated, however Allah azz wa Jall indeed Might and Majesty belongs to Him clearly has stated in the Qur’an:
“Woe to every slander, and backbiter, He who gathers wealth and counts it.” [104:1-2]
Rather than accumulating wealth, the Sahabah and sahabiyat fought and competed with each other to give as much as they could. We all know of the many a times noted parable of ‘Umar trying to beat Abu Bakr in giving provisions in the path of Allah. ‘Umar bought a half of all that which he owned, leaving exactly a half for his family, but Abu Bakr surpassed ‘Umar by contributing ALL of what he owned, leaving for his family Allah and His Messenger Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam alone, such was his belief and reliance upon Allah.
Subhan’Allah Wa Bi Hamdi! This is not all! A’ishah Radi Allahu Anha, one of the wives of the Prophet Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam not only in this life, but also in the hereafter, a true Queen indeed, yet look at how humbly this Queen spent her life. Urwah Radi Allahu Anha narrated: “I once saw A’ishah Radi Allahu Anha spending 70 000 dirhams in charity, while she herself was wearing a dress with patches.”
Yet subhan’Allah, we feel pain at giving even 1 penny in charity, whilst we ourselves have our own wardrobes and bellies filled with provisions!
And what of Khadija Radi Allahu Anha, a very wealthy woman from her previous marriage, she did not spend her wealth hoarding sparkling tiaras, rather she spent all of her wealth in the way of Allah, supporting the Muslims and the Messenger of Allah Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam in the early days of Islam through the Quraysh’s continous persecutions, spending to the spread the message of her husband, helping to free slaves who had embraced Islam and feeding and sheltering the community of muslims that was growing slowly but surely in numbers and strength.
Humility and humbleness is not the only trait we can learn from the Umm Ul’Mu’mineen, my sisters there is much we can adopt from the Mothers of the believers, one of which is eloquence. Too often do sisters ignore this beautiful trait and opt for being ‘rowdy’, ‘loud-mouthed’ or the ‘in your face’ characteristic, with even their speech being from a trait of the western disbelievers (i.e. colloquial slang).
Musa ibn Talha Radi Allahu Anhu, once said: “I have not seen anyone more eloquent than A’ishah” (Radi Allahu Anha).
And indeed eloquence in a woman (AND in a man) is a worthy trait often overlooked. People often speak of seeking a spouse who is attractive and beautiful, and subhan’Allah eloquence enhances one’s physical and internal beauty. And many narrations of the Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam are a testament to this, as he himself (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) was so eloquent in behaviour and mannerisms, making him so awe-inspiring, even to the disbelievers in his blessed presence.
Other qualities found in the Umm Ul’Mu’mineen, are as A’ishah Radi Allahu Anha described Zaynab bint Jahsh Radi Allahu Anha: “I have never seen a woman so pure as Zaynab, so God-fearing, so truthful, so attentive to family ties, so generous, so self-sacrificing in everyday life, so charitable, and thus so close to Allah, The Exalted.”
One last example, from the best of creation himself. His (Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam) humbleness clear in the below parable, and ‘Umar Radi Allahu Anhu could not have termed his distress any more better than he did. It is related by ‘Umar (Radi Allahu Anhu) that he went to visit the Prophet Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam, who was staying alone in a small upper room, in order to find out what was happening [the period when the companions did not know if the prophet had divorced his wives or not, over a marital problem].
After been given permission to enter, ‘Umar climbed up the ladder and into the small room: “I visited the Messenger of Allah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam and he was lying on a mat. I sat down and he drew up his lower garment over him. He had nothing else on, and the mat had left its marks on his sides. I looked around at what stores the Messenger of Allah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam had, and saw only a handful of barley equal to one Sa’ and an equal amount of mimosa leaves in the corner of the room and a tanned leather bag hanging nearby, and I was moved to tears.”
He (Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam) said, “Ibn al-Khattab, what is making you cry?” and I replied, “O Messenger of Allah, how can I not cry? This mat has left marks on your sides and I can only see what I have seen of your stores. Caesar and Chosroes are leading their lives of plenty, while you are the Messenger of Allah, His Chosen One, and look what you have!”
Subhan’Allah Wa Bi Hamdi!! What grief at the state of the Messenger of Allah, yet do we even shed one tear, upon hearing the trials and tests he (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) faced?!!!
And subhan’Allah look at the beautiful and soothing reassurance of the Messenger of Allah!!!
“Ibn al-Khattab,” He (Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wa Sallam) answered, “Isn’t it enough for you that for us there is the next world, and for them there is this world?”
“Yes.” I said.
----
These narrations and parables are only a fraction of the large amount of knowledge there is available to us, Insha’Allah I hope this post serves as a reminder to firstly myself and then to you, of how the real princes and princesses of Islam, how the real gems behaved and conducted their manners. And insha’Allah I make du’a we can imitate these blessed qualities, ameen.
With Ramadhan coming in just over a months time (5 weeks), what an excellent time to try and improve ourselves to be better Muslims and better slaves of Allah, The All-Mighty, insha’Allah.
“O Allah! Make the months of Rajab and Sha’baan blessed for us, and let us reach the month of Ramadhan.”
[Narrated by At-Tabarani & Ahmad]
Ameen, Ameen, Ameen!!!
Please Forgive me for my mistakes and hide my faults insha’Allah, Jazak’Allah Khayr. Wassalaam!
Showing posts with label the nafs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label the nafs. Show all posts
Sunday, 19 July 2009
Wednesday, 24 September 2008
...The Plastic Woman!...
…The Plastic Woman! …..
Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim.
By the Name of Allah, The Most Compassionate, The Most Merciful.
Asalaamulaikum Warahmatulahi Wabarkatahu dear respected brothers and sisters.
The focus of this post is mainly for the sisters, but a good topic for the brothers too, to be up to scratch with for future use, Insha’Allah.
My dear sisters, there is a worryingly steady increase in the world of plastic/cosmetic surgery in today’s society, and this is a problem that is not only prevalent and affecting the western world but a problem in our Muslim Ummah too!!!
Too often are we seeing and hearing, sisters turning to/or wanting to turn to plastic surgery as a solution to all their physical (and not to forget MATERIAL) problems.
My dear sisters, not a single one of us today are absolutely perfect and imperfection-free! But too many of us, rather than having reliance in what Allah has created and decreed, are instead running towards plastic surgery!
The hadith of the Prophet Muhammad Salallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam says to turn and go towards Allah Subhana Wa Ta’laa! NOT PLASTIC SURGERY! Subhan’Allah! (What’s so great about being plastic anyway!??!)
Hadith Qudsi, on the Authority of Abu Hurairah Radi Allahu Anhu, who said, that the Prophet Salallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam said, that Allah Subhana Wa Ta’laa said:
“I am as my servant thinks I am, I am with him when he makes mention of me. If he makes mention of me to himself, I make mention of him to myself, and if he makes mention of me in an assembly, I make mention of him in an assembly better than it. And if he draws near to me an arms length, I draw near to him a fathoms length. And if he comes to me walking, I go to him at speed.”
[It was related by al-Bukhari also by Muslim, at-Tirmidhi and Ibn-Majah]
Respected sisters, just recently in fact, did a program come on TV; ‘Super Botox Me’, where a journalist went to America to poke and prod her face with Botox, in the name of journalism, only to find herself getting addicted to wanting to look younger!
Dear sister, this pursuit of eternal youth has already been answered by Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’laa more than 1400 YEARS AGO!!!!
With every disease, Allah Ta’laa has sent a cure, except old age!
Plastic surgery is majority of the time the consequence of not wanting to get old; however my dear sisters this is DECEPTION!!!
“O Servants of Allah, treat your illnesses, for Allah, Most Glorious, has not sent a disease without a cure along with it, except for old age.”
My dear sisters, it is Allah who is The Creator (Al-Khaliq) and indeed, it is only Allah who is The Fashioner of Shapes (Al-Musawwir), so who gave us the right to recreate what Allah has already created? To re-fashion what Allah has already moulded and done???
With great wisdom is the doing of our beloved Lord, even how we look, though as insignificant as it may seem to us!
My dear sisters, constantly in talks, lectures, dars, etc, we will hear ‘have faith!’ and ‘have Iman, have Taqwa!’ but where does all that go when looking at the material side of things???
Thinking logically my dear sisters, which of the two makes more sense? To have as role models, the mothers of the believers such as Khadija bint Khuwaylid, Sawda bint Zam’a, A’ishah Siddiqa bint Abu Bakr, Hafsa bint ‘Umar, Zaynab bint Khuzayma, May Allah be pleased with them all, or, to have as role models; Jordan, Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Lopez and Beyonce????
Dear sisters, beauty is a subjective quality found in the eye of the beholder; it varies from one person to another, something I may find beautiful, another may find repulsive and vice versa!
So what is better, physical beauty or beauty from within? The beauty of Knowledge and Iman???
Do you know the answer? Not sure?? Don’t know???
The Ahadith of the Prophet Muhammad Salallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam are sufficient as an answer; Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam recommended Muslims to select those partners who are best in religion (Deen) and character;
‘The whole world is a commodity, and the most valuable of its commodities is a righteous woman.’
[Muslim]
&
‘The best properties are; a tongue which remembers Allah, a thankful heart and a believing wife who helps [to strengthen] one’s faith.’
[Imam Ahmed, at-Tirmidhi & Ibn Majah]
&
‘A woman may be married for four reasons: for her property, for her rank, for her beauty, and for her religion (and character). So marry the one who is best in the religion and character and prosper’.
[Bukhari and Muslim]
&
Furthermore in the Qur’an:
"Vile women are for vile men, and vile men are for vile women".
[Qur’an Surah An-Nur 24:26]
My sisters, the stated celebrities may have physical beauty but what is the point of possessing such a quality, when there is no Iman? When there isn’t even modesty!
A lot of the times (and I mean A LOT!), sisters use the excuse, ‘it’s for my husband’ or ‘I’m getting married soon, so I want to look my best!’, but that’s all they are sisters, just excuses!
Firstly, if something isn’t for the sake of Allah, then most likely, it isn’t worth it.
Secondly, yes pleasing your husband is pleasing to Allah, but not in disobedience or haraam matters (plastic surgery is haraam as it is changing the creation of Allah), however, why would a sister want to marry a brother who chooses the PHYSICAL BEAUTY of this MATERIAL LIFE, this TEMPORARY LIFE over a brother who searches in his spouse the beauty of Iman, the beauty which is deemed more worthy in Islam, and if he gets a wife who has physical beauty, than he is even more grateful to Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’laa, in addition to what Allah has already bestowed upon him!!!
Sisters if you pick the first brother (then it’s worrying!!) then I guess there is always the worry, that in later life when you lose your beauty and youth, he’s going to run a mile from you before you can even say ‘bye!’.
The scholars, Ulama, mufti’s, (whoever you ask really) all have divided plastic surgery into two kinds. These two categories are; Cosmetic Surgery and Physical or Congenital faults (a.k.a needed surgery!).Physical or congenital faults are such that are present from birth or that which result from an illness or an abnormality, such as turned-out lips, twisted fingers, or toes, etc.
Faults which result from an illness are scars left from leprosy or other skin diseases, or scars occurring from accidents or burns, etc.
There is no doubt that such faults/scars cause physical and psychological pain and harm, therefore Islam allows people afflicted with such things to remove or reduce them by surgical means, as Islam does not burden anyone.
Therefore, in addition any cosmetic surgery which comes under this heading of ‘need’ because of the fact that the reason for the surgery is causing harm and to result in a better quality of life is permissible, and not considered to be changing the creation of Allah.
However there are some cosmetic surgical procedures which are haraam and are not excusable, since these are tampering with the creation of Allah for the sake of beauty.
Such procedures include breast enlargement or reduction, procedures aimed at reversing the signs of ageing, face-lifts, rhinoplasty, Botox injections, collagen fillers, eye-lifts, liposuction, tummy tuck, etc. (the list carries on really!)
However cosmetic surgery is heading for excessive beauty and it alters the creation of Allah which is forbidden and Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’laa warns us about this, that the Shaytan says:
“And I will lead them astray, and I will tempt them with false hopes, and I will command them, whereby they shall slit the ears of cattle, and I will command them, whereby they shall alter the creation of Allah.” Whoever takes the Satan for friend, instead of Allah, incurs an obvious loss."
In addition to this all, cosmetic surgery is a preoccupation with this Duniya and a material desire in which is no benefit or reward from Allah, instead His wrath.
“Man’s worst enemy is his own ignorance and uncontrolled passions.”
[Quote from Abu Salman Deya ud-Deen, (Tawheed Language + Information Services).]
This duniya is a means of getting nearer to Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’laa and this cannot be achieved by the means of plastic surgery.
Cosmetic surgery is unnecessary and does not beautify one, more in the sight of Allah, for as Muhammad Salallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam says in his hadith,
Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim.
By the Name of Allah, The Most Compassionate, The Most Merciful.
Asalaamulaikum Warahmatulahi Wabarkatahu dear respected brothers and sisters.
The focus of this post is mainly for the sisters, but a good topic for the brothers too, to be up to scratch with for future use, Insha’Allah.
My dear sisters, there is a worryingly steady increase in the world of plastic/cosmetic surgery in today’s society, and this is a problem that is not only prevalent and affecting the western world but a problem in our Muslim Ummah too!!!
Too often are we seeing and hearing, sisters turning to/or wanting to turn to plastic surgery as a solution to all their physical (and not to forget MATERIAL) problems.
My dear sisters, not a single one of us today are absolutely perfect and imperfection-free! But too many of us, rather than having reliance in what Allah has created and decreed, are instead running towards plastic surgery!
The hadith of the Prophet Muhammad Salallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam says to turn and go towards Allah Subhana Wa Ta’laa! NOT PLASTIC SURGERY! Subhan’Allah! (What’s so great about being plastic anyway!??!)
Hadith Qudsi, on the Authority of Abu Hurairah Radi Allahu Anhu, who said, that the Prophet Salallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam said, that Allah Subhana Wa Ta’laa said:
“I am as my servant thinks I am, I am with him when he makes mention of me. If he makes mention of me to himself, I make mention of him to myself, and if he makes mention of me in an assembly, I make mention of him in an assembly better than it. And if he draws near to me an arms length, I draw near to him a fathoms length. And if he comes to me walking, I go to him at speed.”
[It was related by al-Bukhari also by Muslim, at-Tirmidhi and Ibn-Majah]
Respected sisters, just recently in fact, did a program come on TV; ‘Super Botox Me’, where a journalist went to America to poke and prod her face with Botox, in the name of journalism, only to find herself getting addicted to wanting to look younger!
Dear sister, this pursuit of eternal youth has already been answered by Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’laa more than 1400 YEARS AGO!!!!
With every disease, Allah Ta’laa has sent a cure, except old age!
Plastic surgery is majority of the time the consequence of not wanting to get old; however my dear sisters this is DECEPTION!!!
“O Servants of Allah, treat your illnesses, for Allah, Most Glorious, has not sent a disease without a cure along with it, except for old age.”
My dear sisters, it is Allah who is The Creator (Al-Khaliq) and indeed, it is only Allah who is The Fashioner of Shapes (Al-Musawwir), so who gave us the right to recreate what Allah has already created? To re-fashion what Allah has already moulded and done???
With great wisdom is the doing of our beloved Lord, even how we look, though as insignificant as it may seem to us!
My dear sisters, constantly in talks, lectures, dars, etc, we will hear ‘have faith!’ and ‘have Iman, have Taqwa!’ but where does all that go when looking at the material side of things???
Thinking logically my dear sisters, which of the two makes more sense? To have as role models, the mothers of the believers such as Khadija bint Khuwaylid, Sawda bint Zam’a, A’ishah Siddiqa bint Abu Bakr, Hafsa bint ‘Umar, Zaynab bint Khuzayma, May Allah be pleased with them all, or, to have as role models; Jordan, Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Lopez and Beyonce????
Dear sisters, beauty is a subjective quality found in the eye of the beholder; it varies from one person to another, something I may find beautiful, another may find repulsive and vice versa!
So what is better, physical beauty or beauty from within? The beauty of Knowledge and Iman???
Do you know the answer? Not sure?? Don’t know???
The Ahadith of the Prophet Muhammad Salallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam are sufficient as an answer; Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam recommended Muslims to select those partners who are best in religion (Deen) and character;
‘The whole world is a commodity, and the most valuable of its commodities is a righteous woman.’
[Muslim]
&
‘The best properties are; a tongue which remembers Allah, a thankful heart and a believing wife who helps [to strengthen] one’s faith.’
[Imam Ahmed, at-Tirmidhi & Ibn Majah]
&
‘A woman may be married for four reasons: for her property, for her rank, for her beauty, and for her religion (and character). So marry the one who is best in the religion and character and prosper’.
[Bukhari and Muslim]
&
Furthermore in the Qur’an:
"Vile women are for vile men, and vile men are for vile women".
[Qur’an Surah An-Nur 24:26]
My sisters, the stated celebrities may have physical beauty but what is the point of possessing such a quality, when there is no Iman? When there isn’t even modesty!
A lot of the times (and I mean A LOT!), sisters use the excuse, ‘it’s for my husband’ or ‘I’m getting married soon, so I want to look my best!’, but that’s all they are sisters, just excuses!
Firstly, if something isn’t for the sake of Allah, then most likely, it isn’t worth it.
Secondly, yes pleasing your husband is pleasing to Allah, but not in disobedience or haraam matters (plastic surgery is haraam as it is changing the creation of Allah), however, why would a sister want to marry a brother who chooses the PHYSICAL BEAUTY of this MATERIAL LIFE, this TEMPORARY LIFE over a brother who searches in his spouse the beauty of Iman, the beauty which is deemed more worthy in Islam, and if he gets a wife who has physical beauty, than he is even more grateful to Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’laa, in addition to what Allah has already bestowed upon him!!!
Sisters if you pick the first brother (then it’s worrying!!) then I guess there is always the worry, that in later life when you lose your beauty and youth, he’s going to run a mile from you before you can even say ‘bye!’.
The scholars, Ulama, mufti’s, (whoever you ask really) all have divided plastic surgery into two kinds. These two categories are; Cosmetic Surgery and Physical or Congenital faults (a.k.a needed surgery!).Physical or congenital faults are such that are present from birth or that which result from an illness or an abnormality, such as turned-out lips, twisted fingers, or toes, etc.
Faults which result from an illness are scars left from leprosy or other skin diseases, or scars occurring from accidents or burns, etc.
There is no doubt that such faults/scars cause physical and psychological pain and harm, therefore Islam allows people afflicted with such things to remove or reduce them by surgical means, as Islam does not burden anyone.
Therefore, in addition any cosmetic surgery which comes under this heading of ‘need’ because of the fact that the reason for the surgery is causing harm and to result in a better quality of life is permissible, and not considered to be changing the creation of Allah.
However there are some cosmetic surgical procedures which are haraam and are not excusable, since these are tampering with the creation of Allah for the sake of beauty.
Such procedures include breast enlargement or reduction, procedures aimed at reversing the signs of ageing, face-lifts, rhinoplasty, Botox injections, collagen fillers, eye-lifts, liposuction, tummy tuck, etc. (the list carries on really!)
The Islamic view is these are not permitted as there is no urgent need or necessity for them, but rather the aim is to change and tamper with the creation of Allah for human vanity. And this is haraam as it involves the two things that the Prophet Muhammad Salallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam cursed; pursuit of beauty and changing what Allah has created.
It must be mentioned here alongside the above point, that going in pursuit of beauty being cursed, does not mean that one should not show an interest in his/her outward appearance and beauty:
Ibn Mas’ud Radi Allahu Anhu reported that the Prophet Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam used to have an interest in his appearance and adornment, and he also urged his companions (May Allah be pleased with them all) to follow suit.
&
From 'Abdullaah Ibn Mas'ood Radi Allahu 'Anhu, who said that the Prophet Salallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam said,
It must be mentioned here alongside the above point, that going in pursuit of beauty being cursed, does not mean that one should not show an interest in his/her outward appearance and beauty:
Ibn Mas’ud Radi Allahu Anhu reported that the Prophet Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam used to have an interest in his appearance and adornment, and he also urged his companions (May Allah be pleased with them all) to follow suit.
&
From 'Abdullaah Ibn Mas'ood Radi Allahu 'Anhu, who said that the Prophet Salallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam said,
"No one will enter Paradise who has an atom's weight of pride in his heart."
A man said, "What if a man likes his clothes to look good and his shoes to look good?" He (Salallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam) said, "Allah is beautiful and loves beauty. Pride means denying the truth and looking down on people."
A man said, "What if a man likes his clothes to look good and his shoes to look good?" He (Salallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam) said, "Allah is beautiful and loves beauty. Pride means denying the truth and looking down on people."
However cosmetic surgery is heading for excessive beauty and it alters the creation of Allah which is forbidden and Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’laa warns us about this, that the Shaytan says:
“And I will lead them astray, and I will tempt them with false hopes, and I will command them, whereby they shall slit the ears of cattle, and I will command them, whereby they shall alter the creation of Allah.” Whoever takes the Satan for friend, instead of Allah, incurs an obvious loss."
[Surah An-Nisaa’ 4:119]
One can define that what is permitted and what is forbidden from the two by using the words of Imam al-Nawawi Radi Allahu ‘Anhu, in his commentary of this hadith;
‘Allah has cursed the women who make tattoos and the women who have this done, the women who pluck facial hair and the women who have this done, and women who widen the gap between their own or others’ teeth for the sake of beauty, changing what Allah has created.’
[Sahih Muslim, 3966]
Imam al-Nawawi Radi Allah ‘Anhu, said:
“The woman who tattoos is one who uses a needle or similar implement to prick the skin of the hand, wrist, lips or other part of a woman’s body until she draws blood, then she puts dye into the wound. It is haraam to do this or have it done by choice. Similarly, plucking or removing hair from the face is also haraam, whether one does it or asks someone else to do it for one, unless a woman has a beard or a moustache, in which case it is not haraam to remove it. Widening the gap between the teeth is done by filing between the incisors. This is done by old women to give the appearance of youth and make the teeth look beautiful, because this attractive gap between the teeth is characteristic of young girls. When a woman gets old, her teeth get big and look ugly, so she may file them to make them look more attractive and give the impression that she is younger…It is haraam to do this or have it done by another because of this hadith, and because it involves changing what Allah has created, and it is a form of deception and falsehood. Widening the gap between the teeth is something that is done to make a person look beautiful, which indicates that what is haraam, is when this is done in the pursuit of beauty, but if it is were done as a form of treatment because of some problem or deformity in the teeth, then there is nothing wrong with it. And Allah knows best.”
[Al-Nawawi, commentary on Sahih Muslim, 13/107]
One can define that what is permitted and what is forbidden from the two by using the words of Imam al-Nawawi Radi Allahu ‘Anhu, in his commentary of this hadith;
‘Allah has cursed the women who make tattoos and the women who have this done, the women who pluck facial hair and the women who have this done, and women who widen the gap between their own or others’ teeth for the sake of beauty, changing what Allah has created.’
[Sahih Muslim, 3966]
Imam al-Nawawi Radi Allah ‘Anhu, said:
“The woman who tattoos is one who uses a needle or similar implement to prick the skin of the hand, wrist, lips or other part of a woman’s body until she draws blood, then she puts dye into the wound. It is haraam to do this or have it done by choice. Similarly, plucking or removing hair from the face is also haraam, whether one does it or asks someone else to do it for one, unless a woman has a beard or a moustache, in which case it is not haraam to remove it. Widening the gap between the teeth is done by filing between the incisors. This is done by old women to give the appearance of youth and make the teeth look beautiful, because this attractive gap between the teeth is characteristic of young girls. When a woman gets old, her teeth get big and look ugly, so she may file them to make them look more attractive and give the impression that she is younger…It is haraam to do this or have it done by another because of this hadith, and because it involves changing what Allah has created, and it is a form of deception and falsehood. Widening the gap between the teeth is something that is done to make a person look beautiful, which indicates that what is haraam, is when this is done in the pursuit of beauty, but if it is were done as a form of treatment because of some problem or deformity in the teeth, then there is nothing wrong with it. And Allah knows best.”
[Al-Nawawi, commentary on Sahih Muslim, 13/107]
In addition to this all, cosmetic surgery is a preoccupation with this Duniya and a material desire in which is no benefit or reward from Allah, instead His wrath.
“Man’s worst enemy is his own ignorance and uncontrolled passions.”
[Quote from Abu Salman Deya ud-Deen, (Tawheed Language + Information Services).]
This duniya is a means of getting nearer to Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’laa and this cannot be achieved by the means of plastic surgery.
Cosmetic surgery is unnecessary and does not beautify one, more in the sight of Allah, for as Muhammad Salallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam says in his hadith,
on the authority of Abu Hurairah Radi Allahu ‘Anhu;
‘Allah does not look at your bodies nor at your faces, but He looks at your hearts and your actions (that come from the heart).’
Furthermore cosmetic surgery results in unnecessary and extreme pain, torture and suffering after the procedure has been carried out, having to spend days in solitary confinement, and eating a dozen pills and sedatives to ease the excruciating pain! And as we know one cannot carry out his/her daily Islamic duties including Salah when intoxicated or sedated, since one is as if under a spell and has no control on ones saying, actions or limbs (for example, like with alcohol) and furthermore It has been related by Imam Ahmad Radi Allahu ‘Anhu and Abu Dawud Radi Allahu ‘Anhu on the authority of Umm Salamah, may Allah be pleased with her, that she said the Prophet Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam prohibited every intoxicant or sedative.
In addition, cosmetic surgery is increasingly expensive, resulting in one squandering his/her money;
‘Verily Allah has forbidden you; disobedience to parents, burying alive of daughters, and demanding your rights while not giving to others, and He has hated for you: vain talk, persistent questioning and squandering of money.’
[Al-Bukhari & Muslim]
&
‘The children of Adam will not proceed on the Day of Resurrection until they are held accountable for their youth (and strength) and in what it was utilized, their time, and how they consumed it, their wealth and how they spent it and from where it was acquired.’
And last but not least, by sisters opting for cosmetic surgery, it is a way of imitation of the disbelieving women, since cosmetic surgery is a western ideology to material beauty, and therefore sharing their recompense.
“Those who have disbelieved in Our verses, We shall certainly make them enter a fire. Whenever their skins are burnt out, We shall give them other skins in their place, so that they may taste the punishment. Surely, Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise."
[Surah An-Nisaa’:56]
&
“- and so that Allah may purify those who believe and eradicate the disbelievers.”
[Surah Al ‘Imran: 141]
&
“The strutting of the disbelievers about the land should not deceive you. It is just a little enjoyment. After that, their resort is Hell; and it is an evil abode.”
[Surah Al ‘Imran: 196 + 197]
&
“The believers must not take the disbelievers as friends instead of the believers,”
[Surah Al ‘Imran: 28]
My beautiful sisters in Islam, we are beautiful as we are, we may not feel our faces, bodies, etc are 100% perfect in our eyes but we are in the sight of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’laa. And who is a better judge of everything including beauty than Allah?
“Is Allah not the Greatest Ruler of all the rulers?”
[Surah At-Tin: 8]
Indeed we are the fortunate ones who Allah has blessed us with physical beauty AND the beauty of Islam too, so should we not be ever grateful to Allah???
Keep remembering my dear sisters, we have well-functioning limbs, organs, all our features are in-tact, etc, truly we should be ever grateful for not having such abnormalities and faults we see today in society, where people have lost their limbs, their sight, their hearing, etc.
And my dear sisters, if we are from the ones who have such faults, then truly it is a trial from Allah, and we must be patient, for after every hardship is ease, my dear sisters;
“So, undoubtedly, along with the hardship there is ease. Undoubtedly, along with the hardship there is ease.”
‘Allah does not look at your bodies nor at your faces, but He looks at your hearts and your actions (that come from the heart).’
Furthermore cosmetic surgery results in unnecessary and extreme pain, torture and suffering after the procedure has been carried out, having to spend days in solitary confinement, and eating a dozen pills and sedatives to ease the excruciating pain! And as we know one cannot carry out his/her daily Islamic duties including Salah when intoxicated or sedated, since one is as if under a spell and has no control on ones saying, actions or limbs (for example, like with alcohol) and furthermore It has been related by Imam Ahmad Radi Allahu ‘Anhu and Abu Dawud Radi Allahu ‘Anhu on the authority of Umm Salamah, may Allah be pleased with her, that she said the Prophet Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam prohibited every intoxicant or sedative.
In addition, cosmetic surgery is increasingly expensive, resulting in one squandering his/her money;
‘Verily Allah has forbidden you; disobedience to parents, burying alive of daughters, and demanding your rights while not giving to others, and He has hated for you: vain talk, persistent questioning and squandering of money.’
[Al-Bukhari & Muslim]
&
‘The children of Adam will not proceed on the Day of Resurrection until they are held accountable for their youth (and strength) and in what it was utilized, their time, and how they consumed it, their wealth and how they spent it and from where it was acquired.’
And last but not least, by sisters opting for cosmetic surgery, it is a way of imitation of the disbelieving women, since cosmetic surgery is a western ideology to material beauty, and therefore sharing their recompense.
“Those who have disbelieved in Our verses, We shall certainly make them enter a fire. Whenever their skins are burnt out, We shall give them other skins in their place, so that they may taste the punishment. Surely, Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise."
[Surah An-Nisaa’:56]
&
“- and so that Allah may purify those who believe and eradicate the disbelievers.”
[Surah Al ‘Imran: 141]
&
“The strutting of the disbelievers about the land should not deceive you. It is just a little enjoyment. After that, their resort is Hell; and it is an evil abode.”
[Surah Al ‘Imran: 196 + 197]
&
“The believers must not take the disbelievers as friends instead of the believers,”
[Surah Al ‘Imran: 28]
My beautiful sisters in Islam, we are beautiful as we are, we may not feel our faces, bodies, etc are 100% perfect in our eyes but we are in the sight of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’laa. And who is a better judge of everything including beauty than Allah?
“Is Allah not the Greatest Ruler of all the rulers?”
[Surah At-Tin: 8]
Indeed we are the fortunate ones who Allah has blessed us with physical beauty AND the beauty of Islam too, so should we not be ever grateful to Allah???
Keep remembering my dear sisters, we have well-functioning limbs, organs, all our features are in-tact, etc, truly we should be ever grateful for not having such abnormalities and faults we see today in society, where people have lost their limbs, their sight, their hearing, etc.
And my dear sisters, if we are from the ones who have such faults, then truly it is a trial from Allah, and we must be patient, for after every hardship is ease, my dear sisters;
“So, undoubtedly, along with the hardship there is ease. Undoubtedly, along with the hardship there is ease.”
[Surah Ash-Sharh 94: 5 + 6]
&
“Of course, you shall be tested in your wealth and yourselves;”
[Surah Al-‘Imran 3: 186]
&
“Surely, Allah is with the patient.”
[Surah Al-Anfal 8: 46]
My dear sisters, Allah says in the Qur’an:
“We have created man in the best composition,”
[Surah At-Tin 95: 4]
So must we continuously question Allah’s creation and ask how and why he created a certain part of us in a certain way??? If this is not ungratefulness then what is???
So my dear sisters, lets not have pride, vanity, greed, envy or jealousy amongst one another, which will only build a barrier in our hearts, and instead let’s continue to thank Allah for what we do have rather than moan about that which we don’t have.
Sisters, I speak to myself before anyone else, we only have ONE, VERY SHORT life to live, and no one knows when the time is up except Allah and who He has decreed to know, so let’s use this tiny amount of time we have to please our creator instead of pleasing and giving into our own nafs (desires) and those of the creation.
May Allah make us ever-grateful and learn to accept ourselves the way we are, Ameen! x
Wasalaamulaikum Warahmatulahi Wabarkatahu! xxx Mehak xxx
&
“Of course, you shall be tested in your wealth and yourselves;”
[Surah Al-‘Imran 3: 186]
&
“Surely, Allah is with the patient.”
[Surah Al-Anfal 8: 46]
My dear sisters, Allah says in the Qur’an:
“We have created man in the best composition,”
[Surah At-Tin 95: 4]
So must we continuously question Allah’s creation and ask how and why he created a certain part of us in a certain way??? If this is not ungratefulness then what is???
So my dear sisters, lets not have pride, vanity, greed, envy or jealousy amongst one another, which will only build a barrier in our hearts, and instead let’s continue to thank Allah for what we do have rather than moan about that which we don’t have.
Sisters, I speak to myself before anyone else, we only have ONE, VERY SHORT life to live, and no one knows when the time is up except Allah and who He has decreed to know, so let’s use this tiny amount of time we have to please our creator instead of pleasing and giving into our own nafs (desires) and those of the creation.
May Allah make us ever-grateful and learn to accept ourselves the way we are, Ameen! x
Wasalaamulaikum Warahmatulahi Wabarkatahu! xxx Mehak xxx
Monday, 25 August 2008
THE ADULTERY...OF THE EYES!!! ...
THE ADULTERY OF THE EYES!!!
Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim.
In the name of Allah, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful.
Assalaamulaikum Warahmatulahi Wabarkatahu dear respected brothers and sisters.
“Tell the believing men to lower their gaze, and protect their private parts. That is purer for them. Verily! Allah is All-Aware of what they do.
And tell the believing women to lower their gaze, and protect their private parts and not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent…”
[Surah An-Nur 24:30-31]
Alhumdulilah, college break is here, exam results are out of the way, Allah Subhana Wa’talaa has blessed us with hot summer days, and naturally one wants to go out and have fun, so one calls up the brothers/sisters, they set a date, that day comes, so they are all preparing for the day ahead, finding nice clothes to wear, brothers combing their beards/or sisters fixing that lose bit of Hijaab, brothers drowning themselves in Atr, Sisters trying to find matching accessories to their Hijaab trying to find that lost hand bag that matches so perfectly with that green scarf, she can’t find it so she has to change into another Hijaab.
Once all ready, one gets ready to leave the house, giving their love and salaam to their parents and siblings, but as one opens the door and get ready to leave, before our eyes we see a wave of indecency, which is not accepted by the Islamic dress code.
One cannot help but look either intentionally or unintentionally, so SubhanAllah, what can one do???
One can’t just barricade themselves in their bedroom and take refuge under the bed, (where the sister finally finds that lost bag/and brothers find all their empty bottles of Atr)!!
One may question, how is the adultery of the eyes defined?
Abu Hurairah Radi Allahu Anhu narrated that the Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said “…the adultery of the eyes is looking (at [that] which is not allowed)…”
[Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
One maybe thinking, it’s only one look, what can one look do?
Indeed brothers and sisters it all begins with a lustful glance. This one glance leads to lustful talk and flirting, then meeting, then becoming “an item”, and I am sure we are all well aware of what comes next.
In his Hadith, Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam says “And the eyes commit zina (adultery). Their Zina is gazing.”
So that’s the harm it does, that one look, that one look is the zina of the eyes, the adultery of the eyes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Also, on the authority of Jarair Radi Allahu Anhu, who said: “I asked the Messenger of Allah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam about the sudden glance (that is cast) on the face (of a non-Mahram). He commanded me that I should turn away my eyes.”
[Reported by Muslim]
Furthermore, Muhammad Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said to Ali Radi Allahu Anhu: “Ali! Do not look once after another, for the first look is for you (since it happens accidentally) while the second is against you.”
A Muslim/Muslimah is decent and pure, therefore it means all of his/her body must be decent and pure, and a natural consequence of this is lowering of the gaze.
Allah Azza Wa Jall says in the Qur’an:
[Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
One maybe thinking, it’s only one look, what can one look do?
Indeed brothers and sisters it all begins with a lustful glance. This one glance leads to lustful talk and flirting, then meeting, then becoming “an item”, and I am sure we are all well aware of what comes next.
In his Hadith, Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam says “And the eyes commit zina (adultery). Their Zina is gazing.”
So that’s the harm it does, that one look, that one look is the zina of the eyes, the adultery of the eyes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Also, on the authority of Jarair Radi Allahu Anhu, who said: “I asked the Messenger of Allah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam about the sudden glance (that is cast) on the face (of a non-Mahram). He commanded me that I should turn away my eyes.”
[Reported by Muslim]
Furthermore, Muhammad Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said to Ali Radi Allahu Anhu: “Ali! Do not look once after another, for the first look is for you (since it happens accidentally) while the second is against you.”
A Muslim/Muslimah is decent and pure, therefore it means all of his/her body must be decent and pure, and a natural consequence of this is lowering of the gaze.
Allah Azza Wa Jall says in the Qur’an:
“O you who believe! Do not follow Satan’s footsteps: If any will follow the footsteps of Satan, he will command what is shameful and wrong…”
[Surah An-Nur 24:21]
And indeed, looking at another man/woman after Allah and His Messenger Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam have said it is wrong and evil, to do it is a shameful and wrong act.
Indeed one must not submit to his/her desires; instead remember the beautiful words of Allah, and His clear warnings:
“Do not go near fornication and adultery, it is an abomination and an evil way.”
[Surah Al-Israa’:32]
Remember, brothers and sisters that when one of us lowers our gaze, it is a good deed and Allah has promised a ten-fold reward for good deeds, so lets strive for these good deeds, these tiny acts of obedience which seem small now, but will make a huge difference, where it counts; in the Akhirah, when our scale of good and bad deeds will be measured!
“He that does good shall have ten times as much to his credit:
He that does evil shall only be recompensed according to his evil:
And no wrong shall be done unto (any of) them.”
[Surah Al-An’ am 6:160]
&
“So whosoever does good equal to the weight of an atom, shall see it,
And whosoever does evil equal to the weight of an atom, shall see it.”
[Surah Az-Zalzalah: 7-8]
Whilst preparing this post, a sister recommended a site where a post was put up, InshAllah the author makes some excellent points:
---
Are we going beyond the limits without realizing it?
By Sikander Ziad Hashmi,
A few weeks ago, Montreal hosted the F1 Canadian Grand Prix. That weekend, my parents and I were heading west on the highway, and many of the race fans who had come from out of town were sharing the roads with us on their way back home.
One thing really caught my attention, more than anything else: almost every single one of these race fans was driving extremely fast and was zipping by us, as if they themselves were race drivers competing in a F1 race.
I found this to be interesting because here were the race fans, after only a few hours at the race track, already acting like F1 drivers. The point being that only a few hours in the racing environment (without even actually racing) had such a profound effect on them that its effect was shown in their actions.
By just being around racers, driving around 300km/h, driving fast had become a second nature for these fans.
This clearly shows the potential effects that the environment can have on a person’s thinking as well as actions.
We all know that we are members of a decaying society. Morality, decency, modesty, and the sense of shame are in a freefall, and things are progressively getting worse.
All this is very evident. It’s not hard to tell, especially in the summer. Just head downtown and you’ll notice the billboards on the highway, take a stroll at the mall, watch a few commercials on TV, take in a movie or two, and you’ll be faced with stuff that’s nowhere near being decent or modest.
So basically, indecency and immorality are rampant these days. And the worst part? We live in the midst of it, and are faced with this stuff day-in, day-out.
Unfortunately, the environment around us is bound to have some sort of effect on us. Just like on those race fans after the Grand Prix, we can easily become immune to indecency and immodesty, and used to seeing it all.
In fact, it IS so easy to get used to, and that’s extremely dangerous, because all this indecency and immodesty is clearly against the moral fabric of Islam. After all, modesty is a branch of faith.
Abu Hurairah Radi Allahu anhu narrated that the Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said: “Imaan has over seventy branches, and modesty is a branch of Islam.”
[Reported by Muslim]
Sa’eed Ibn Abu Hasan said to Hasan Radi Allahu Anhuma: “the non-Arab women bare their chests and heads (so what should I do)? The Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said: “Turn away your eyes.”
[Reported by Al-Bukhari]
The danger is we can easily become accustomed to this haraam that we don’t realize that we are seeing something forbidden, and as a result, we knowingly go and see things we clearly shouldn’t be seeing.
So before we walk into a movie theatre, attend that social function, gaze at those billboards, flip through that magazine, chill at the beach, surf the net, or spend an evening in front of the TV, lets try to make a moment to ask ourselves, ‘are we going beyond the limits without even realizing it?’
--------This article may be reproduced on other sites freely, provided it is left intact in its entirety, and the leading "sunniforum.com" tag is NOT removed.------
Dear brothers and sisters, lowering the gaze does not mean keeping our eyes constantly glued to the ground and not looking up at all, so the next thing you know you’ve bashed your head into a street lamp post!!!
Lowering your gaze doesn’t even mean to make one anti-social, it is merely turning our faces away when we see a less-than-decently dressed woman or man walking the streets or wherever we may be, which is so much more common in the summer months.
One common mistake people make is to think that lowering the gaze is only required when one has encountered nakedness or indecency “in the flesh” or in person. No brothers and sisters, lowering the gaze must also be practiced when watching a film or television program consumed with nakedness, indecency and intimate scenes of couples, or when one feels attracted to someone on the TV, so this includes when Pamela Anderson is doing her Baywatch run, and one thinks ‘I want my wife with a figure like that’ or when an attractive Sheikh comes on the TV and one thinks ‘yeah I want a brother like that to get marred to!’
And my last advice brothers and sisters, is avoid going to places of such lewdness and indecency such as the beaches where all you’ll find is women in bikinis and guys in swimming trunks, lowering your gaze in such a place is IMPOSSIBLE!!!
The same goes for parks, where everyone is baring all and sitting out in the sun for a sun tan, this doesn’t mean never step foot in the park, just goes on days that are cooler or go later on in the day, when the peak time for sunbathing is gone.
Brothers and sisters do not put yourself in such situations by your own hand!!! And finally seek refuge in Allah Subhana Wa’talaa from such places and continuously make du’a!!!
Before leaving I would like to share with you 2 very small articles, but have a big impact!!!
---
‘If a person casts lustful glances at a non-Mahram person then this feeling of momentary satisfaction is limited and restricted. Whilst if one protects his glances, one will feel the sweetness of Imaan and this feeling is eternal. And those that cast evil glances feel regret and sorrow for minutes and hours on end:
- For the religious minded: they will regret that they disobeyed Allah’s command.
- For the lustful and immoral: they feel down because they desire for such a thing that they know they’ll never get, and this feeling of despair and frustration hurts them.
http://shaykh.wordpress.com/?s=gazing
---
Once, on a hot summer’s day, a few students were counting a big pile of sadaqah money, when Sheikh walked into the room. After uttering a few words of praise, he said-in Urdu-Shall I not tell you a great remedy to cure the evil gaze?
When counting this money, does any of you feel any desirous joy? Obviously not, because you all know that this money does not belong to you. In the same way, when our gaze falls upon a non-Mahram woman (or man) outside we should think that, ‘the person I am unlawfully gazing at does not belong to me,’ doing this should kill our momentary pleasure, resulting in dislike for our evil actions in the future.
http://shaykh.wordpress.com/2006/07/25/remedy-an-evil-gaze/#more-149
-----
May Allah Subhana Wa’talaa enable us to implement upon this tiny bit of Ilm in our lives and help others to do the same, Ameen! X
Keep the Ummah in your dua’s,
Wasalaamulaikum, XXX Sister Mehak XXX
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