Haram Fantasizing
There is no shortage of complaints regarding giving up sins and the struggle between a person, his Nafs and Shaytan.
This battle is ongoing, till our dying day. There is no way out except to show the courage and bravery that every Muslim does have when it comes to pleasing Allah Ta’ala.
Sadly, another widespread weakness is that of Haram fantasizing. Young and old, married and unmarried – thousands upon thousands, succumb to their runaway imagination when it comes to fantasy, which leads to even graver sins.
Allah Ta’ala granted us the power of imagination for a beautiful purpose, but most people today utilize this imagination for entertaining filthy thoughts.
The following is a prescription I have given to many who complained of the weakness of Haram fantasizing. Alhamdulillah, it has been a means of cure for many. May Allah Ta’ala make it a means of cure for all who have this ailment, Aameen.
Haram fantasizing is a spiritual ailment. It is an abuse of the great, wonderful and amazing gift of imagination.
Why did Allah Ta’ala give us this gift of imagination?
The imagination has been given to us so that it may be used to ponder over the Qur`an Shareef, which entails stories of past nations and verses upon verses of Jannah (Paradise) and its beautiful bounties, as well as Jahannum (Hellfire) , and accountability. This imagination was to be used to take lessons and strengthen our Iman. It was to be used as a catalyst for undertaking good deeds.
The imagination was certainly not given to us so we could indulge our Nafs in evil, filthy thoughts —Allah Ta’ala forbid.
One of the main reasons why both men and women have this problem plaguing them is due to casting lustful gazes.
After having cast evil gazes at Ghair-Maharim[1], watching porn movies, paging through porn magazines, or reading romance novels, there is a desire and craving for more. Since ‘more’ is generally not possible because the person may be married, or the object of their desire is a film star, supermodel or a Miss or Mr Universe, and there is zero chance of meeting the person or inviting the same kind of interest or inclination, the person tries to satisfy these Shahawat (base desires) by fantasizing.
But fantasizing will not satisfy the desire; it will only increase it. The person’s sickness will increase. His physical health will inevitably also suffer.
When the desire to engage in Haram fantasizing comes into the heart, take the imagination to the Day of Judgment; stand before Allah Ta’ala’s seat of Judgment and begin accounting for all your actions in this world. Think of how you will have to account for and what you will say to Allah Ta’ala when all these filthy thoughts are presented to you – if you continue in this sin.
Allah Ta’ala states in the Qur`an Sharif :
“…and when the scrolls (of deeds) will be unrolled,”
[Surah At-Takwir 81:10]
“This is Our book that speaks against you with truth. We used to get recorded all that you used to do.”
[Surah Al-Jathiya 45:29]
Even though Allah Ta’ala is All-Knowing and well aware of all our actions, He has established a system whereby every action and every detail of every action is recorded and will be presented to us on the Day of Reckoning —it will either be in favour of us or a witness against us.
Otherwise, take your imagination for Hajj: Picture yourself at the Multazam, making Tawaf, making Sa'ee; picture yourself at the Raudha Mubarak, conveying Salam to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), or take your imagination to your Qabr[5] and the events which unfold in the grave after death. Insha Allah, this will be a means of defeating Nafs and Shaytan, as well as obliterating a filthy habit.
If you find yourself still weak against the demands of Nafs and the whisperings of Shaytan, then immediately occupy yourself with that which is ‘Mubah’ (permissible). Begin a conversation with your parents, brothers and sisters, phone a good, pious friend, or listen to some Qira’at or Deeni talk. Occupy yourself in Halal and Mubah; otherwise, nafs will ravage your heart, destroy your peace of mind, and lead you to even suicidal tendencies.
Consider filthy thoughts as pigs. Just as we show aversion and absolute disgust on seeing a pig, so should we be disgusted with dirty thoughts —which are also Haram (forbidden).
Furthermore, Haram fantasizing leads to the evil habit of self-gratification (masturbation) because the person does not find a Halal avenue to satisfy his desires immediately. This is a rather disastrous weakness among the youth, and one should ponder the various harms, which are too many, which are spiritual, physical and psychological.
Satisfying one’s desires by masturbating is not permissible, even if a person does not have the means to marry. Allah Ta’ala mentions in the Qur’an Sharif that those who do not find the means to marry should remain chaste.
“And those who do not find the means to marry should remain chaste until Allah gives them resources by His Grace.”
[Surah An-Nur 24:33]
Remaining chaste is thus a Divine command which is compulsory to comply with – therefore, we find the Ahadith presenting prescriptions to remain chaste – for example, lowering the gaze, fasting, etc.
As a prescription, the following harms should be read and re-read until it is understood that long-term harms are not worth the gratification that comes with the sin.
SPIRITUAL HARMS:
1) Taufeeq of doing good deeds is taken away. The person is deprived of Tahajjud, Tilawah of the Qur`an Sharif, associating with the pious, etc.
2) The person deprives the Ruh (soul) of spiritual knowledge and finds an aversion to people.
3) The most dangerous harm is that the person will not be able to remain steadfast on Deen. (Allah Ta’ala protect).
4) Besides this, a person who satisfies his evil desires in this manner is cursed, according to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).
Sincere Taubah and Istighfar should be resorted to. In most cases, while the sin is forgiven, the physical harm is long-lasting.
The following physical harms have been recorded by highly qualified Hakims, the equivalent of specialist doctors. Some harms listed are for men and others for females.
PHYSICAL HARMS:
1) The bladder becomes weak, leading to problems regarding Taharah–Wudhu/Salah and other Ibadah.
Many are suffering from involuntary urinary and seminal discharges due to indulgence in this sin, and they mention the difficulties that are thereafter encountered.
2) It weakens the nerves.
3) It causes limbs like the legs to shake and quiver.
4) It causes pain in the vertebral column and the spinal column from which semen is ejaculated. This pain creates crookedness and twisting in the back.
5) It creates a weakness in the brain and memory.
6) It weakens the sight and reduces the normal limit of vision.
7) It causes a person to become old before time.
8) It decreases the natural resistance of the body.
9) It causes harm to the four main organs in the body: the heart, brain, liver and stomach.
10) It leads to impotency.
11) Excessive loss of semen is, in reality, excessive blood loss. In later years, it can be that such a person will not have the ability to father any children.
12) It causes an excessive loss of sperm by way of nocturnal emission (wet dreams).
PSYCHOLOGICAL HARMS:
It leads to:
1) Agitation and irritation over trivial matters,
2) Lack of confidence,
3) Disinterest in studying and
4) Desire for isolation.
Much more can be stated with respect to the harms of this sin. So contemplating the above should give every incentive to give up the sin.
No one would like to contend with any of the above problems, yet just one evil deed and the person has invited waves of calamities upon himself or herself.
If evil desires still get the better, one should fast for lengthy periods (weeks on end and reduce meat intake, etc.); otherwise, Nikah is a simple solution. Where the evil desires are so difficult to suppress that the person engages in Haram, it becomes Fardh (compulsory) for the person to marry. This is, of course, for those who have the ability.
May Allah Ta’ala grant us the understanding and the Taufeeq to stay away from all sins, Aameen.
[1] Ghair Maharam/Maharim: a person whom it is necessary to make hijab from – it is permissible to marry that person