The Influence of Television
The Influence of Television by Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (rahmatullah ‘alayh) One of the many Sunnahs of the Ambiya (‘alayhimus salam) is that of Haya – shame and modesty: a quality which is sorely missing in the lives of the majority of Muslims today and which should otherwise be an outstanding characteristic and feature of all Muslims, whether married or unmarried. Television is such an evil that if our society only understood its reality, they would find no excuse to watch. Its spiritual harm is that it takes away the Haya and shame of our men, women and children. Most television programmes contain nothing but immodesty and indecency, which invites nothing but immodesty and indecency into our homes, lives and the lives of our children. However, this truth and reality seem to pass over the understanding of even those Muslims who have some link with Deen. Many are regular with Salah; they are seen in the Musjid and wear the garb of the pious, yet they will be the ones to present flimsy and feeble excuses to view television programmes. Let us consider this situation of sin from the following view – which, Alhamdulillah, has been a means of many getting rid of the television. If a person has to knock on your door and tell you: ‘I would like to use your lounge to commit adultery.’ Or a group of friends have to request you: ‘We would like to use your home to gamble and enjoy our liquor.’ Or a group of youngsters have to tell you: ‘We have chosen your home as a venue for our partying, dancing, drug-taking and fornicating.’ Or a Christian family has to request you: ‘We would like to use your home as a venue for our church ceremony: The marriage of our daughter as well as the baptism of our grandchild. We have already obtained the consent of one of our priests.’ Or some idol-worshippers have to suggest: ‘We would like to carry out some of our religious rites in your home. We would like to bring our idols also. You are more than welcome to observe or participate in our rites.’ On hearing such requests, many Muslims will get very angry; will express disgust – if not swear and curse such suggestions. However, these very same Muslims who will even resort to swearing and cursing such proposals invite into their homes all of the above by the switch of the television, by hiring English and Hindi films and DVDs, and watching porn and other movies on the Internet. There is so much adultery, partying, and other filth that we seem to welcome into our homes – least realizing the consequences. To give you one example and this is but the tip of the iceberg – and it is said with the intention of removing the blindfold that most parents wear: A father of four children mentioned to me that he had gotten rid of his television, and he thereafter explained why. He said that he heard strange noises from his children’s room late one night. On opening the door of their room, he found their television switched on. [This is our concept of modesty: parents must have their own television to view all kinds of filthy programmes in their privacy, and children must have their own television to view all kinds of indecency in their privacy (Na-‘uzu Billah)]. The father mentioned that there were dirty and obscene scenes of naked people on the television screen. He mentioned that it was filthy and that it shocked him, but what had him even more shaken was that his children were all undressed, engaging in the same kind of indecent acts. They were imitating the pornography they were viewing. He said himself that until then, he had not considered the harm of television. It took this kind of incident to wake him up. This is just one example of so many. Do we wish to face something similar? Do we even care to know what our sons and daughters are doing in the secrecy of their rooms? The fact that many demand that no one ‘invade’ their space and privacy to the extent of having ‘No Entry’ signs on their doors should have parents a little more than worried, especially if they are viewing television and are surfing the net or have free access with cell phones. Many have written that after watching certain films or programmes, the desire came strongly into their hearts to take drugs, drink liquor, murder their parents, indulge in homosexuality, engage in adulterous relationships, commit suicide, rape, and so much else – and many of them do so. Moreover, with sins like television and lustful glancing, Allah Ta’ala removes the love between husband and wife, and even one’s children become disobedient. Many husbands entertain thoughts of and fantasize about other women while with their wives. And they will when they watch different actresses and television presenters. Many wives are guilty of the same infidelity, having seen or socialized with Ghair-Maharim. Many women are so infatuated and obsessed with some soccer player or cricket player that they become dissatisfied with their husbands and spend their time fantasizing. Had the person not viewed all those Ghair-Maharim on the television and computer screen and lowered his gaze in real-life situations, he would not have desired that which he cannot have, and there would not have been dissatisfaction with his (or her) spouse. Moreover, we complain: There is no Barakah in our homes. There is no Barakah in our wealth. There is no Barakah in our time. Our children are rebellious. The husband is having an extra-marital relationship. The daughter has accepted Christianity. The son is on drugs, and the complaints do not end. Then who is to blame except the one who brought all of this Haram into the home by purchasing the television and exposing the family
Children and Toys
Children and Toys When a child wants a toy which is of an animate object or a musical instrument, then gently explain to the child that Allah Ta’ala is displeased with such a toy and that the presence of such toys in our homes deprives us of the presence of the Malaa’ikah (angels) of Rahmah (Mercy). After having explained this, buy something better, if it is within one’s means, of the ‘mubah’ (permissible) category —without being extravagant and wasteful. Considering the fact that most children have all kinds of animate, musical and Haram (forbidden) toys, do not let the child feel as if they are being deprived of play. Make the child happy with Halal so they will grow up loving the beautiful Deen (religion) of Islam. The same applies to children’s clothing and accessories which are on the market; many of which have cartoon characters, etc. which would captivate and charm little children but which the Shariah does not permit. Muslims today consider these restrictions trivial and irrelevant, whereas there is great wisdom in all the ‘Muharramaat’ (prohibitions) of Islam. One of the reasons why children have nightmares is due to the photographs that we bring into our homes, the cartoons and other programmes we allow and encourage them to view, or the use of such clothing and toys that are impermissible for them to use. Sometimes, the walls of the room are plastered with cartoon characters, huge teddy bears, dolls, and stuffed animals all around the room, which results in frightful dreams. There are angels that are deputed to look after our children, but these angels do not enter that home where there are pictures of animate objects. This deprives our children of the presence and protection of the angels, who also play with babies. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog or a picture.” [1] We claim that we are Believers in Allah Ta’ala and His Rasul (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). If the claim is true and sincere, then it is not acceptable that as believers in Allah Ta’ala and His Rasul (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), we debate, argue or reject the clear injunctions of Shariah. The person who does so has clearly strayed from the right path. وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤۡمِنٍ وَّلَا مُؤۡمِنَةٍ اِذَا قَضَى اللّٰهُ وَرَسُوۡلُهٗۤ اَمۡرًا اَنۡ يَّكُوۡنَ لَهُمُ الۡخِيَرَةُ مِنۡ اَمۡرِهِمۡ ؕ وَمَنۡ يَّعۡصِ اللّٰهَ وَرَسُوۡلَهٗ فَقَدۡ ضَلَّ ضَلٰلًا مُّبِيۡنًا It is not for a believing man or woman—when Allah and His Messenger decree a matter— to have any other choice in that matter. Indeed, whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger has clearly gone far astray. [Surah Ahzab 33:36] Allah Ta’ala mentions the response of His sincere servants: اِنَّمَا كَانَ قَوۡلَ الۡمُؤۡمِنِيۡنَ اِذَا دُعُوۡۤا اِلَى اللّٰهِ وَرَسُوۡلِهٖ لِيَحۡكُمَ بَيۡنَهُمۡ اَنۡ يَّقُوۡلُوۡا سَمِعۡنَا وَاَطَعۡنَاؕ وَاُولٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ الۡمُفۡلِحُوۡنَ (٥١) وَمَنۡ يُّطِعِ اللّٰهَ وَرَسُوۡلَهٗ وَيَخۡشَ اللّٰهَ وَيَتَّقۡهِ فَاُولٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ الۡفَآٮِٕزُوۡنَ (٥٢) The only response of the true believers, when they are called to Allah and His Messenger so he may judge between them, is to say, “We hear and obey.” It is they who will truly succeed. [Surah Noor 24:51/52] [1] Sahih Al-Bukhari
Securing Rewards in Marriage
Securing Rewards in Marriage by Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (rahmatullah ‘alayh) The Sawab (reward) for the sabr (patience) a woman exercises over her difficulties in managing the home of her husband and fulfilling the rights of her husband and children sometimes is such that it makes her ‘reach’ Allah Ta’ala very quickly. This, however, is conditional to her obedience to Allah Ta’ala, fulfilling His Rights, the Rights of His Rasul (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), and the Rights of His Creation. Women who have children, even a temperamental husband, together with many household chores and other responsibilities, sometimes think that they cannot achieve the ranks of the Awliya-Allah[1] because they do not have time for ‘Wazifas’[2] and Nawafil [3] (optional prayers). I tell them that they do not need to worry about too many Wazifas. The most important ‘Wazifa’ is abstinence from all sins. Added to this, they should correct their niyyah or intention in all they do as routine housework. Make the intention of pleasing Allah Ta’ala, then that same housework becomes Ibadah. In this simple way, they will easily secure great rewards and the same spiritual stages, if not higher. Similarly, the Sawab for the sabr a man exercises over his wife’s shortcomings, emotional outbursts or mood swings is a medium by which he too acquires great rewards and reaches Allah Ta’ala very quickly. Many Awliya-Allah reached great spiritual heights and were accepted for tremendous service to Deen on the patience they adopted with their wives and on the love, care, affection, tenderness and generosity they also extended to their wives. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) set the perfect example for husbands. Despite the tremendous responsibilities that he was entrusted with, he gave due attention and time to his wives and treated them with love and generosity. He was never harsh or insensitive towards any single wife. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) also said: “The best amongst the Believers is he is whose character is the best. And the best among you is the one who is best towards his wife.”[4] [1] Awliya-Allah : Friends of Allah Ta’ala [2] Wazifas: additional, optional supplications [3] Nawafil: Optional prayers [4] Tirmidhi