Haram Fantasizing
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
Avoiding the Forbidden Handshake
Avoiding the Forbidden Handshake by Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (rahmatullah ‘alayh) In business, men and women often offer their hands for a handshake. It is a formality and is considered part of good business dealings and interactions. Many brothers enquire as to how to deal with such situations. As Muslims, we keep before us the Command of Allah Ta’ala: That it is Haraam (forbidden) for us to touch, let alone shake the hand of a strange woman (or vice versa). Rasulullah (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “It is better for an iron rod (nail) to be driven into the head of a man, than for him to touch a woman who is not permissible for him.”[1] Moreover, Allah Ta’ala’s Pleasure comes before any form of social etiquette – when it contradicts Shari’ah. In such a circumstance, where a woman extends her hands, then averting the gaze, politely tell her: “It should not be taken as an insult that I do not shake your hand. It is from my religious teachings that Muslim men are not allowed to shake the hands of those females who are not related to them. It is also out of respect for you, and it is out of loyalty to my wife, that I do not touch a strange woman.” Simple! There is nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about, nor is there a need to be apologetic. There is also no need for a lengthy speech. It is evident that such a teaching is full of wisdom and protection, and it directs towards modest conduct and respect for others. Similarly, we should lower our gazes and avoid looking at strange women. These are commandments, which if practised, will truly impress and attract those who are non-Muslims. Many have accepted Islam, observing such high levels of respect, modesty, purity and noble character. [1] Al Mu’jamul Kabir
Prescription for Lustful Gazes
Prescription for Lustful Gazes by Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (rahmatullah ‘alayh) Lustful gazes have become an epidemic with consequences that are so far-reaching, to the point of crippling one’s spirituality, weakening one’s Iman, sometimes even to the extent of losing one’s Iman – for a pretty face or a handsome face. (May Allah Ta’ala protect us all). More and more Muslim brothers and even sisters write, after realizing or experiencing the effects of the ‘bitter-sweet’ poison of evil glancing: They want an antidote; they desperately want to escape their habit –before they self-destruct; because their practice of casting lustful gazes landed them in the gutters of immorality and they have had to then contend with disgrace, humiliation and sometimes a life-long stigma. But they find themselves weak in the face of the demands of their nafs. And the nafs —by nature, enjoy the forbidden and are never satisfied even on fulfilment of its demands. It is like the ocean’s salty water: it increases thirst and does not quench thirst. So, for those who find themselves weak in lowering their gazes from Haraam, they should now use their eyes – the invaluable gift of sight, in carefully reading the following prescription for a cure. Alhamdulillah, if followed, lowering the gaze will become second nature, and a person will reach a stage where he will not even care if Miss Universe is passing in front of him because he will have tasted the sweetness of Iman and will know the lofty experiences that come on pleasing Allah Ta’ala. To cast an evil gaze will then be most indecent and shameful for him. The person will now know better than to disgrace himself, destroy the tranquillity and Sukoon of his heart, and exchange the sweet pleasure of Allah Ta’ala’s love for what will inevitably become dust. My Shaykh, Hadhrat Moulana Hakim Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (rahmatullah ‘alayh) said in poetry: “I will not look, I will not look, Never will I look at one, Looking upon whom, Displeases my Rabb (Allah Ta’ala).” Whilst beauty is an attribute that charms and captivates any heart, if it is that which Allah Ta’ala has declared as forbidden, it not only destroys the peace of the heart, but it also lays to waste the very substance of Iman that resides in the heart. Therefore, Allah Ta’ala addresses both the believing men and believing women: “Tell the Believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at that which is Haraam) and to be modest (i.e. To protect themselves from prohibited deeds like adultery and fornication, etc.) That is purer for them. Indeed, Allah is aware of what they do.” “And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at that which is forbidden) and to be modest (i.e., To protect themselves from prohibited deeds like adultery, fornication, etc.) And not show off their beauty except that which is apparent, and let them wear their head-coverings over their bosoms )” [Surah An – Nur 24: 30/ 31] The absolute wisdom and beauty inherent in these injunctions of Allah Ta’ala, of lowering the gaze, guarding one’s modesty (and adopting the full Hijaab for women), is that a person will remain far from the crime of Zina (adultery/fornication), as well as the steppingstones to Zina. All those actions that lead to the commission of sin are forbidden, like the sin itself. Like Zina is prohibited, so are all those actions that will inevitably lead to Zina. Therefore, Allah Ta’ala says: “And do not go near Zina. Indeed, it is a shameful and evil path”. [Surah Al – Isra 17:32] Evil glancing is the very inception of Zina. By lowering the gaze, we curtail furthering our evil desires. These injunctions of Allah Ta’ala protect from sin and should be appreciated by practical implementation. It is not impossible to lower the gaze from Haraam, as some say. If we have the ability to look up, we also have the ability to look down or turn our gazes away. We open and close our eyes, so why is it difficult to look down or away when we accidentally see a pretty face? More especially when that pretty face will result in: – The heart burning with restlessness, – Darkness filling the heart, – The Noor of the heart and the Noor of the face being lost. – Earning the displeasure of Allah Ta’ala – Inviting the Curses of Allah Ta’ala. All that is required is a little courage. If we are bold enough to displease Allah Ta’ala in His presence, then this proves that we can be brave enough to displease nafs and Shaytaan instead. We need to have courage and re-channel it to earn His Pleasure. Our respected Shaykh, Hazrat Maulana Hakim Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (rahmatullah ‘alayh) had mentioned that if a person is a lover of sweets and he is informed that in a certain district, there are many sweet shops, the person naturally feels happy because he will be able to enjoy sweetness any time he so wishes.Allah Ta’ala’s promise on lowering the gaze is the sweetness of Iman. In a Hadeeth-e-Qudsi, Allah Ta’ala says: “Verily evil glancing is an arrow from the poisonous arrows of Shaytaan. Whosoever fears Me (Allah) and refrains from it will receive from Me such Iman, the sweetness of which he will taste (feel) in his heart.”[1] We should consider the occasions when we are in public areas and other venues, where there may be many strange women present, as an opportunity of lowering our gaze and enjoy and savour the sweetness of Iman. Of course, this should not be misconstrued to mean that we visit those places where there is temptation. Where there is mud, even an elephant can slip. At such a time – when the desire is strong to cast that evil gaze, immediately strike a deal with Allah Ta’ala. Say: “O Allah, it is solely for Your Pleasure and out of Love for You