A R C H I V E S
Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
What's Wrong With A Lustful Gaze? |
---|
Asifa |
07/11/02 at 14:30:31 |
[slm] Many of us who are used to watching The Bachelor, SINbad or Temptation Island, or are addicted to Bollywood movies, or enjoy the company of people of the opposite gender, may wonder what's wrong with lustfully staring at the attractive features of the opposite gender? Perhaps one saying of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) sums it all up: "The unrestrained glance is one of the poisoned arrows of Shaytan, on him be God's curse. Whoever forsakes it for the fear of Allah, will receive from Him (Great and Gracious is He) a faith, the sweetness of which he will find within his heart!" [al-Haakim] Therefore, a secret lustful look at a person of opposite gender has been compared by the Prophet to an arrow from Shaytan that: * it poisons our hearts (what exactly do you gain out if it apart from the momentary thrill of having sinned? Is there anything worse than enjoying what Allah hates?) * it ruins our intentions (am I doing it for Allah or to check out the crowd?) * it gives rise to false hopes and desires ("I wish I could...", Maybe she'll...", "I think he does..." when you know you can't, she won't, and he doesn't!) * it distorts our perception of 'reality' (love is not 'at first sight' but lust is, a wife is not picked up off streets, real men don't have to flirt to be noticed) * it deprives us from enjoying and concentrating in Prayers (it's very hard to remember Allah while replaying last night's activities in one's head) * it gives rise to constant feeling of guilt and depression (have you ever actually felt better about yourself after you did it than before?) * it sometimes leads to sleepless nights (when fantasies seem so 'real'...) * it renders our heart weak for continuous Shaytanic attacks (through addictions to music, fashion, self-image, explicit sights and sounds, etc) * it promotes hypocrisy (does the 'shell' match the 'core'?) * it dumbs our intelligence and weakens our memory (a 'nerve-box' in singular pursuit of visual pleasure vs. the deep reflection of an intelligent mind... pick one) * it eventually leads to Zina (unlawful intimacy: the darkness that draws one deeper and deeper until one is incapable of escaping even if willing, except he/she who Allah guides) * above all, it diminishes our love for and fear of Allah (you wouldn't be doing it if you thought about how Great and Loving the One you are turning away from, instead if how 'small' or 'innocent' your sin) Allah commands us: "Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their private parts; that will make for greater purity for them..." [24:30]. In the verse following this one, Allah commands "the believing women" in the similar manner. "Be mindful of Allah, you will find Him before you. Get to know Allah in Prosperity and He will know you in Adversity. Know that what has passed you by was not going to befall you; and that what has befallen you was not going to pass you by. And know that Victory comes with Patience, Relief with Affliction, and Ease with Hardship" {Tirmidhi} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Unless you march forth (for Jihaad), He will punish you with a severe punishment, and will replace you with another people, and you will not harm Him at all.And Allaah has power over all things." (Qur'aan 9:39) Jazak Allahu Khairun Your sister Asifa |
NS |
Re: What's Wrong With A Lustful Gaze? |
---|
Ghetto_Hijabi |
07/24/02 at 19:37:15 |
[slm] Asifa, Jazakallah for posting this important information. :) W'salaam GhettoHijabi |
Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board |