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DISTANCING
‘Distancing’ is perhaps among the most commonly used words in the recent past. The question is: Is “distancing” really a matter of life and death?
Spiritually speaking, YES, it can become so. If a person becomes distanced from Allah Ta‘ala due to being affected by the virus of sin, he will become spiritually sick and weak. If he continues to persist in major sins and gets extremely distanced from Allah Ta‘ala, such distancing could eventually lead to spiritual paralysis or even death!
GREATEST AMBITION
A Muslim’s greatest ambition, most lofty aspiration and ultimate goal is to get close… very close... to his Rabb and Creator, Allah Ta‘ala. Hence he will “go the extra mile” and strive as much as possible to earn that special closeness and proximity. On the contrary, he will be totally averse to anything that will distance him from Allah Ta‘ala even to the minutest extent.
Among the very serious aspects which cause one to become extremely distanced from Allah Ta‘ala is any form of immorality. Hence the Quraan Majeed sternly warns: “And do not get close to immorality, whatever is apparent (blatant immorality) or hidden (committed secretly)” (Surah An’aam v151).
Further highlighting the severe consequences of immorality, Allah Ta‘ala declares: “Verily those who love that immorality should spread among the Believers, for them is a painful punishment in this world and the Hereafter” (Surah Noor v19).
Engaging in any form of immorality in the presence of others contributes towards making the society immoral. The following are some examples of the many ways in which immorality is spread:
- Speaking obscene things. This sows the seeds of obscene thoughts in the minds of those who hear such vile talk, which then often leads them to some haraam action.
- Dressing immodestly. While this is itself an evil, it also influences people of weak imaan to do the same. As this spreads from one person to the next, shameless dressing becomes the norm among families and in the community in general.
- Immorality in weddings and other functions: Many weddings contain music, photography, intermingling of men and women, indecent dressings and even dancing.
- Circulating haraam pictures, vulgar messages and obscene jokes on social media.
These and many other such aspects spread immorality in the society. Spreading immorality draws down the punishment of Allah Ta‘ala, as described in the aforementioned aayah. Hence it is time to take stock of how much we are personally contributing towards drawing down the azaab of Allah Ta‘ala due to becoming the means of spreading immorality, even in our own homes, families and in the entire society.
BLATANT
While immorality in general is a means of inviting Divine punishment, blatant immorality and shamelessness trigger pandemics and new diseases. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) once addressed the Muhaajireen and said: “Whenever a community will become involved in immorality blatantly, they will be inflicted with plagues (pandemics) and such illnesses which their forefathers had never heard of.” (Sunan Ibni Maajah #4019)
The severe warnings in the Quraan Majeed and noble sunnah are as clear as daylight. We have repeatedly heard or read about the extreme consequences of immorality. We have witnessed first-hand how an invisible microscopic organism (virus) brought the so-called “super powers” and all their “cutting edge” technology to its knees. Why then is the immorality still continuing unabated even in Muslim communities and even in our own homes?
The main reason for this total heedlessness is the corrosion of imaan and the loss of imaani values of taqwa and hayaa. The constant exposure to the media, becoming enslaved to western fashion, associating with people who are far from Deen and other evils have further impacted on the hearts and minds of many Muslims and caused them to sink deeper into the immoral lifestyles of the enemies of Islam.
Another reason for not shunning the shameless lifestyle that we have sunk into is that we have become desensitized to many immoral aspects. Due to these aspects becoming the norm, people no longer regard it as immoral. Instead, they will ask: “What is wrong with this?”
IMMORAL DRESSING
A clear example is the type of immoral dressing that many Muslim women - and even men - have adopted. They see absolutely nothing wrong with it, whereas in light of the teachings of Deen and the pure lifestyle advocated in the Quraan and sunnah, it is immoral. It is completely shameless to appear even in the presence of other women, or one’s own children, in such tight-fitting and revealing clothing. However, due to constant exposure to such dressing, and due to it having become the norm, it is regarded as “OK”.
Nobody will regard the eating of rotten food as “OK” as they are concerned for their physical health. However, wearing rotten western style clothing, and indulging in rotten immoral actions and talk is regarded as “OK” due to the lack of concern for our spiritual health.
SOLUTION
The solution is clear: We have to infuse once again the values of imaan - particularly hayaa in our lives. Unplug the media from our lives. Associate with pious company. Become more concerned with the spiritual health than our physical health. Remember death, and remember the accountability on the Day of Qiyaamah.
May Allah Ta‘ala bless us with hayaa and distance us from every immorality and vice.
(Al Haadi Newsletter)
