Friday Talks
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Traits of the slaves of the Rahman.
8 – No Adultery
Written by: Sk. Omar El-Khedrawi.
Translated by: Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa.
In the name of Allah most Gracious most Merciful
The slaves of the Rahman as described in the Koran, those who are contented with Allah and Allah is contented with them. Allah describes them in the chapter (surat) Al-Forkan when HE says: {And the slaves of (Allah) Most Gracious are:
Those who walk on the earth in humility, and;
Those who when the ignorant address them, they say, "Peace!" and;
Those who spend the night in adoration of their Lord prostrating and standing; and;
Those who say: "Our Lord! Avert from us the Wrath of Hell, for its Wrath is indeed an affliction grievous, "Evil indeed it is; as an abode and as a place to rest in" and;
Those who, when they spend, are not extravagant and not stingy, but are moderate and in balance between extremes; and;
Those who invoke not, with Allah, any other god, nor slay such life as Allah has made sacred except for a just cause, nor commit adultery; and;
Any who does this meets punishment increased many fold; and shall remain in it; for ever shameful.}
Today we talk about another trait or character being undesirable and being warned from. It is the prohibition of adultery.
Dear brothers and sisters, Islam keeps belief and faith safe; by prohibiting major and minor forms of association with Allah. Islam keeps the sanctity of life by prohibiting murder and all that would hurt the soul. Islam keeps the sanctity of honour and dignity by prohibiting adultery.
Allah says: {and do not go near adultery, for it is an immoral crime and a horrible route} Israa-32. For Islam have called against not just the act of adultery itself, but even what other acts or circumstances which may lead to it. Islam calls against the seclusion or the touching of an unrelated man and woman. Some scholars even go as far as prohibiting the handshaking of stranger man and woman, and Islam calls against stare and looking in lust, and calls against the over use of make up and showing off the attractiveness of the woman in any means that may cause luring or temptation to commit the wrongful acts; in secrecy or in public view. In prohibiting anything that leads to adultery, Islam started by teaching the individual:
The chastity and abstinence, and
The guarding of his/her vital organs, and
The curtailment of his/her looks.
Allah says: {Tell the faithful (or believers) men to curtail their looks, guard their vital organs; that is better for them. Allah is expertly aware of what they do. And tell the faithful women to curtail their looks and guard their chastity or organs.} Noor-30-31.
Islam ordered Muslims to maintain chastity and sexual purity until they are legally married. And it assures those who try to keep themselves pure that Allah will purify them, and those who strive to be patient; Allah will give them patience.
Islam ordered that society and the environment be purified and cleared of all what may causes enticement and temptation to commit crime. We should not forget about our youth in this country where temptation is open and in view. We must find solutions and alternatives to fortify them against being lured in the traps of temptation. This is the responsibility of each and every one of us as parents, mosques and organizations. We must pull together and support each other to fulfill this goal.
Oh you faithful, Islam prohibited adultery in order that the Muslim remains pure for Allah. The messenger said: {An adulterer does no commit adultery while being a believer}. Because during the act of adultery, faith is torn off the person’s heart. The messenger also said: {If one of you indulge into committing adultery then faith goes out of his/her body and hovers over them like an umbrella. And when one gives up adultery then his or her faith return back to them.}
Islam protects a Muslim’s faith, behaviour, morality and health. This lust or animalistic instinct if not kept under control one becomes careless. Adultery is one way how sexually diseases are transmitted and danger is brought upon health. In the past century people thought they were safe enough to practice adultery as the old sexual diseases like v.d. and syphilis were brought under control and treatment became available. But unexpectedly new diseases appeared such as AIDs. It is godly punishment for adulterers for deviating from the godly natural norms. All messages and all messengers came to teach the godly natural and normal way of life. That is abstaining from what is being called as open and free relations and limiting that to family and marriage boundaries. The messenger said: {there are five traits if you were afflicted with, I ask Allah to protect you against, they are: if such crime appears in a nation and they make it publicly acceptable then ailments and plagues that was not known in the past in their ancestors become pandemic amongst them. And if they cheat in weight and measurements, then they will be taken by tough years and lack of supplies and the aggression of their ruler. And if they deny the charity due on their money then they will be denied the drops or rains from the sky, and if not for the animals present then Allah will stop the rain all together. And if they break a promise or covenant they made to Allah and his messenger then Allah will plague them with an enemy not from within that will forcibly take some of what they have. And if their leader (or Imams or judges) do not rule by the book of Allah or just pick and choose from the book, then Allah will afflict them with their own tyranny}. The messenger spoke the truth, it is as if he was able to see the future and describe the reality of this age we are living.
The danger is not in the occurrence of a crime, but the danger is in its spreading and becoming prevalent. It is becoming publicly known and publicly condoning it. No one can deny that in this country people remain silent or unaware or pretend that they are unaware. We see our young people live a lost life and a destroyed life and we do nothing about it. We do not act when action is needed, we do not stop an act when an act need to be stopped, we do not announce our denial and our lack acceptance of what may be penetrating our homes, and may threatening our off springs with the dissolving and disappearing in this society. Islam calls upon its individuals to be united against an individual who goes astray until one comes back to their senses. The messenger said: {you should command right and deter or preach against wrong. and force the wrong doer, and limit him/her to the right, or else Allah will send an inclusive punishment from HIM}
When Islam prohibits adultery, it did it for the benefit of the individual and for the benefit of the family and the society at large. Adultery is prohibited but marriage is allowed; and it is encouraged. Indeed, some Muslim scholars consider that marriage is an obligation for all Muslims who are able. The messenger said: {All of you young people, whoever of you can afford to get married, do get married. For it is the best way to restrain the lusty look, and best protection against adultery}. Allah says: {and marry the maids to the good of people in you, if they are poor then Allah will bestow upon them his grace and riches} Noor-32.
Islam by prohibiting adultery in fact protects the clear line of off springs. It provides trust and confidence in a society. The messenger said: {my followers will remain well, as long as children of adultery are no common occurrences. Allah will almost bring his punishment if that becomes so common.}
The messenger said: {if you can assure me of what is between you jaws, and what is between your thighs, I will be able to assure you with paradise} (meaning control your tongue and your lust)
Adultery is the cause of many problems, and the route to unhappiness and misery, it brings down nations and destroys homes, it ruins families, ethics and morals.
Allah associated adultery with the major sins like the associating others with Allah and killing of a human soul. Allah says: { Those who invoke not, with Allah, any other god, nor slay such life as Allah has made sacred except for a just cause, nor commit adultery; and
Any who does this meets punishment increased many fold; and shall remain in punishment; for ever shameful.} Forkan 68-69.
The messenger was asked what is the greatest sin with Allah, he said: {To associate others with Allah despite that HE is your creator}. He was asked and what is next. He said: {to commit adultery with you neighbour’s legal wife}.
The messenger also said: {there are three that Allah shall not talk to in the day of resurrection, and HE does not look at them, and HE does not purify nor commend, and there will be sever punishment for them, they are: an adulterer old man, and a lying ruler, and vain and arrogant provider or sustainer}.
The messenger also said: {When ever stinginess lack of charity appeared in a society Allah drops fear in their hearts. And when ever adultery spreads in a society then level of death increases in it}
Adulterers tend to have many bad traits like lack or religion, lack of devotion of Allah, lack of gallantry, and lack of care for their own wives or daughters or sisters. Lack of honouring a promise and lack of truth in what they say, and lack of faithfulness to friendship.
Kaab (ßÚÈ) was reported saying “There are three signs if I see I know something has happened: if I see the swords pulled out and blood shed then I know that rule of Allah has been compromised and Allah revenges from one group through another. And if I rain is ceased then I know that charity is being stopped. For when people hold on to what they have Allah holds on to what HE has. And if I see a plague then I know that adultery has spread.”
The scholar ebn-Quayem (ÅÈä ÇáÞíã) said: “some of the consequences of adultery are: the anger and wroth of god causing the spoiling or corruption of the spouse and the children. And if a man meets a king when being an adulterer then he would meet him badly. Also, those looking at him would see sadness, with the light in the heart dimmed, constant poorness, and loss of sanctity and a drop of status with people and with god. An adulterer looses the best of titles: purity, devotion and justice. And is given the opposite like the criminal, immoral, adulterer, betrayer and unfaithful.”
Adultery is a crime that makes good virtue moan, and makes purity weep.
Dear God make us among the slaves of the Rahman who fortify their chastity, and maintain the commandments of their Lord.
And make us refrain when we are commanded.
Dear God, make us knowledgeable in our religion.
Teach us what would benefit us, and benefit us with what you teach us.
Make our day; be better than yesterday. And make our tomorrow better than today.
God, make us victorious over you enemy and our enemy.
Amen.
Notes:
- The inhabitants of the city of Almadina that received and supported the messenger (PPBU) when he immigrated from Mekkah in the very early years of Islam.
Ansar (or Al-Ansar):
is a verse of the Koran. Aya (or Ayah):
mountain that represents the climax of the Hajj worship. All doing Hajj must stay at this location on the same day. Arafa (or Arafa or Arafat): is a
talking to Allah; praising him and asking him for help. Duaa: a prayer in the form of
Ferdose: is the highest level of the all the gardens of Eden or paradise. reported that the messenger said. It includes all the speeches and ceremonies he gave. It is usually narrated or told by one of his companions. There is a list of hadeeths approximately 14000 that are reported and checked to be genuine. No more hadeeths are acceptably added to this list. Hadeeth: is something
Hajj: is the worship of pilgrimage.
Hijra: the event of the immigration of the messenger from Mekkah to Madina. This event marks the start of the Islamic calendar. the Islamic calendar has 12 months based on the lunar cycle. Hijra is also used as a name for the Islamic dating system.
Iman: belief
Jihad: is striving in the line of Allah in many forms. Includes a very wide scope varying from improving oneself to fighting a defensive war in protection of Allah's word.
Khalifa: is the Muslim ruler. Head of the Islamic empire. Exact translation: "Successor". peninsula (known now as Saudi Arabia). A city where the messenger had to immigrate to. Madinah: A city in the Arabian
Mekka: is the holiest Mosque for Muslims. Some say it was first built by Adam, and some say Ibraham. It is where all Muslims face in their daily prayers.
Nafilah: a voluntary prayer other than the five obligatory prayers; performed by a believer. Ommah: is the Arabic word for a nation. It usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise specified.
PPBU: Peace and Prayers Be Upon him. Qadr (night of Qadr): The night when the first revelation of the Koran took place. Most likely it happened during in the ten nights of the month of Ramadan.. Sunna: is the way the Messenger PPBU lived, did or said. It includes the way he dressed, ate, drank, prayed, interacted with other people and fought. Basically, sunnah is the life style of the messenger PPBU. It is considered the second source of legislation in Islamic laws and it is considered an important reference to be used for concluding arguments and disputes
Tawaf: part of the pilgrimage (Hajj) ritual. It involves walking round the Kaaba Mosque in anti-clock wise direction a number of seven circles.
Wathoo (wadoo): a washing up ritual done by Muslims before each of the five daily prayers.
Faheem Bukhatwa, my email address is :
faheemfb@gmail.com