Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem
By Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (Rahmatullahi ‘alaih)
There is a
sickness in society which has now reached epidemic proportions. It is so
serious that it requires a repetition in its warnings to drive the point home.
Fitnahs[1] abound,
and the worst and most dangerous fitnah is that which takes the form and garb
of Deen.
In the name
and guise of Deen, Muslims are being invited to ‘Fund-raising’ programmes,
lunches, dinners, souks, pre-Ramadaan and Eid Fairs. Funds are being raised for
Deeni projects in this manner.
The context
of these programmes is ‘Fun’ and ‘Entertainment’ which entails socializing. The
Muslim is encouraged to bring along wife, daughters, mother and sisters.
Since this is
in the name of Deen, people consider it as Ibaadah (worship), something
virtuous. …One can gauge how serious the matter is. The person is not going to
make Taubah for this. He is not going to consider the intermingling and the
socializing with strange women as sinful, because the event is
promoted as something meritorious and ‘Halaal’, and because the invitation is
from people and organizations that are representing Deen, and whom it is
expected, would know better as to what is Haraam and Halaal.
‘What a kind of revolution! …
That Ummah which detested Haraam, which
stayed far
from that which is doubtful,
now has no fear indulging in Haraam.’
Even if an
‘Aalim is involved in such activities or endorsing such programmes and is seen
at such venues, this does not make Haraam, Halaal. …This is the weakness of
that ‘Aalim.
There are so
many who are deendaar and they know better than to attend such programmes;
their hearts will give them the fatwa : ‘Don’t go’ – then
why still go? …Thereafter complaints are presented of the immodest
dressing of the women, the intermingling of sexes, the disconcerting condition
of the youth, etc. …This is the trap of shaytaan and nafs! …So the person is
gazing at such strange women (or vice versa), engaging the nafs in Haraam
pleasure and destroying the heart with evil desires.
Those who
have ta-alluk with Deen and have ta-alluk with
the Mashaa`ik, must prove their piety and sincerity by restraining themselves
from such fitnah. The instruction and order of Shari’ah is :
‘IT IS NOT PERMISSIBLE TO BE
PRESENT IN A GATHERING
WHERE ALLAH TA’ALA IS BEING DISOBEYED.’
Mullah Ali
Qaari (Rahmatullahi ‘alaih) has defined Hayaa (modesty) as :
“The Haqeeqat (reality) of Hayaa is that your
Maula must not find you in that place which He has forbidden.”
…Or indulging in that which He has forbidden.
Such events
and functions bring one close to Zina (adultery). Allah Ta’ala says:
“And come not near to Zina. Verily it is a
shameful and evil path”
[Surah
Al- Isra 17 : 32]
Such
functions promote Zina of the eyes, whereas it is from the Commandments of
Allah Ta’ala that we lower our gazes from looking at ghair-mahareem. 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 …
…And tell the believing women to lower their
gaze (from looking at that which is
forbidden) and to be modest and not to show off their beauty …
[Surah Nur 24 : 29/ 30]
Young men
have written to me and have mentioned quite explicitly that their intentions in
frequenting such functions, fairs and programmes is for no other purpose but to
admire the women. Some have even mentioned deriving Haraam pleasure by
deliberately touching those women in the crowd (Na-uzu Billahi
min zaalik) – and if these are not our wives, then they are our
daughters or mothers or sisters or nieces who are exposed to lustful glances
and touching.
So when it is
plainly evident that these programmes and fairs are against the Pleasure of
Allah Ta’ala, we can stop ourselves and our families even if
we cannot stop others.
Rasulullah
(Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) said :
“The most beloved places in the sight of
Allah are the Masaajid, and the most disliked places in the sight of Allah are
the markets.”
(Sahih Muslim)
[1] Fitnahs: Trials (It also
implies, corruption, mischief, etc.)
