The Arrows of Satan

Satan readies himself and chooses his prey carefully. He is determined as he shoots the arrows of looks to go through your eyes, tearing the veils of modesty and chastity. This arouses the desires of the weak heart, which commands the body to pursue the satisfaction of such desires. The tongue speaks, the legs walk, and thus, unlawful acts are committed and the soul falls into the mire of sin.

“That is purer for them”
In order to ward off this Satanic cycle, Allaah The Almighty instructed his believing slaves, both men and women, to lower their gaze. He told them that this would purify them. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {Tell the believing men to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Indeed, Allaah is acquainted with what they do. And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts.} [Quran 24:30-31]
Ibn Al-Qayyim  said in Al-Fawaa’id that Sahl ibn ‘Abdullaah says, "Abandoning the order is greater than committing the prohibition in the sight of Allaah because Aadam (Adam)  was forbidden to eat from the tree and when he ate from it Allaah accepted his repentance, but Satan was ordered to prostrate to Aadam, when he refused and Allaah did not accept his repentance."
Ibn Al-Qayyim  said in Ad-Daa’ wad-Dawaa’, “Look at the accuracy of the Quranic expression in the order to lower the gaze, as if Allaah The Almighty reminds us that not lowering the gaze causes the doom of the doer and his suffering in this life and in the Hereafter. Failing to lower one’s gaze is the basis for the problems that afflict man. An unlawful look generates thoughts, then thoughts generate ideas, then ideas generate desires, then desires generate will, which develops into resolve and determination, then the action inevitably takes place if there is nothing to prevent it.”
This is the destructive cycle of Satan, which traps the one who does not lower his gaze, then records the images and scenes seen by his treacherous eyes. Satan waits for the moment of weakness in man's faith to release these images and scenes in his mind and soul, igniting his sexual desire, which dominates the heart that commands the body to disobey Allaah The Almighty, and so on in a consecutive sequence. The more the images vary, the easier arousal and falling into sin will be. On the other hand, the less the images and scenes, the weaker their impact and influence on the heart will be. According to a saying, "Patience over lowering the gaze is easier than patience over the pain of its consequences."
O Muslim who does not lower his gaze, if your eyes roam around looking at the charms of beautiful women, you would plant in your heart thorns of loss and regret.
“Allaah knows that which deceives the eyes”
Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {He knows that which deceives the eyes and what the breasts conceal.} [Quran 40:19] This is a great verse and the interpreter of the Quran, Ibn Mas‘ood  tells you its meaning, "It refers to a man who enters a person's house where there is a beautiful woman among them, or that a beautiful woman passes by them, and while they do not notice him, he looks at her; when they see him, he lowers his gaze. However, Allaah The Almighty knows that he inwardly wishes to see her private parts."
The great scholar, Al-Ameen Ash-Shinqeeti  said in Adhwaa’ Al-Bayaan, "The verse contains a warning for the one who betrays with his eyes by looking at what is unlawful for him. The slave of Allaah will stand before Allaah and be questioned about his senses. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {Indeed, the hearing, the sight and the heart - about all those [one] will be questioned.} [Quran 17:36]
If you will be questioned on the Day of Resurrection about your stares and looks, have you prepared an answer for this?
The fornication of the eyes
To make this act more repugnant to the souls, the Prophet  called it adultery of the eyes. It was narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah  that the Prophet  said: "Allaah has written for the son of Aadam his inevitable share of adultery. The adultery of the eye is looking (at what is prohibited), the adultery of the ears is listening (to what is prohibited), the adultery of the tongue is uttering (what it is unlawful to utter), the adultery of the hand is doing (what is prohibited), the adultery of the legs is walking (to what is prohibited) and the heart desires and wishes for (adultery) and the private parts affirm that or contradict it." [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim (this is the wording of Muslim )]
In Sharh Saheeh Muslim, An-Nawawi  said, “The meaning of the Hadeeth is that a share of adultery is written for the son of Aadam. Some people commit actual adultery by entering the male genital organ into the genital organ of a female who is unlawful to him. Other people commit adultery in the figurative sense by looking at the prohibition or listening to adultery and its relevant affairs, or by touching with the hand a non-Mahram (marriageable) woman or kissing her, or by walking to commit adultery, seeing, touching, or forbidden talking with a non-Mahram woman, or by inner thoughts. All these things belong to metaphoric adultery. By "The private parts affirm that or contradict it" it means that adultery might actually happen through the private parts or might not take place by entering the male genital organ into the female genital organ even if he is close to doing it. Allaah knows best.”
Public corruption
Giving free rein to the gaze has corrupted most human beings; the display of beauty no longer has limits, and indulgence in luxury no longer has restraints. Adornment, clothing and fashion have penetrated our minds, surpassed all the restrictions and barriers, and has become like a sea of chaos where good taste is drowned and the pure, chaste heart is spoiled.
Destruction of homes
It is noticeable that one of the most important causes of problems in many homes is failing to lower the gaze. When the husband releases his gaze, a comparison will seep into his heart between his wife and the corrupting programs made by some people to tempt others. This comparison causes many problems in homes, when the husband asks his wife to give him what he sees from dissolute women and provocative images are imprinted in his mind.
It is also noticeable that releasing the gaze is one of the main reasons for the delay in marriage. That is because the young man already has in his mind multiple examples of beautiful girls, especially those whom he watches on television and searches hard to get one like them. Yet, he will not get what he wants, because what he sees on television is generally deceptive beauty and false femininity, and thus leads him to delay his marriage and affects the marriage of Muslim girls with him.

Staying Steadfast in Turbulent Times

Steadfastness in faith has been mentioned on more than one occasion in the Noble Quran and the Sunnah (Prophetic tradition). Allaah The Exalted, enjoined the Muslims to be upright in their religion, praising the steadfast people and promising them generous rewards.
For instance, Allaah The Exalted Says (what means):{So remain on a right course as you have been commanded, [you] and those who have turned back with you [to Allaah], and do not transgress. Indeed, He is Seeing of what you do.} [Quran 11:112]
Allaah The Exalted also Says (what means): {Indeed, those who have said: "Our Lord is Allaah" and then remained on a right course – the angels will descend upon them, [saying], "Do not fear and do not grieve but receive good tidings of Paradise, which you were promised.} [Quran 41:30]
In addition, Sufyaan ibn ‘Abdullaah  once asked the Prophet  to tell him some concise words about Islam so that he would not need to ask anyone else. The Prophet  said: “Say, ‘I believe in Allaah and then hold on firmly to the straight path.’”
The Prophet  said: “(Try to) keep to the straight path although you will not be able to do so completely; and know that the best of your deeds is prayer, and only a (true) believer maintains his ablution.”

The meaning of uprightness:
Being upright in religion means adopting a moderate approach in showing obedience to Allaah The Almighty, abiding by His Sharee'ah (Islamic law) and remaining on the right path regarding His Oneness. Hence, being upright in religion means adhering to the orders of Allaah The Almighty in terms of His Oneness, devoting all acts of worship sincerely to Him only, as well as observing refined manners and the Islamic moral code in one's relationships with other people and in all one's deeds.
Uprightness is the path to salvation:
Scholars clarified that being upright in religion means being straightness; the Arabic word 'Mustaqeem' means straight, without any curves. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And, [moreover], this is My path, which is straight, so follow it; and do not follow [other] ways, for you will be separated from His way.} [Quran 6:153]
Uprightness and the allies of Allaah The Almighty:
Prominent scholars defined uprightness differently, yet all the definitions share the same meaning:

1- When Abu Bakr  was asked about uprightness, he answered, "It means not to associate partners with Allaah."
2- ‘Umar  defined it as follows, “To be upright in following the orders of Allaah The Exalted and avoiding the prohibitions and not to elude others like a fox."
3- ‘Uthmaan  said in this regard, "Uprightness means devotion to Allaah; offering all acts of worship with full sincerity to Allaah."
4- ‘Ali  defined uprightness as follows, ”It means carrying out the obligatory acts of worship”.
5- Al-Hasan Al-Basri  said, “Upright people are those who adhere to the commands of Allaah The Exalted, follow His straight path, obey Him and shun disobedience."
6- jMuaahid  said, "Upright people are those who adhere to the testimony that none is truly worthy of worship but Allaah until they die."
7- Ibn Zayd and Qataadah  both, said, "Uprightness means adhering to obedience of Allah The Exalted."
8- Sufyaan Ath-Thawri  said that the upright person is the one whose deeds are in accordance with his words.
9- Ar-Rabee‘ ibn Khuthaym  said, "Uprightness means turning away from everything and everyone but Allaah The Exalted."
10- Al-Fudhayl ibn ‘Iyaadh  said, "Uprightness is disinterest in the mortal life, while seeking the immortal one."
11- Ibn Taymiyyah  said, "Uprightness means to hold fast to loving Allaah The Exalted and fulfilling the meaning of servitude to Him without turning away from Him."
12- Imaam Al-Harawi  said, "Striving hard in following the commands of Allaah moderately.”
The fruits of uprightness:
1. Happiness in this life.
2. The descent of the angels of mercy on upright people.
3. The angels of mercy would bring them glad tidings in their graves that they will be granted firmness.
4. At the time of Resurrection.
5. Entering Paradise, the abode of dignity that will last forever; Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {No fatigue will touch them therein, nor from it will they [ever] be removed.} [Quran15:48]

The ruling on celebrating Mother’s Day and Family Day

An article was published by An-Nadwahnewspaper on 30/11/1384 A.H. entitledTakreem Al-Umm wa Takreem Al-Usrah(Honoring The Mother and The Family). The writer appreciated some aspects of the Western innovation of allocating one day during the year to mothers. He mentioned something that was overlooked by the people who introduced this day, namely, the children who have lost their mothers become sad when they see their friends celebrating their mothers. Hence, he suggested that the celebration should be done for the entire family and provided the justification that Islam did not ordain that day on the grounds that the Islamic Sharee‘ah (Islamic legislation) orders Muslims to honor their mothers and be good to them at all times. As such, there is no need to allocate one day during the year to mothers.

The writer was correct in providing that justification and mentioning the bad aspect that was overlooked by the people who introduced Mother’s Day. However, he did not mention that religious innovations counter the explicit texts that were narrated on the authority of the Messenger of Islam, , nor did he mention the danger involved in imitating the polytheists and disbelievers. Therefore, I wrote this to draw the attention of the writer and other people to what is involved in the religious innovation of Mother’s Day, as well as the other religious innovations that have been brought up by the enemies of Islam and the people who are ignorant of Islam, thus, tarnishing Islam and causing people to stay away from it. Finally, this has brought confusion and disunity and only Allaah The Almighty knows how damaging and harmful they are.

 

It is proven from authentic Hadeeths (narrations) that the Messenger of Allaah, , warned against religious innovations and imitating the enemies of Allaah, namely the Jews, Christians and other polytheists. He said: “Whoever introduces something new in this matter of ours (Islam) that is not part of it will have it rejected.” [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim] AnotherHadeeth states: “Whoever does anything that is not in accordance with this matter of ours (Islam) will have it rejected.” [Muslim] It means that the innovated matter will not be accepted from the innovator. The Messenger of Allaah, , used to say in the Friday Khutbah (sermon): “The best of speech is the Book of Allaah and the best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad. The worst of matters are those which are newly-invented and every innovation (in religion) is an error.” [Muslim]

 

There is no doubt that allocating one day during the year to mothers and families is something new to Islam, as it was not done by the Messenger of Allaah, , and his Companions. As such, Mother’s Day must not be celebrated and Muslims should be warned against celebrating it, for it is sufficient for them to adhere only to what is legislated by Allaah The Almighty and His Messenger, .

 

The writer mentioned that the Islamic Sharee‘ah urges people to honor and be dutiful to their mothers at all times. He is right. Muslims, thus, must be satisfied with what Allaah The Almighty legislated for them. They are required to be always good to their mothers, revere them, be kind to them and listen to them within the limits of Sharee‘ah. In addition, Muslims must be aware of the innovated matters that Allaah The Almighty warned them against and which lead them to resembling the enemies of Allaah The Almighty, following them and deeming as good whatever religious innovations they come up with. Muslims are required to be dutiful to, honor and maintain good relations with not only their mothers but also their fathers and kin. Allaah The Almighty forbids undutifulness and severance of kinship ties. He allocated special care and dutifulness to mothers because they provide their children with the utmost care and suffer more in pregnancy, breastfeeding and raising them.

 

Allaah The Almighty Says (what means):

 

·        {And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment.}[Quran 17:23]

 

·        {And We have enjoined upon man [care] for his parents. His mother carried him, [increasing her] in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years. Be grateful to Me and to your parents; to Me is the [final] destination.} [Quran 31:14]

·        {So would you perhaps, if you turned away, cause corruption on earth and sever your [ties of] relationship?} [Quran 47:22]

In an authentic Hadeeth (narration), the Messenger of Allaah, , said:“‘Shall I not tell you of the greatest of the grave major sins?’ They said, ‘Yes, O Messenger of Allaah.’ He said: ‘Associating partners with Allaah and being undutiful to one’s parents.’ He was reclining, but he sat up and said: ‘And false speech and false witness.’”

A man asked the Messenger of Allaah, , saying, “‘O Messenger of Allaah, who among people is the most entitled to my good companionship?’ He said: ‘Your mother.’ The man asked, ‘Then who?’ He said: ‘Your mother.’ He asked,‘Then who?’ He said: ‘Your mother.’ He asked, ‘Then who?’ He said: ‘Your father then the closet of your kin.’”

The Messenger of Allaah, , also said that a person who severs kinship relations will not be admitted into Paradise.

In another authentic Hadeeth, the Prophet, , said: “Whoever would like to have his provision increased for him and his life span extended for him, let him maintain kinship ties.”

These Hadeeths are enough to support our argument. When contemplated, they clearly indicate the obligation of honoring, respecting, and treating one’s parents and kinfolk with kindness. They also indicate the ugliness of being undutiful to one’s parents and severing kinship ties, for by doing so a person commits a grave major sin that will definitely bring the wrath of Allaah The Almighty upon himself and he will end up in Hell – may Allaah save us. This is graver than the tradition that was introduced by the West to honor mothers one day during the year and neglect them all other days, along with overlooking the rights of fathers and the rest of kin.

Sensible people realize the great corruption that arises from this custom, which also opposes the Sharee‘ah of Allaah The Almighty and violates the prohibitions of the Messenger of Allaah, .

The same applies to birthday celebrations, national and independence day celebrations, anniversaries commemorating ascension to the throne, and the like. In this regard, Muslims followed the enemies of Allaah The Almighty and overlooked the religious forbiddance of imitating them. There is a sound Hadeeth on the authority of the Messenger of Allaah, , who said: “‘You will follow the ways of those who came before you step by step, to such an extent that if they were to enter a lizard’s hole, you would enter it too.’ They said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah, (do you mean) the Jews and Christians?’ He said: ‘Who else?’”

Another version of this Hadeeth states: “‘My Ummah (nation) will follow the previous nations, hand span by hand span and cubit by cubit.’ They said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah, do you mean the Persians and the Romans?’ He said: ‘Who else?’”

The reality proves what was said by the most truthful one; the Messenger,. The Muslim community -- except those whom Allaah The Almighty -- has willed, imitate the Jews, Christians, Magains and other disbelievers in their morals and deeds. This accentuated the alienation of Islam. Moreover, the practices, morals and lifestyle of the disbelievers became better in the eyes of many Muslims than what is enjoined by Islam.

Many Muslims have regrettably taken what is good as evil, acts of theSunnah (tradition) as religious innovations, and vice versa, out of ignorance and because they reject the noble morals and upright deeds urged by Islam. We supplicate Allaah The Almighty to help Muslims to understand their religion well, to reform their conditions, to guide their leaders and to help their scholars and writers to circulate the good aspects of Islam and warn against religious innovations that tarnish the image of Islam and cause people to avert from it. Allaah The Almighty is surely capable of doing so.

Mother's Day-An Islam Perspective

The Prophet, , said that his Ummah(nation) would imitate the previous nations from among the Jews, Christians and Persians. He did not say this, of course, by way of praising their deeds in so much as by way of dispraising and chastising those who do so.

It was narrated on the authority of Abu Sa‘eed  that the Prophet, , said: “You will follow the ways of those who were before you, span by span, and cubit by cubit [i.e. so completely and literally] that if they should go into the hole of a lizard, you too would go there.” The Companions  asked, “O Messenger of Allaah! Do you mean the Jews and the Christians?” He ,replied:“Who else?”[Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

It was narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah  that he said that the Prophet, , said:“The Hour will not be established until my Ummah imitates the deeds of the previous nations, span by span and cubit by cubit.” It was said, “O Messenger of Allaah! Do you mean by those [nations] the Persians and the Romans?” The Prophet,  said: “Who could it be other than them?” [Al-Bukhaari]

Indeed, the ignorant, heretical innovators and deviants of this Ummahhave followed the previous nations of the Jews, Christians and Persians in their beliefs, methods, morals and even appearance. It is of great importance to note how they follow and imitate them in the innovation of "Mother's Day" or "Family Day", which is a day invented by the Christians to allegedly honor the mother. It has become an exalted day, on which all usual affairs cease to function, and people maintain relations with their mothers, sending them gifts and loving messages. However, once it is over, everything returns to its old state of severing relations and undutifulness.

Why would Muslims need such an imitation, given that Allaah The Almighty has enjoined upon them to be dutiful to the mother, forbidden them from being undutiful to her and made the highest degree of Paradise a reward for that dutifulness to her.

Definition of “‘Eed” (A Special Day of Celebration)

In the Arabic language, the word 'Eed comes from the root 'Awd, which means to recur. Ibn Taymiyyah  said, “The word ‘Eed is a term given to the occasion of assembly which customarily recurs annually, monthly, weekly and so on.” [Iqtidhaa’ As-Siraat Al-Mustaqeem]

Ibn ‘Aabideen  said, “‘Eed was given this name because on it, Allaah The Almighty gives various kinds of favors that recur [in terms of goodness] upon His slaves every day, like breaking the fast after prevention from food, Sadaqat Al-Fitr (obligatory charity given after Ramadhaan), completing Hajj by performing the Ifaadhah Tawaaf (circumambulation) and the meat of the slaughtered sacrifices, and so on. Moreover, delight, pleasure, activity and refreshment are features of such days.” [Haashiyat Ibn ‘Aabideen]

How many `Eeds are there in Islam?

It is noteworthy that there are many festivals that the Muslims celebrate nowadays, like the Day of the Tree, Labor Day, the Day of Accession, birthdays, and so on, in addition to many other days, all of which spring from Jewish, Christian and polytheistic cultures. It should be noted here that these days have no basis in religion, since in Islam, there are only two occasions of annual celebration: ‘Eed Al-Adh’ha and ‘Eed Al-Fitr.

It has been narrated on the authority of Anas ibn Maalik  that he said that during the days of Jaahiliyyah (pre-Islamic ignorance), people had two days as festivals every year on which they used to entertain themselves. When the Messenger of Allaah, , came to Madeenah, he said: “You had two days [as yearly festivals] on which you used to play, and Allaah has given you instead another two [occasions] which are much better: ‘Eed Al-Fitr [breaking fast after the month of Ramadhaan] and ‘Eed Al-Adh’ha [the tenth of Thul-Hijjah, on which you slaughter a sacrifice].”[Abu Daawood and An-Nasaa’i, Al-Albaani - Saheeh]

The Sharee‘ah stance on Mother's Day

 

Islam is not in need of what is innovated by others, whether it is Mother's Day or anything else; it has its own laws which enjoin dutifulness to mothers. Muslims are in no need for the innovated celebration of Mother's Day. Ibn Taymiyyah  commented on a similar case saying:"Thus, it is clear to you how perfect this Sharee‘ah, with its true natural-disposition, is. The wisdom behind Allaah The Almighty ordaining for His Messenger  to do the opposite of whatever the disbelievers do in all affairs is that opposition is more likely to remove evil, and is farther from falling into the same mistakes which a lot of those people have fallen into."