In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
The world is becoming increasingly dangerous and shameless. How? The story began with jealousy and hatred -- all being told in the Qur'an. Iblis (the Shaytan) refused to prostrate to Adam when Allah told him to prostrate to Adam and so he was expelled from Paradise, humiliated.
وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَـٰكُمْ ثُمَّ صَوَّرْنَـٰكُمْ ثُمَّ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ ٱسْجُدُوا۟ لِءَادَمَ فَسَجَدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِبْلِيسَ لَمْ يَكُن مِّنَ ٱلسَّـٰجِدِينَ ﴿١١[Qur'an, Al'Araf 7:11-13]
قَالَ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَلَّا تَسْجُدَ إِذْ أَمَرْتُكَ ۖ قَالَ أَنَا۠ خَيْرٌۭ مِّنْهُ خَلَقْتَنِى مِن نَّارٍۢ وَخَلَقْتَهُۥ مِن طِينٍ ﴿١٢﴾ قَالَ فَٱهْبِطْ مِنْهَا فَمَا يَكُونُ لَكَ أَن تَتَكَبَّرَ فِيهَا فَٱخْرُجْ إِنَّكَ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰغِرِينَ ﴿١٣
And We have certainly created you, [O Mankind], and given you [human] form. Then We said to the angels, "Prostrate to Adam"; so they prostrated, except for Iblees. He was not of those who prostrated. (11) [Allah] said, "What prevented you from prostrating when I commanded you?" [Satan] said, "I am better than him. You created me from fire and created him from clay." (12) [Allah] said, "Descend from Paradise, for it is not for you to be arrogant therein. So get out; indeed, you are of the debased. (13)
Now Shaytan blames us (humankind) for his problems. He developed hatred towards the sons/daughters of Adam. He wants us to be humiliated as well. And he has many many tricks to take us to humiliation. He has applied those tricks to people before us and many have fallen into it, and he will continue to trick every living human being until the Day of Resurrection. This is not something we should take lightly at all. He is our enemy.
No one is safe from Shaytan's tricks. He is lying in wait. He will ambush and attack when the time is right. He will come from right and left, from the front of us and if our iman is weak, we will turn back, and from the back and try to yank us back. Even if while you are reading Qur'an, he will come, the reason why we are taught to recite the isti'adha (seeking refuge in Allah from the accursed shaytan -- we say, A'udhu billahi minash shaytanir-rajeem) before we recite the Qur'an. He will not leave us alone, even at our last breathe. He wants us humiliated.
قَالَ أَنظِرْنِىٓ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ ﴿١٤﴾ قَالَ إِنَّكَ مِنَ ٱلْمُنظَرِينَ ﴿١٥﴾ قَالَ فَبِمَآ أَغْوَيْتَنِى لَأَقْعُدَنَّ لَهُمْ صِرَٰطَكَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ ﴿١٦﴾ ثُمَّ لَءَاتِيَنَّهُم مِّنۢ بَيْنِ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ وَعَنْ أَيْمَـٰنِهِمْ وَعَن شَمَآئِلِهِمْ ۖ وَلَا تَجِدُ أَكْثَرَهُمْ شَـٰكِرِينَ ﴿١٧﴾ قَالَ ٱخْرُجْ مِنْهَا مَذْءُومًا مَّدْحُورًۭا ۖ لَّمَن تَبِعَكَ مِنْهُمْ لَأَمْلَأَنَّ جَهَنَّمَ مِنكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ ﴿١٨[Qur'an, Al'Araf 7:14-18]
[Satan] said, "Reprieve me until the Day they are resurrected." (14) [Allah] said, "Indeed, you are of those reprieved." (15) [Satan] said, "Because You have put me in error, I will surely sit in wait for them on Your straight path. (16) Then I will come to them from before them and from behind them and on their right and on their left, and You will not find most of them grateful [to You]." (17) [Allah] said, "Get out of Paradise, reproached and expelled. Whoever follows you among them - I will surely fill Hell with you, all together." (18)
What easy way to humiliate us than take away our shame. Shamelessness leads to disobedience of Allah. When you lose your shame, every other sin is easy because when you lose your shame then you are not ashamed of Allah anymore.
The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: "If you do not feel shame, do what you wish." [Bukhari]
The concept of haya (shame, bashfulness, shyness, modesty) is considered a major Islamic virtue and an integral part of human character.
The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said that every way of life has its distinct character and for Islam it is haya. (Muwatta).
Haya is in the grain of personal and social morality, values and behavior. Haya is not morality to be imposed, but something that must arise from within a people. But at the same time, it is not a private affair. The Arabs before Islam understood haya. Haya shares the same root word meaning "life". Part of one's life is to have haya.
When Adam and Hawa ate from that forbidden tree, they were stripped of their clothes, and quickly they cover their bodies with the leaves of Paradise out of shame. Haya is a natural thing and so it doesn't have to be taught.
فَدَلَّىٰهُمَا بِغُرُورٍۢ ۚ فَلَمَّا ذَاقَا ٱلشَّجَرَةَ بَدَتْ لَهُمَا سَوْءَٰتُهُمَا وَطَفِقَا يَخْصِفَانِ عَلَيْهِمَا مِن وَرَقِ ٱلْجَنَّةِ ۖ وَنَادَىٰهُمَا رَبُّهُمَآ أَلَمْ أَنْهَكُمَا عَن تِلْكُمَا ٱلشَّجَرَةِ وَأَقُل لَّكُمَآ إِنَّ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنَ لَكُمَا عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ ﴿٢٢[Qur'an, Al'Araf 7:22]
Thus, he cast both of them down by deception. When they tasted (the fruit of) the tree, their shame was exposed to them, and they began to patch together some leaves of Paradise upon themselves, and their Lord called them, “Did I not forbid you from that tree? Did I not tell you that Satan is your declared enemy?” (22)
Having clothes on is a symbol of dignity and nobility. Our bodies are not made to be exposed. Allah dignified human with clothing. Our birthday suit is not dignified. We are not animals, which Allah fashioned in such a way that they don't need to wear clothes. It is natural be clothed. When Adam and Hawa were created, Allah clothed them with the clothing of Paradise.
Allah mentions in the Qur'an that the clothes for the people of Paradise will be several times more splendid and stylish than the most splendid and stylish worldly clothing. The Qur'an especially mentions two kinds of material found in Paradise: silk and brocade. For example, it states that believers will wear "fine silk and rich brocade, face to face with one another" (Surah ad-Dukhan, 53). In this world, these two materials are rare, expensive, and of high quality, and the closest to it would be those special elaborate and fine clothing worn by kings, royalties in their official capacity. Have you seen any king or royalty on this earth walking around in skimpy clothes in their official capacity? But people no longer see elaborate clothing as a normal wear and fashion. They see tight, half naked clothing as normal and fashion. This is exactly what shaytan wants you to believe and that uncovering your nakedness is no big deal. It is a big deal.
When Adam and Hawa were sent to earth, clothing were sent with them. Shaytan comes and tricks us to take our clothes off slowly but surely. People were more covered before. Back then, in many cultures, elaborate clothing (using lots of material) was worn by the rich and upper class of the society. The slaves were the ones who didn't have much clothes on them. But in our times, people have lesser and lesser material on their bodies. You can even find nudist colony! Astaghfirullah. You might think you won't get to that point but this is how shaytan works -- in small steps. That's why you don't go near haram or anything that can lead to it because this is where you can get ambushed by shaytan, i.e. to actually do the haram. Allah says about fornication,
وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا۟ ٱلزِّنَىٰٓ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ فَـٰحِشَةً وَسَآءَ سَبِيلًا ﴿٣٢[Qur'an, Al-Isra' 17:32]
Do not even go close to fornication. It is indeed a shameful act, and an evil way to follow. (32)
Allah says about shamelessness/immoralities
... وَلَا تَقْتُلُوٓا۟ أَوْلَـٰدَكُم مِّنْ إِمْلَـٰقٍ ۖ نَّحْنُ نَرْزُقُكُمْ وَإِيَّاهُمْ ...[Qur'an, An'am 6:151]
... And do not approach immoralities - what is apparent of them and what is concealed...
Allah told Adam to dwell in Paradise but don't go near "this" tree. The only way they got to eat the fruit is by first getting near it's tree.
وَيَـٰٓـَٔادَمُ ٱسْكُنْ أَنتَ وَزَوْجُكَ ٱلْجَنَّةَ فَكُلَا مِنْ حَيْثُ شِئْتُمَا وَلَا تَقْرَبَا هَـٰذِهِ ٱلشَّجَرَةَ فَتَكُونَا مِنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ ﴿١٩[Qur'an, Al-'Araf 7:19]
O ’Adam, dwell, you and your wife, in Paradise, and eat from wherever you like, but do not go near this tree, otherwise you shall join the transgressors.” (19)
Adam and Hawa reached the point of eating the fruit didn't happen right away but after long time of Shaytan's works of temptation and decption. And Shaytan did not go to our parents and told them to eat from the tree directly because they would not have obeyed, but it was Shaytan's whispers (from far away) over time that got them to disobey Allah.
فَوَسْوَسَ لَهُمَا ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ لِيُبْدِىَ لَهُمَا مَا وُۥرِىَ عَنْهُمَا مِن سَوْءَٰتِهِمَا وَقَالَ مَا نَهَىٰكُمَا رَبُّكُمَا عَنْ هَـٰذِهِ ٱلشَّجَرَةِ إِلَّآ أَن تَكُونَا مَلَكَيْنِ أَوْ تَكُونَا مِنَ ٱلْخَـٰلِدِينَ ﴿٢٠﴾ وَقَاسَمَهُمَآ إِنِّى لَكُمَا لَمِنَ ٱلنَّـٰصِحِينَ ﴿٢١[Qur'an, 7:20-21]
But Satan whispered to them to make apparent to them that which was concealed from them of their private parts. He said, "Your Lord did not forbid you this tree except that you become angels or become of the immortal." (20) And he swore [by Allah] to them, "Indeed, I am to you from among the sincere advisors." (21)
But Allah out His mercy forgive our parents and continue the human race to this day.
وَلَقَدْ مَكَّنَّـٰكُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَجَعَلْنَا لَكُمْ فِيهَا مَعَـٰيِشَ ۗ قَلِيلًا مَّا تَشْكُرُونَ ﴿١٠[Qur'an, Al'Araf 7:10]
And We have certainly established you upon the earth and made for you therein ways of livelihood. Little are you grateful. (10)
Allah put means of good life for us on earth. He sent clothing to earth. Clothing is a gift.
يَـٰبَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ قَدْ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكُمْ لِبَاسًا يُوَٰرِى سَوْءَٰتِكُمْ وَرِيشًا ۖ وَلِبَاسُ ٱلتَّقْوَىٰ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌۭ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ ءَايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَذَّكَّرُونَ ﴿٢٦[Qur'an, Al'Araf 7:26]
O children of Adam, We have bestowed upon you clothing to conceal your private parts and as adornment. But the clothing of righteousness - that is best. That is from the signs of Allah that perhaps they will remember. (26)
But what do we do? We take them off little by little ... it's hot, it's not the style, it's for the Arabs ... and so on. Exactly how shaytan had planned. And that's where it began. Once you start giving in to the Shaytan's whispers, you now have given him control over you and he will start commanding you to do more and more and bigger and bigger sins, one after another, initially in your thoughts, then acted upon in the privacy of your own room/home, then in broad day light. You become the follower of Shaytan. You see so many out there, all sorts of fashion. When people have no sense of shame, they will do whatever they like. "If you do not feel shame, do what you wish."
This is how shaytan causes us to be humiliated. When you hardly have clothes on your body, you are exposing your shame. We are seeing his great success in our time -- on the streets, billboards, movies, media, internet, phones, in your home (on tv, electronic screens, pictures, showers, etc.) How many of you take shower naked? People didn't use to take showers naked.
Allah asks us a few things we are not supposed to do and most of the things in earth are are permissible for us. But people who don't want to follow Islam will say that Islam has so many rules and it doesn't want people to enjoy their life. There are countless of food and drinks that are halal for us and for us to enjoy. But people still want to go for the few things that are haram. There are so many permissible things in Islam to fulfill our cravings and enjoy our life on this earth. No doubt, Shaytan makes those few forbidden things fun and halal things not fun.
When you disobey Allah, you are accomplishing his goals for him --putting you on the road of humiliation. You are making him very happy. I seek refuge with Allah from the accursed Shaytan.
Shaytan doesn't need you to disbelieve in Allah. All he need to do is to get you to disobey Allah. If you think that because you believe, that you say la illaha illallah, don't think you are safe from kufr. Shaytan believes in Allah. It is his disobedience to Allah (for not prostrating to Adam) that leads him to the Fire.
This is shaytan. Because we don't take shaytan as a serious enemy and so it is no wonder our world is full of indecency and has so much troubles.
To live a guided life as a Muslim, we need to be in touch with the Qur'an, the source of guidance for the believers. Start getting to know the Qur'an, the Speech of Allah. This could be one of your new year resolutions -- to read a portion of the Qur'an daily and try to understand it by reading the tafsir. Even if it is a page or two a day, you would have read the entire Qur'an and understood a lot by the end of the year. If you don't do this, you will be worse off than last year. Your life and salvation is in great danger if you don't take this religion seriously.
Each and everyone of us should look in our own closets...remove all the skeletons as many as you can identify them -- any hatred, envy and jealousy towards another human being (they are not your enemy, shaytan is), any bad things you have been watching, girlfriends/boyfriends you have been hiding (that does not mean if your parents approved then it is okay to talk or go out with the opposite gender). If you like scanty fashion, skimpy clothes, tight jeans, tank tops, throw them away -- put on proper clothes. If you are estranged from your parents or any family member, time to bury the hatchet and try to patch things up. This is way you are slowly taking control away from shaytan over you. This is how you can begin to take control of your life.
Keep your eyes low and don't look or watch inappropriate things. Don't listen to filthy stuff. Filthy language inevitably conjures filthy images. Your limbs are given to you not to disobey Allah. When you use your eyes to watch filthy images and your ears listen to filthy stuff, it necessarily have an effect on what your thoughts are. You will ruin yourself spiritually and you are not able connect with Allah. Everything will fall apart and nothing good will be left in your life.
يَـٰبَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ لَا يَفْتِنَنَّكُمُ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ كَمَآ أَخْرَجَ أَبَوَيْكُم مِّنَ ٱلْجَنَّةِ يَنزِعُ عَنْهُمَا لِبَاسَهُمَا لِيُرِيَهُمَا سَوْءَٰتِهِمَآ ۗ إِنَّهُۥ يَرَىٰكُمْ هُوَ وَقَبِيلُهُۥ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا تَرَوْنَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا ٱلشَّيَـٰطِينَ أَوْلِيَآءَ لِلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿٢٧[Qur'an, Al'Araf 7:27]
O children of Adam, let not Satan tempt you as he removed your parents from Paradise, stripping them of their clothing to show them their private parts. Indeed, he sees you, he and his tribe, from where you do not see them. Indeed, We have made the devils allies to those who do not believe. (27)
May Allah grant us haya and protect us from disobedience. Ameen.
Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
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