Impact Of Western Culture On Muslim Youth
For anyone who
lives in the West it is obvious that the society promotes free mixing and
illicit relationships between the sexes. Sex is promoted everywhere, from
billboards, advertising commercials, magazines, and songs to television
programmes. It is no wonder that the estimates of how many times people think
about the subject are so high.
Through primary,
secondary education and beyond, boyfriend-girlfriend relationships are
normalised to the extent that it is seen as strange if someone isn’t ‘going
out’ with a member of the opposite sex. Sex education in schools promotes this
by explaining to the students the various forms of contraception instead of
giving them the correct values related to the subject.
Walking through
the centre of any major city on a Friday night makes one realise that Western
society has become similar to a herd of wild animals that can’t control their
desires. The West promotes notions of ‘finding true love’ or ‘following your
heart’; in reality what people in Western society follow is their lust. The
stark reality of ‘single parent’ mothers left by their partners to fend for
themselves and the high rate of adulterous relationships is evidence for this.
A Muslim living in
this type of environment needs to make sure that he or she has a strong linkage
to the Islamic belief and the Islamic Shari’ah.
Realising the
magnitude of the Haram actions
A Muslim must link
his actions directly to the consequences: the rewards and punishments in the
hereafter. He should visualise these even when thinking about performing any
prohibited action. This consciousness of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’aala) and the
afterlife should be a shield to protect us from sin and should encourage us to
earn reward.
The Prophet
(Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) has warned both men and women of the consequences
of their actions.
Abu Hurairah
reported that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, “When a person
commits fornication there goes out of him the Iman (belief) and it hovers like
a canopy over his head and when he quits this act the Iman reverts to him
again” [Tirmidhi & Abu Dawud].
Shakl ibn Humayd
went to the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)and said, “Apostle of Allah,
teach me a supplication (Du’a).” He (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) replied, “Say:
O Allah, I seek refuge in you from the evil of what I hear, from the evil of
what I see, from the evil of what I speak, from the evil of what I think, and
from the evil of my semen" [Abu Dawud].
Ubadah ibn as-Samit narrated that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, "If you guarantee me six things on your part I shall guarantee you Paradise. Speak the truth when you talk, keep a promise when you make it, when you are trusted with something fulfil your trust, avoid sexual immorality, lower your eyes, and restrain your hands from injustice" [Ahmad and Baihaqi in Shu'ab al-Iman transmitted it].
Ubadah ibn as-Samit narrated that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, "If you guarantee me six things on your part I shall guarantee you Paradise. Speak the truth when you talk, keep a promise when you make it, when you are trusted with something fulfil your trust, avoid sexual immorality, lower your eyes, and restrain your hands from injustice" [Ahmad and Baihaqi in Shu'ab al-Iman transmitted it].
In Western
societies it is common for men to look at women who they are not even married
to with lust. Islam has forbidden this.
The Prophet
(Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, "The adultery of the eyes is the sight,
the adultery of the tongue is the talk, and the inner self wishes, desires and
the private parts testify all this or deny it" [Bukhari]
Allah (Subhanahu
Wa Ta’aala) said, "Tell the believing men to lower from their gaze and to
protect their private parts. That is better for them, Allah knows the details
of what they do. And tell the believing women to lower from their gaze and
protect their private parts” [TMQ An-Nur: 30-31].
Unlike in the West
where it is abnormal for women to step out of their homes without layers of
make-up, lipstick and wearing revealing clothes, Islam forbade this for its
impact on society is devastating in spreading immorality.
It has been
narrated by Abu Musa al-Ashari that the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi
Wasallam) said:
“Any women that
uses perfume and walks past men in order for them to smell her fragrance; she
is a fornicator” [Tirmidhi & Abu Dawud].
He (Sallallahu
Alaihi Wasallam) also said:
“Two categories of
people I have not seen them (yet): some people who hold whips like the tails of
the cows by which they lash the people. And women who wear (clothes) but (are)
half-naked, bending (their bodies) and bending the sight of the men to them.
Their heads are like the tilted humps of the camels. These women will not enter
the paradise nor will they experience its smell (odour), though its odour is
felt at a distance of so and so (days)” [Muslim].
The Shari’ah
prevents khulwa (seclusion) between men and women. The reality of khulwa is
that it makes the man and woman more sexually agitated. By prohibiting this
solitary privacy a cause of corruption is eliminated, because the khulwa is one
of the direct means to corruption.
Jabir ibn Abdullah
narrated that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, “Whosoever
believes in Allah and the Last Day (Al-Yawm al-Akhir) let him not be alone with
a woman who has not a Mahram (male relative who she cannot marry) with her.
Indeed, the third (person) is al-Shaytan!” [Ahmad]
Avoiding
unnecessary agitation
It is important to
stay away from watching movies, TV programmes, listening to music and reading
magazines that encourage fornication and the actions that lead to it, as these
are haram according to the Shari’ah principle, ‘The means to haram is itself
haram’. These activities build corrupt inclinations within people to the extent
that a woman is seen as an object rather than a person whose honour must be
maintained. How can our feelings be more attached to corrupt films and TV
programmes than to the Qur’an, which is the source of guidance for the whole of
humankind? Don’t people feel ashamed whilst they watch sex scenes or listen to
lewd songs whilst Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’aala), the Creator of the universe is
watching them? On the Day of Judgement even the limbs of our bodies will bear
testimony to the actions that we performed.
Allah (Subhanahu Wa
Ta’aala) says, “That Day shall We set a seal on their mouths. But their hands
will speak to Us and their feet bear witness to all that they did” [TMQ
Ya-Sin:65].
Staying in the
correct atmosphere
Maintaining a
correct atmosphere is vital for a Muslim to be able to avoid the temptations.
The type of atmosphere that exists amongst some of the youth is very corrupt,
where the topic of discussion revolves around the opposite sex and ‘showing
off’ to each other. This type of atmosphere only serves to agitate the
instincts of people and potentially leads them further away from Islam.
Abu Musa narrated
that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said,
"The example
of a good companion in comparison with a bad one, is like that of the musk
seller and the blacksmith's bellows (or furnace); from the first you would
either buy musk or enjoy its good smell while the bellows would either burn
your clothes or your house, or you get a bad nasty smell thereof"
[Bukhari].
Marriage
An obvious
solution that aids in avoiding temptation from the opposite sex is to marry
according to Islam. Islam doesn’t deny the natural instincts of human beings;
rather it channels them according to the rules revealed by Allah (Subhanahu Wa
Ta’aala). It is encouraged to marry in Islam, and encouragement is given to
those who are unable.
The Prophet
(Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said:
“Oh you who
are young. Whoever amongst you can afford to marry should marry, because it
will help him refrain from looking at other women, and guard his modesty (i.e.
private parts from unlawful sex). And whoever is not able to marry he should
fast because it will protect him” [Muslim].
The recommendation
to fast is not to suppress the procreation instinct but to build a reminder as
to man’s objective in life, which is to worship Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’aala).
Abu Hurairah (ra)
narrates that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: "Three
(persons) have a right from Allah to be helped: the Mujahid in the way of
Allah, the seeker for marriage who wishes to guard his chastity and the slave
who seeks funds to free oneself."
Allah (Subhanahu
Wa Ta’aala) says, "And let those who find not the financial means for
marriage keep themselves chaste, until Allah enriches them of His Bounty"
[TMQ An- Nur: 33].
Marriage is based
on companionship in Islam, unlike in Western society where it is based on
competition. Companionship is where one finds repose and tranquillity in the
other - Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’aala) has made marriage a source of tranquillity
for both spouses.
He (Subhanahu Wa
Ta’aala) said:
"It is He Who
has created you from a single person, and He has created from him his wife, in
order that he mightenjoy the pleasure of living with her" [TMQ Al-Araf:
189].
"And among
His Signs is this, that He created for you wives from among yourselves, that
you may find repose in them, and He has put between both of you affection and
mercy" [TMQ Ar- Rum: 21].
