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Protection of the Gaze |
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PROTECTION OF THE GAZE by Hazrat Haji Muhammed Farouq sahib (RA) There are some who suffer from another misconception. Shaytaan beguiles them into thinking that there is no harm in admiring a beautiful human form or shape (such as a woman) They compare it to admiring a beautifully blooming bud, fine clothes and aesthetic architecture. This is the height of deception! The admiration of these entities is totally different to the admiration lavished on a beautiful woman. The difference has been explained in a brief and beautiful example by Abbaji (Hazrat Moulana Maseehullah, may Allah shower mercy upon him over and over again!) in the following words, “Look at a beautifully appetizing guava, look at some delectable grapes and then look at a thin skinned lemon. Is there any difference or not? Cut the guava. Will the mouth water? Thereafter cut the lemon, squeeze it and see what happens. The mouths of people witnessing this will actually begin to water.” “This is the difference between looking at a guava and a lemon. Looking at the guava does not make the mouth water, nor does cutting it solicit that effect. Whereas, not only cutting the lemon but merely looking at it has the effect of making the mouth water.” (Thus, gazing at an attractive woman causes the mouth (i. e. the desires) to water, arousing lust and passion. But not so when looking at the beauty of flowers, scenery, buildings, etc.) The fact of the matter is that we should protect ourselves from those things that warrant being protected from. We must take the utmost care regarding matters which require abstention, which wreak havoc with our Imaan. Never trust your Nafs. Abbaji used to always recite: There is no reliability on this Nafs-e-Ammarah O ascetic! Even if it becomes an angel, remain suspicious of it. Useless desires arise to put cheek to cheek, to hug and embrace. This is a malady, a very serious and evil disease, gentlemen. If an individual were to claim that to him a beautiful woman is no different to a beautiful camel and that he regards both with an equal degree of appreciation, he is an absolute liar whose deception is detected by the Ahlullah. PURDAH FROM THE PEER (SPIRITUAL MENTOR) IS ALSO NECESSARY It is highly deplorable that some Peers (Shaikhs) are also entangled in this (disease of evil gaze). They take absolutely no precautions by allowing women to come before them without purdah, saying that the Peer is akin to the father, so why the need to observe Purdah from him? This is totally false and contrary to Shariah. Many men allow their women folk to appear before their Peers in this manner. This is a major sin. We have heard that in some places women even enter the room where the Shaykh is staying. We beseech Allah Ta`ala for his protection! Tell me, who can exceed the Rasool of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) in piety? Notwithstanding the fact that the women of the entire Ummah are his spiritual daughters and that he is Masoom (innocent/sinless), they still observed Purdah from him. The possibility of sin cannot even be remotely considered in his case, yet women were commanded to observe Purdah from him. (To be continued, Insha-Allah) |