- Thread starter
- #61
The second step is:
To strengthen the factors that will prevent one acting in accordance with oneās desires. This is achieved in a number of ways, including the following:
1 ā Strengthening the faith in oneās heart and strengthening oneās relationship with Allaah. This may be achieved by remembering Allaah a great deal, reading Qurāaan, thinking of the names and attributes of Allaah, and doing a lot of naafil prayers. Belief strengthens the heart and soul, and it helps one to resist temptation.
2 ā Fasting, as taught by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) when he said: āO young men, whoever among you can afford to, let him get married, for it is more effective in lowering the gaze and in guarding oneās chastity. Whoever cannot afford it, then let him fast, for it will be a shield for him.ā This is addressed to young men, but it also includes young women.
3 ā Strengthening oneās resolve and willpower, for this will make a young woman able to resist and control her desires.
4 ā Remembering what Allaah has prepared for righteous young women. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
āVerily, the Muslims (those who submit to Allaah in Islam) men and women, the believers men and women (who believe in Islamic Monotheism), the men and the women who are obedient (to Allaah), the men and women who are truthful (in their speech and deeds), the men and the women who are patient (in performing all the duties which Allaah has ordered
and in abstaining from all that Allaah has forbidden), the men and the women who are humble (before their Lord Allaah), the men and the women who give Sadaqaat (i.e. Zakaah and alms), the men and the women who observe Sawm (fast) (the obligatory fasting during the month of Ramadaan, and the optional Nawafil fasting), the men and the women who guard their chastity (from illegal sexual acts) and the men and the women who remember Allaah much with their hearts and tongues. Allaah has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward (i.e. Paradise)ā
[al-Ahzaab 33:35]
5 ā Thinking about the lives of righteous women who guarded their chastity, such as Maryam, whom Allaah praises in the Qurāaan (interpretation of the meaning):
āAnd Maryam (Mary), the daughter of āImraan who guarded her chastity. And We breathed into (the sleeve of her shirt or her garment) through Our Rooh [i.e. Jibreel (Gabriel)], and she testified to the truth of the Words of her Lord [i.e. believed in the Words of Allaah: āBe!ā and he was; that is āEesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary) as a Messenger of Allaah], and (also believed in) His Scriptures, and she was of the Qaanitoon (i.e. obedient to Allaah)ā
[al-Tahreem 66:12]
And thinking about the immoral, fallen women, and comparing between the two types, for there is a huge difference between them.
6 ā Choosing righteous companions and spending time with them, so that they can help one another to obey and worship Allaah.
7 ā Comparing the effects of immediate fulfillment of desire when a girl responds to haraam, which is followed by loss of pleasure and all that is left is regret and sorrow, with patience and striving against oneās whims and desires, and realizing that the pleasure of conquering oneās whim and desires is far greater than the pleasures of enjoying haraam things.
8 ā Seeking help by calling upon Allaah and asking Him for help. The Qurāaan tells us the lesson to be learned from the story of Yoosuf (peace be upon him):
āHe said: āO my Lord! Prison is dearer to me than that to which they invite me. Unless You turn away their plot from me, I will feel inclined towards them and be one (of those who commit sin and deserve blame or those who do deeds) of the ignorantā
So his Lord answered his invocation and turned away from him their plot. Verily, He is the All Hearer, the All Knowerā
[Yoosuf 12:33 ā interpretation of the meaning]
To strengthen the factors that will prevent one acting in accordance with oneās desires. This is achieved in a number of ways, including the following:
1 ā Strengthening the faith in oneās heart and strengthening oneās relationship with Allaah. This may be achieved by remembering Allaah a great deal, reading Qurāaan, thinking of the names and attributes of Allaah, and doing a lot of naafil prayers. Belief strengthens the heart and soul, and it helps one to resist temptation.
2 ā Fasting, as taught by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) when he said: āO young men, whoever among you can afford to, let him get married, for it is more effective in lowering the gaze and in guarding oneās chastity. Whoever cannot afford it, then let him fast, for it will be a shield for him.ā This is addressed to young men, but it also includes young women.
3 ā Strengthening oneās resolve and willpower, for this will make a young woman able to resist and control her desires.
4 ā Remembering what Allaah has prepared for righteous young women. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
āVerily, the Muslims (those who submit to Allaah in Islam) men and women, the believers men and women (who believe in Islamic Monotheism), the men and the women who are obedient (to Allaah), the men and women who are truthful (in their speech and deeds), the men and the women who are patient (in performing all the duties which Allaah has ordered
and in abstaining from all that Allaah has forbidden), the men and the women who are humble (before their Lord Allaah), the men and the women who give Sadaqaat (i.e. Zakaah and alms), the men and the women who observe Sawm (fast) (the obligatory fasting during the month of Ramadaan, and the optional Nawafil fasting), the men and the women who guard their chastity (from illegal sexual acts) and the men and the women who remember Allaah much with their hearts and tongues. Allaah has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward (i.e. Paradise)ā
[al-Ahzaab 33:35]
5 ā Thinking about the lives of righteous women who guarded their chastity, such as Maryam, whom Allaah praises in the Qurāaan (interpretation of the meaning):
āAnd Maryam (Mary), the daughter of āImraan who guarded her chastity. And We breathed into (the sleeve of her shirt or her garment) through Our Rooh [i.e. Jibreel (Gabriel)], and she testified to the truth of the Words of her Lord [i.e. believed in the Words of Allaah: āBe!ā and he was; that is āEesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary) as a Messenger of Allaah], and (also believed in) His Scriptures, and she was of the Qaanitoon (i.e. obedient to Allaah)ā
[al-Tahreem 66:12]
And thinking about the immoral, fallen women, and comparing between the two types, for there is a huge difference between them.
6 ā Choosing righteous companions and spending time with them, so that they can help one another to obey and worship Allaah.
7 ā Comparing the effects of immediate fulfillment of desire when a girl responds to haraam, which is followed by loss of pleasure and all that is left is regret and sorrow, with patience and striving against oneās whims and desires, and realizing that the pleasure of conquering oneās whim and desires is far greater than the pleasures of enjoying haraam things.
8 ā Seeking help by calling upon Allaah and asking Him for help. The Qurāaan tells us the lesson to be learned from the story of Yoosuf (peace be upon him):
āHe said: āO my Lord! Prison is dearer to me than that to which they invite me. Unless You turn away their plot from me, I will feel inclined towards them and be one (of those who commit sin and deserve blame or those who do deeds) of the ignorantā
So his Lord answered his invocation and turned away from him their plot. Verily, He is the All Hearer, the All Knowerā
[Yoosuf 12:33 ā interpretation of the meaning]