4. LOWERING THE GAZE
The temptation to look at that which Allah Ta’ala has forbidden is the root of all evil desires. Ibne Qayyim (Rahmatullahi alaihi) writes: “The gaze is the prowler and the messenger of desires. Its protection is, in reality, the protection of the private-parts. The person who does not control his gaze throws himself into the places of destruction. Allah has made the eyes the mirror of the heart.
Intention is an alchemic prescription that can turn base dirt into noble gold. The hadith says “All actions depends upon intentions.” It is sometimes interpreted to mean that good intentions justify bad deeds too and turn sins meritorious. This is entirely wrong. Sin is always a sin no matter how noble the intention may be. For instance if someone breaks into a house to steal with the intention of giving away as alms whatever he would steal would be a thief deserving the prescribed punishment. His good intentions would not earn him any merit nor would his sin be pardoned.
Only those deeds have been discussed here that do not involve any significant labour or difficulty but earn much merit and reward. The purpose is to awaken in the hearts of the readers the urge to follow and observe them and increase their store of goodness for the Afterlife. However, it is necessary to remember the following points when reading this book:
The Prophet (pbuh) said,
“Insulting a Muslim is an act of immorality and fighting him is an act of disbelief.” (Bukhari)
He (pbuh) also said,
“Cursing a believer is like killing him.” (Bukhari)
Muslim narrated in his Sahih the following hadith that states,
“Those who indulge in cursing others will not be intercessors or witnesses on the Day of Judgment.”
Another hadith states,
“It is not the character of a believer to indulge in slandering, cursing, or immoral talk.” (Tirmdhi)
The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said,
The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) declared,
“Allah curses men who imitate women and women who imitate men.”( Bukhari)
In another narration,
“May Allah curse the masculine woman.” (Abu Dawud)
It means that the woman who behaves like men. He (pbuh) also said,
“May Allah curse the effeminate man and the masculine woman.” (Bukhari)
On the authority of Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said,
“Allah curses a woman who wears a men’s clothing and a man who wears a woman’s dress.”( Abu Dawud)
Allah Most High says,
{And do not eat up your property among yourselves for vanities, nor use it as a bait for the judges, with intent that ye may eat up wrongfully and knowingly a little of (other) people’s property.} (Al-Baqarah: 188)
Muslims are prohibited to bribe a judge or a public officer to unfairly obtain a decision in favor of one’s self against a rival or to unlawfully consume the property of others while they are aware of the prohibition of this act.
On the authority of Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said,
Allah Most High states,
{Then let us earnestly pray and invoke the curse of Allah on those who lie!} (Al-’Imran: 61)
{Allah guides not one who transgresses and lies!} (Ghafir: 28)
{Cursed be the conjecturers (the liars).} (Al-Dhariyat: 10)
On the authority of Ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him), “the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said,
“Adhere firmly to truthfulness for truthfulness surely leads to righteousness and righteousness leads to Paradise, and a man is recorded with Allah as a sincere one as long as he is truthful. However, lying leads to immorality and immorality leads to the Hell-Fire, and a man is recorded with Allah as a liar as long as he lies.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
Allah, the Almighty, says,
“Nor come nigh to adultery: for it is an indecent (deed) and an evil way.” (Al-Isra’: 32)
The Qur’an also states,
“Those who invoke not, with Allah, any other god, Nor slay such life as Allah has made sacred, except for just cause, nor commit fornication,’ -and any that does this (not only) meets punishment. (But) the chastisement on the Day of Judgment will be doubled to him, and he will dwell therein in ignominy.” (Al-Furqan: 68-70)
Allah, the Most High, says,
Major sins are defined as what is forbidden by Allah and His Messenger in the Qur’an and the Sunnah in addition to what is narrated on the authority of early Muslims. Allah, the Most high, promises whoever avoids the major sins to expiate his minor sins. Allah, the Almighty says,
“If ye (but) eschew the most heinous of the things which ye are forbidden to do, we shall remit your evil
deeds, and admit you to a gate of great honour.” (An-Nisaa :31)
In this text, Allah, the Most High, also promises whoever avoids the major sins to admit him to Paradise.
(1) Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said:
“He who fasts solely for the sake of Allah Ta’ala, his previous sins are all forgiven”.
(2) “The odour of the mouth of a Sa-im (fasting person) is sweeter to Allah than the fragrance of musk”.
(3) It is narrated in the Hadith that on the Day of Qiyamah, even before Reckoning has taken place, the fasting people will be sumptuously fed under the shade of Allah’s Arsh (Throne) while others will be still embroiled in the hardships of Reckoning.
(4) Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said:
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