Series: {And remind them of the Days of Allah}
Secretary-General of the Rowwad Community Network
Advisor to the Muslim Woman Platform
Graduate of the"Tafsir" Academy in Riyadh
Man-made laws have failed to curb the onslaught of lus,
And human legislation has stumbled in regulating the drives of instinct.
For souls are inclined to follow desires, to look at the forbidden, and to plunge into the abyss of vice. What Western civilization has produced is nothing but legalized obscenity and legislated corruption, under the slogan of false freedom and alleged mutual consent
The West has declared its moral bankruptcy, surrendering to the weak nature of humans instead of refining it.
And permitting lusts instead of regulating them.
Thus,its societies have been struck by destruction, families have been lost within them, and values have been shattered
Unfortunately, Islamic societies are caught in dependency and blind imitation, coinciding with a distance from the pure source of the Quran and the Sunnah.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "You will certainly follow the ways of those who came before you, span by span, cubit by cubit, to the extent that if they entered a lizard's hole, you would enter it too." They said, "O Messenger of Allah, (do you mean) the Jews and the Christians?" He said, "Who else?" [Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Consequently, these societies, following in the footsteps of the West, are being swept by severe crises threatening the security and stability of Muslim families. These include aversion to marriage, alarming rates of spinsterhood, and marital infidelity...
There is no salvation for all of humanity except by returning to the law of Allah, which brings a comprehensive system and a balanced solution.
Divine legislation came with a unique methodology that regulates desires without suppressing them, and controls instincts without fighting them.
It established its structure on three firm foundations: a faith-based foundation that illuminates hearts, precautionary measures that fortify societies, and a decisive firmness that cuts off the roots of corruption.
Behold, Surah An-Nur shines with the lights of guidance and presents the comprehensive divine methodology for building a society of chastity and purity.
The Wall of Divine Surveillance and Heartfelt Light
In a time where temptations are abundant and trials widespread, hidden crimes remain the most dangerous.
Adultery,unlawful gazing, and exposure of private parts... are crimes that human justice cannot prove, and that no police or guards can halt.
They require the surveillance of the Lord of the heavens.
They need a light in the heart that illuminates the path and deters from deviation.
How can man-made laws hold someone accountable for a glance?!
Which human authority can monitor thoughts and hearts?!
Western civilization has failed to resist human inclinations, so it legalized forbidden matters, codified indecencies, and surrendered to the lusts of the soul.
As for Islam,it established the impregnable fortress: the light of faith.
Allah Almighty said: {Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The example of His light is like a niche within which is a lamp, the lamp is within glass, the glass as if it were a pearly [white] star, lit from [the oil of] a blessed olive tree, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil would almost glow even if untouched by fire. Light upon light. Allah guides to His light whom He wills. And Allah presents examples for the people, and Allah is Knowing of all things.} [An-Nur: 35].
This light is the guard who is never heedless, the watcher who never sleeps.
When this light settles in the heart,the servant feels shy before his Lord, so he lowers his gaze, guards his chastity, and abstains from what is forbidden.
The Wall of Faith-Based Education, through the Incident of the Slander
To firmly establish the value of chastity and teach the Ummah the danger of tampering with honors,
The incident of the slander came as a great educational lesson.
It touched the pure household of prophethood to teach the Ummah that protecting honors is among the greatest acts of worship,and that slander is among the gravest crimes.
Allah revealed verses recited until the Day of Judgment, exonerating the mistress of the women of the worlds and clarifying how society should deal with suspicions.
Allah said:{Indeed, those who came with the slander are a group among you. Do not think it is bad for you; rather, it is good for you...} [An-Nur: 11].
Then He clarified the obligation of having a good opinion of the believers and protecting tongues from speaking against them:
{Why, when you heard it, did not the believing men and believing women think good of themselves and say, "This is an obvious falsehood"?}[An-Nur: 12].
This enlightening education builds a society based on trust and protection, not exposure and publicity.
The Wall of Prevention and Precaution: Building the Protective Shield
The Surah was not content with heart-based education alone; rather, it prescribed practical measures that protect society from within, building an impregnable wall that safeguards the sanctity of homes and protects private parts.
· The Wall of Lowering the Gaze: It commanded men and women to lower their gazes, as it is a purification for the self and a cleansing for the heart.
Allah said: {Tell the believing men to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what they do.} [An-Nur: 30]. And to the believing women: {And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts...} [An-Nur: 31].
· The Wall of Hijab and Not Displaying Adornment: It legislated the Hijab for women as a cover and a means of chastity, making it a dignity and an honor. {And not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests...} [An-Nur: 31].
· The Wall of Seeking Permission: It prescribed the noble etiquette of seeking permission, to protect private parts and safeguard the privacy of homes:
Permission for entering upon the people of a house:
{O you who have believed, do not enter houses other than your own until you ascertain welcome and greet their inhabitants. That is best for you; perhaps you will be reminded.} [An-Nur: 27].
And permission for children and servants at times of privacy:
{O you who have believed, let those whom your right hands possess and those who have not [yet] reached puberty among you ask permission of you [before entering] at three times...} [An-Nur: 58].
This enlightening education builds the individual from a young age.
For who is raised not to expose his sister's awrah in her room,how would he dare to expose the awrah of a non-mahram woman before him?!
The Wall of the Ultimate Solution: Blocking the Means through Marriage
Because Islam is the religion of fitrah (natural disposition), it was not content with prohibition alone; rather, it opened the door to the ideal solution: the door of marriage.
It transformed the natural need from a destructive energy into a constructive one.
It urged the marriage of young men and unmarried women, promising enrichment from His bounty.
Allah said:{And marry the unmarried among you and the righteous among your male slaves and female slaves. If they should be poor, Allah will enrich them from His bounty, and Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing.} [An-Nur: 32].
Marriage builds the family,the family raises the generation, and the generation builds civilization.
The Final Wall: The Prescribed Punishment for Adultery and Slander
When the walls are strengthened, the fortresses are raised, and there remains one who dares and violates, then comes the deterrent punishment.
The prescribed punishment for the fornicator and the fornicatress:{The fornicatress and the fornicator - lash each one of them with a hundred lashes...} [An-Nur: 2].
And the prescribed punishment for those who accuse chaste women:{And those who accuse chaste women and then do not produce four witnesses - lash them with eighty lashes...} [An-Nur: 4].
These prescribed punishments are not for revenge; rather, they are an education for all, a protection for society, and a purification for the individual from his sin.
Conclusion: No One is Infallible
Every son of Adam is susceptible to error. As the Prophet ﷺ said:
"The son of Adam's share of adultery is decreed for him, and he will inevitably encounter it. The eyes commit adultery by looking, the ears commit adultery by listening, the hands commit adultery by striking, the legs commit adultery by walking, the heart desires and wishes, and the private part confirms that or denies it."[Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
The soul is eager, the eye is active, and the heart may entertain what is inappropriate.
But divine mercy was lying in wait.
As soon as the servant approaches the brink of the abyss,the hand of pardon and protection extends to him.
Therefore, verses of forgiveness and divine favor are repeated in the Surah:
{And if it had not been for the favor of Allah upon you and His mercy... and because Allah is Accepting of repentance and Wise.}[An-Nur: 10].
{And if it had not been for the favor of Allah upon you and His mercy... and because Allah is Kind and Merciful.}[An-Nur: 20].
{And if it had not been for the favor of Allah upon you and His mercy, not one of you would have been pure, ever, but Allah purifies whom He wills, and Allah is Hearing and Knowing.}[An-Nur: 21].
The law of Allah starts from human weakness to purify him and cleanse him from vices.
It offers him the effective remedy for every soul that yearns for purity,and every heart that seeks cleanliness.
{Our Lord, perfect for us our light and forgive us. Indeed, You are over all things competent.} [At-Tahrim: 8].
Sources:
· Quranic verses are referenced with their Surah and Ayah numbers from the widely recognized Egyptian edition (Hafs narration).
· Hadith about following previous nations: Sahih al-Bukhari (7320) and Sahih Muslim (2669).
· Hadith about the share of adultery: Sahih al-Bukhari (6243) and Sahih Muslim (2657).
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