Nuggets from MSSN OAU’s second sisters’ circle program. Lecturer: Mrs Mujidah Popoola (Umm ‘Aammaar). Topic: “Zinaa; The Path To Evils On Campus.”
Our honored lecturer started by expressing how impressed it is to see this population of sisters in attendance for an Islamic lecture at this present time when most youths are often preoccupied with frivolities. It is indeed a thing of joy which we should be grateful to Allaah for. Many of us might be wondering what the essence of the topic of discourse is. Why discussing Zinaa? Why not Hijaab? Why not any other topic?
It is important to discuss this topic because Zinaa is one of the “Kabaa-ir” – (destructive major sins), it is a grave sin in the sight of Allaah, and because of the directive given by Allaah through His Prophet, we must watch out for ourselves and remind one another of Allāh’s commandments. Zinaa destroys anyone who dares move close to it, it is destructive to one’s honor and damaging to one’s lineage. How? After all, people doing it are “enjoying” it. Okay, let’s imagine this scenario; You as a lady gets married to the man who ticks most of your desired box; “your dream man” but just as you are about to start enjoying your marital life, a man (one of the previous flings) who happens to know your man just saw you two together and started recounting to him how they used you to pass time! Na’ūdhu biLlāhi min dhālik! Sounds scary and awful right? Even if the husband decides to still continue with the marriage and “let go” of the past, is it possible to still see such wife through the same lens again? I doubt it! This scenario shows how Zinaa can be destructive to a person’s honor which is even more worst than this!
Then, lineage? Again, imagine that a child born out of wedlock who has already grown up, knows someone else as his/her father, but later got to know that he/she was a product of Zinaa! On and on the consequences of Zinaa go! Are these not enough for us to then warn ourselves to move far away from it? Zinaa surely has a way of getting back at its doer! Therefore, don’t even move close to it, talk less of venturing into it. Steer clear it and warn people from it, this is as commanded by Almighty Allaah.
The Prophet in one of his narrations mentioned that Almighty Allah dearly loves those that enter Jannah chains; i.e those that would enter into Jannah with their companions while on earth. Allaah says; “And [mention, O Muhammad], when your Lord said to the angels, “Indeed, I will create a vicegerent on earth.” They said, “Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood, while we declare Your praise and sanctify You?” Allaah said, “Indeed, I know that which you do not know.”[Suratul-Baqarah (2): 30].
This verse affirms that Allaah has declared us (Muslims) as His representatives on earth, to enjoin/encourage good and to forbid evil. Myself as a Muslim, you as a Muslim, it is our responsibility to admonish our fellow brethren in faith and remind one another from time to time. As a Muslim, you can’t know something is bad then keep mute when you see a fellow Muslim doing it, upon you is to dissuade him/her from continuing such act to the best of your ability. And this is exactly what this type of gatherings are meant for – admonish and remind ourselves.
In Islamic usage, Zinaa can mean two things; an illicit coitus/ an illegal sexual relationship between two opposite genders. It can also mean “lamam” (the path to fornication) this embodies the other forms of fornication except the involvement of the sexual organs. For the first one, it has a stipulated ruling and punishment in the Shari’ah which can never be altered by anyone. But for the second one which involves every other parts of the body except the sexual organs for instance; being in seclusion with the opposite gender, not lowering one’s gaze, free mixing with the opposite gender or a lustful look, indecent talk, touch, or desire that is related to or may lead to illicit sexual relations. This second one is the gateway to Zinaa, the easiest to fall into and a trick devised by Shaytaan to lure us into committing the major Zinaa.
Shaytaan – our staunch enemy knows that once he is able to convince us to commit an atrocity that seems harmless continuously without seeking repentance, it becomes very easy for him to lure us into committing the greater sins. Almighty Allaah says in Sūratun-Nuur, Chapter 24; “˹O Prophet!˺Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their chastity. That is purer for them. Surely Allaah is All-Aware of what they do.[Verse 30]. “And tell the believing women to lower of their gaze and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof and that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not expose their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands’ fathers, their sons, their husbands’ sons, their brothers, their brothers’ sons, their sisters’ sons, their women, that which their right hands possess, or those male attendants having no physical desire, or children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of women. And let them not stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment. And turn to Allaah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might attain success. [Verse 31]
This is an order coming from our creator, the One who brought us to existence, the One who we all depend upon but depends on none, the One we are absolutely nothing without! The first thing to do to prevent ourselves from Zinaa is lowering our gaze, unfortunately, many of us trivialize this! Once your gaze is protected, every other thing is in place (of course, by Allāh’s will). Dear sister, as unambiguously stated by Allaah in the verse quoted above, the commandment of lowering one’s gaze is not only directed to males alone but to us too, females! If you look at a man, you are half gone, you listen to him, you are double gone!
Moreso, lowering our gaze is also applicable to when we use our gadgets. The same way you can’t shamelessly stare at a strange man or woman in public is the same way you should be cautious of staring at their pictures online, through films and all other ways. Even if you are to be in the midst of same gender, there are stipulated limits to what can be seen. (This is especially applicable to those living in school hostels). May Allaah protect us. Hayaa (modesty) is greatly emphasized on in Islaam! When you allow your gaze to wander aimlessly, you are persistently feeding your soul with corruption. Lower your gaze as this will definitely help in controlling and purifying your heart!
Abū Hurayrah (May Allaah be pleased with him) reported Allāh’s Messenger (Peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) to have said; “Allaah has fixed the very portion of adultery which a man will indulge in. There would be no escape from it. The adultery of the eye is the lustful look, the adultery of the ears is listening to voluptuous (song or talk), the adultery of the tongue is licentious speech, the adultery of the hand is the lustful grip (embrace), the adultery of the feet is to walk (to the place) where he intends to commit adultery and the heart yearns and desires which he may or may not put into effect”. [Saheeh Muslim 2658].
In order to be protected from committing evils, endeavor to stay away from bad companions and always be in the company of the righteous people. This is also a commandment from Almighty Allaah and His Noble Prophet (Salla Llaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). Befriend righteous people who will constantly help you in following the commandments of Allaah, who will enjoin you goodness and forbid for you evils. Also, beware of free mixing as this is among the ways of unknowingly falling into Zinaa especially on campus.
It is common to hear sisters claiming a male is their study partner, bestie, school father and every others! Hmmmmm! Beware of the trap of Shaytaan! Humans’ hearts are created weak, so then, don’t subject your faith to trial! Don’t move close to the boundary set by Almighty Allaah! It is by His mercy that He gave us a shield, a fortress, a guide to protect us from committing sins that will warrant His punishment. Don’t free mix, beware of intermingling as it is a gateway to fornication! Don’t have an opposite gender as a friend! Beware of boyfriend and girlfriend relationship and all sorts of indecencies. Protect your honor, your lineage and your faith! Reserve your energy, reserve your emotions! Don’t break the fortress Allaah has blessed you with!
Moreover, listening to music is also a path to falling into Zinaa. As a believer in Allaah, upon you is to move away from listening to music and being in the gathering of its listeners. Also, protect yourself from Zinaah by not being in seclusion with an opposite gender for this is a sure way of falling into Zinaa. Don’t be too sure of yourself and think you can’t fall. Know that, Shaytaan does not leave us for even a slit seconds, it is our downfall he seeks.
Ultimately, the easiest way to prevent yourself from committing Zinaa is to get married. If you know getting married is the only way to protect yourself from committing Zinaah, please do it! Don’t allow the society dictate what to do for you. You know yourself better, you know what you want, you know what your Lord has forbidden for you. Most of those people seen at the forefront criticizing a chaste “young” lady that decides to get married to avoid committing Zinaah are already enjoying illegally what marriage offers, why then will you give them a listening ear? How sensible is it to claim being too young for marriage but not too young for being in illicit relationships?
Almighty Allaah has forbidden Zinaa and legalize Nikaah for us, don’t deny yourself of His grace. Honored sister, because of your own specific need, to protect your life and hereafter, plan getting married instead of engaging in immoralities of all sorts. This will surely help you in protecting your honor, to remain chaste and to remain focus. Also, if it happens that a mistake has already being committed, do not lose hope in the mercy of Allaah. Seek sincere repentance and follow it up with good deeds.
Know that the forgiveness of our Lord is vast and don’t narrow it on yourself. Allaah says; “Those who avoid the major sins and immoralities, only [committing] slight ones. Indeed, your Lord is vast in forgiveness. He was most knowing of you when He produced you from the earth and when you were fetuses in the wombs of your mothers. So do not claim yourselves to be pure; He is most knowing of who fears Him. [Suratun-Najm (53:32]
We beseech Allaah in His infinite mercy to protect us from all forms of atrocities, guide and guard us aright and count us among His righteous servants. FassaLāmu’alaykum warahmatuLlāhi wabarakātuh
Your ukht in Islaam Hikmah Ajoke Waliyullah.
