Moral Decadence

To say that there is decay in our moral attitudes nowadays is indeed an understatement.

People do all sorts of nasty things nowadays in the name of civilization whereas Allah has laid down rules regulating our activities. The practical aspects have been demonstrated by Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W).
 

Allah says:
“Say [O Muhammad (S.A.W)]: Verily, my salat (prayer), my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists).” Ch6 V162

Why don’t we strive to live our lives the way Allah wants us to? People try to emulate the culture of the westerners in the name of civilization even when some cultures clearly contradict the teachings of our religion. One thing we need to note is that whatever we try to emulate and adopt from them, we will not please them until we abandon our religion. So why don’t we seek to please our Lord Who created us and everyone/ everything?
 

Allah says;
“Never will the Jews nor the Christians be pleased with you [O Muhammad (S.A.W)] till you follow their religion. Say: ‘Verily, the Guidance of Allah (i.e. Islamic monotheism) is the (only) Guidance. And if you were to follow their desires after what you have received of knowledge (i.e the Qur’an), then you would have against Allah neither any wali (protector or guardian) nor any helper.” Ch2 V120
 

Islam teaches us to be modest in our speech, walking, eating, dressing, sleeping, and every aspect of live. If we study the Qur’an and Sunnah [teachings of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W)] and practice them the way it is expected of us, we will live in sanity. We will live in a society devoid of moral decadence, sexual harassment, diseases (especially sexually transmitted infections), etc. This is a very lengthy topic, to cut it short I will quote one or two Qur’anic verses and/ or hadith with regards the following;

• Dressing
• Lowering of gaze (vision)
• Speech
• Walking
• Pride
• Eating

Dressing
 

Allah says:
“O Children of Adam! We have bestowed raiment upon you to cover your private parts and as an adornment; and the raiment of righteousness, that is better. Such among the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allah, that they may remember (i.e. leave falsehood and follow truth)” Ch7 V26

In another verse, Allah says:
“And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts) and not to show off their adornments except only that which is apparent (like both eyes for necessity to see the way, or outer palms of hands) and to draw their veils all over juyubihinna (i.e their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms) and not to reveal their adornments except to their husbands, or their fathers, or their husband’s fathers, or their sons, or their husband’s sons, or their brothers, or their brother’s sons, or their sister’s sons, or their (muslim) women (i.e. sisters in islam) or the (female) slaves whom their right hands possess, or old male servants who lack vigour, or small children who have no sense of feminine sex. And let not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And all of you beg Allah to forgive you all, o believer, that you may be successful.” Ch24 V31
 

Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (S.A.W) as saying: Two are the types amongst the denizens of Hell, the one possessing whips like the tail of an ox and they flog people with their help. (The second one) the women who would be naked in spite of their being dressed, who are seduced (to wrong paths) and seduce others with their hair high like humps. These women would not get into Paradise and they would not perceive the odour of Paradise, although its fragrance can be perceived from such and such distance (from great distance). (Sahih Muslim, Book 40, Hadith No.6810)
 

From the verse and hadith, we understand that women must cover themselves except the few places allowed and not to reveal their adornment to men except the class of people listed. For the men, they are not to show off the part of their body from the navel to the knee and neither the women nor the men should wear a dress which resembles that of the opposite sex or which is fitted as to reveal the shape of the body. Men are not allowed to wear gold and silk.

Lowering of gaze (vision)
 

Allah says:
“Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts). That is purer for them. Verily, Allah is well-Acquainted with what they do.
And tell the believing women to lower gaze and protect their private parts…….” Ch24 V30-31

Speech
 

Allah says:
“And follow not (O man i.e. say not, or do not or witness not) that which you have no knowledge. Verily, the hearing, and the sight, and the heart of each of those one will be questioned (by Allah).” Ch17 V36
 

Allah gives us guidelines for walking and talking in the verse below:
“And be moderate (or show no insolence) in your walking, and lower your voice. Verily, the harshest of all voices is the braying of asses.” Ch31 V19
 

In another verse, Allah says:
“And Allah does not like that the evil should be uttered in public except by him who has been wronged. And Allah is Ever All-Hearing, All-Knower.” Ch4 V148

Walking
 

Allah says:
“And walk not on the earth with conceit and arrogance. Verily, you can neither rend nor penetrate the earth, nor can you attain a stature like the mountains in height.” Ch17 V37

Pride
 

Allah says:
“And turn not your face away from men with pride, nor walk in insolence through the earth. Verily, Allah like not any arrogant boaster.” Ch31 V18

Eating
 

Allah says:
“O (you) Messengers! Eat of the Tayyibat [all kinds of halal foods which Allah has made lawful (meat of slaughtered eatable animals, milk products, fats, vegetables, fruits, etc) and do righteous deeds. Verily, I am All-knower of what you do.” Ch23 V51
 

Narrated Umar bin Abi Salama: I was a boy under the care of Allah’s Apostle and my hand used to go around the dish while I was eating. So Allah’s Apostle said to me, ‘O boy! Mention the Name of Allah and eat with your right hand, and eat of the dish what is nearer to you.’ Since then I have applied those instructions while eating. (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Book 7, Vol. 65, Hadith No.288)
 

From the above Qur’ anic verses , we hope and pray we will change our attitudes wherever we find ourselves, be it at the office, market, farm, etc. By abiding with Allah’s command we will surely live in a decent society. Moral decadence is one of the major causes of sexual harassment. You see female workers (especially youth corpers) wearing all sorts of tightly fitted clothes to work, male and female workers mingle anyhow at work, atimes they even share the same toilet. These things need to be thoroughly checked. May Allah help us.

from the Ideal Muslim Worker http://idealmuslimworker.com.