Translated by: Yasin Abu Ibrahim
Verified by: Raha Batts
Question:
What is your advice for those who have been tried with looking at pornographic photos and movies? Especially with the presence of many kinds of media which are available to everyone.
Shaykh Sulaymaan bin Saleemullaah ar-Ruhaylee:
O Allaah! O my Lord! O Ever Living! O One who sustains and protects all that exists! O Originator of the heavens and the earth! O Allaah! Cure his heart, O Lord of all that exists! O Allaah, turn him away from this calamity, O Lord of all that exists!
My advice to myself and to my brothers, is that we should know that the eye is a blessing from Allaah. It is from the greatest blessings of Allaah upon us! A blessing that reoccurs in every moment! So we should use it to obey Allaah and we shouldn’t use it to disobey Allaah. And we have to know that the one who uses the blessings of Allaah to disobey Him, then he is on the verge of it not being a blessing anymore, even if it stays.
And the second affair, is that we should remind ourselves that we will be asked about this eye in front of Allaah, the Exalted and Most High. When you sit in your room while there is no one (with you), and you look (to these images), then remember that you will stand in front of Allaah and He will ask you about this eye and these things you were looking at.
“There is no one among you except that his Lord will speak to him without any interpreter between them. He will look to his right and will not see anything except that which he sent forth. And he will look to his left and will not see anything except that which he sent forth. Then he will look in front of him and will not see anything except Hellfire.”
So let him remember this!
And the third affair, is that he should remember that Allaah is with him; that Allaah sees him, hears him and knows everything about him! So Allaah is (constantly) with him with His Hearing, His Seeing and His Knowledge. So when you are by yourself and you are watching these movies and disgusting things, then remember that Allaah sees you right now and that Allaah knows about your situation! So do not say, “I am by myself,” but remind yourself that Allaah sees you.
It has been mentioned that one of the Salaf used to differentiate between one of his students and the rest (of his students). So the students asked him about this, and then he wanted to clarify to the students why he differentiates. He gave each student a bird and said, “Slaughter it where nobody sees you.” So the students went and returned the next day, and all of them had slaughtered their bird except this one student. He said to this student, “O so-and-so, what have you done?” He answered, “I went there and there and there…” So he said, “And why have you not fulfilled my command?” He answered, “Every time I went to a place, I knew that Allaah is seeing me. So I couldn’t find a place where nobody sees me.” So he said, “Because of this, I love him. {Verily, the most honourable of you with Allaah is that (believer) who has At-Taqwaa.} (49:13)”
So we should remember this and that Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, sees us. Then, O my brother, time is short and it passes with obedience and disobedience. By Allaah, time doesn’t stop with an obedient person, nor with a disobedient person. Remind yourself that if you are patient during these minutes, then it will pass without any sin. And that if you perform this sin, then it will pass with the sin and it will result in corruption in your heart, it will make your life difficult and it will cause wretchedness for you. And perhaps you will be prevented from a blessing because of this.
So remind yourself with this, and then remember that the eye will testify against you. The eye will testify against you with that which it has seen, in front of Allaah, the Exalted and Most High. So fear Allaah, the Exalted and Most High, and honour the greatness of Allaah. And if you do this, then you will be aided against Iblees, with the might and power of Allaah.
With the advice to perform a lot of du’aa (supplications). O brothers, whoever has been tried with a sin, then let him humble himself before Allaah in the last part of the night (saying), “O Allaah! Forgive me! O Lord, You are Most Knowledgeable about my situation! O Lord, I have been tried with this disease, so make me hate it, O Allaah! O Allaah, separate me from it as You have separated the East from the West!”
Humbling oneself and truthfully turning to Allaah is from the greatest means which lead to the rectification of your situation. So, O my brother… And this question of you indicates good and indicates that you want good and that you want to get rid (of this evil). Pray at night, for the arrows of the night do not miss their target. And humble yourself before Allaah while you are prostrating (saying), “O my Lord, O my Lord, O my Lord! Forgive me and save me from this calamity! O my Lord, make me hate it! O my Lord, separate me from it as You have separated the East from the West!” And Allaah is All-Hearing, Responsive. He is Near to His servants, He does not reject a truthful servant. And He feels Shy to reject the supplication of his truthful servant.
So turn to Allaah, the Exalted and Most High. And Allaah, the Most High, knows best.
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