Panah Syaitan

Bismillah Ar-Rahman Ar-Rahim
Allahumma solli 'ala sayyidina Muhammad wa 'ala alihi

The following question was asked at one of the Red Sulfur lessons a couple of weeks back.

A male university student complained about the mixing of men and women in the university and the negative effects it has. He asked some advice from Sayyidi al-Habib Umar on his weekly internet lesson.

This is a summary of Habib’s answer to the brother’s question. His answer deals with the brother’s situation in particular but both men and women can apply it to their own situation.

Habib Umar said that this is a common complaint. The fact that it is common, however, is not an excuse for believers to make light of the issue. The one who is sincere with Allah in dealing with this issue is considered someone that strives in the way of Allah. The believer must first lower his gaze and not allow it to become fixed upon that which is unlawful. He will then taste the sweetness of faith (as is narrated in the hadith).

He must concentrate on strengthening the realities of faith in his heart and reject completely the base desires of the lower self, in awareness of Allah’s saying: He knows the treachery of the eyes and that which the hearts conceal. He must hate to see acts of disobedience to Allah and must wish to change the situation if he were able to do so. If the opportunity arises he must give good advice if it is likely to be accepted.

Many women, both Muslim and non-Muslim have been deceived into thinking that for them to expose their bodies is an expression of their freedom. This is not progress as people claim but rather a return to the pre-Islamic days of ignorance. As Allah says Do not show off your beauty in public, as was done in the times of ignorance.

For protection from falling into disobedience a believer should read the following Prophetic supplication 19 times before entering a place where disobedience is likely to occur:

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
اللَّهم يا حَيُّ يَا قَيَّومُ برحمتِكَ أسْتَغِيْثُ ومِن عَذابِكَ أسْتَجِيرُ أَصْلِحْ لِي شَأنِي كُلَّهُ ولاَ تَكِلْنِي إلى نَفْسِي وَلا إِلى أحَدٍ مِن خَلقِكَ طَرفَةَ عَينٍ

Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim, AllahummaYa Hayyu ya Qayyum birahmatik astaghithu wa min `adhabika astajir. Aslih li sh’ani kullahu wa la takilni ila nafsi wa ila ahadin min khalqika tarfata `ayn

In the name of Allah, O Allah, the Most Merciful, the Compassionate. O Living! O Sustainer! I call upon Your Mercy for assistance, and from Your chastisement I seek refuge! Make good all my affairs and do not entrust me to myself or any of Your creation for the blink of an eye.[1]

He should also repeat this supplication if any bad thoughts come to mind. The one who is sincere will be assisted by Allah. Even if he is in a place where the curse of Allah is descending, only mercy will descend upon him. However if he is content for Allah to be disobeyed or worse takes part in it he will expose himself to the wrath of Allah, may Allah protect us from that!

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[1] The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, counselled his beloved daughter al-Sayyida Fatima, Allah be well-pleased with her, to read this morning and evening. It is narrated by Ibn al-Sunni, Nasa’i and Bazar. Haythami said it is sahih. It can be found in the Wird al-Latif of Imam al-Haddad.

- Transcribed and translated by Ustadh Amin Buxton (Allah preserve and increase him and his teachers)