Bismillahir rahmanir raheem.
A few days ago, news reached me of a TV programme that was
broadcasted in relation to a few supermodels who have used their appearances
and sex appeal to draw some benefits and gifts from the opposite gender. At
first, I didn't pay that much attention to it but over the last few days, I
have noticed that it has sparked such uproar, that many people have written
about it. In fact, such was the uproar, that it sparked a Twitter storm causing
50,000 tweets. After reading through
some of these articles (which contained tweets and public comments), I viewed a
couple of short clips of the episode and it truly upset me and made a deep
impact upon my heart.
After reading much feedback and trying to grasp many of the new
concepts, there were three areas I recognised as being important to address; 1.
Women and their role models 2. Men and how lowly they can become 3. Hayaa (modesty)
In brief, let me just summarise the issue; the theme of this
documentary highlights the lives of various glamour models who are apparently
extremely successful but they do not have any such profession. As a result,
they use their beauty to entice rich (or reasonably rich) men who then in turn
give them money and buy them extremely expensive gifts. This is not to say that
the problem in its entirety lies with the women, men who welcome the idea of
spending thousands on women who do not even care for them deserve to be hit with
the harsh clap of reality; but more on that later.
My first area of worry was in relation to our own
respected and dear sisters in Islam. Despite many women (whom I applaud) condemning
the models in the documentary, I noticed
how some women were writing messages of support after watching these models
rake money in. Many went to the extent of saying that such action was justified
and quite beneficial. As a Muslim, let alone a Muslima, such actions are quite
simply far from our religion. How can it bring a person happiness, to hoard
wealth in a fashion which is against morality and free from any ethics? It does
not even need a Muslim to highlight that such behaviour is wrong, many non
Muslims are correctly condemning such doings on social networking websites.
Thus, it's necessary to disregard such glamour models and
looks for some role models for all that glitters is not gold. When you take
away the glitz and the thrill of what these women are doing and you lay their
purpose out, it is quite simply abhorrent.
How can it be acceptable, to not work for the money you gain but to take
it from the hand of a person who is vulnerable due to his desires?
Alhamdulillah, our deen has taught us from the very beginning to be people of
pioneering nature who are not reliant on the money of others. Such people who
exert their limbs in noble work, utilise their capacity in all fields and be
dignified in their search for wealth. This was taught to us by our beloved
Prophet Muhammad salallahu alayhi wasallam. In a narration related by Abu
Dawud, a man came to Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam and he had nothing in
his possession except a piece of cloth (half of which was to be worn and the other
half was to be used as a spread) and a bowl. Rasulullah salallahu alayhi
wasallam told him to bring both possessions to him; consequently, they were
brought and the Prophet Muhammad salallahu alayhi wasallam auctioned them off
for 2 dirhams (silver coins). He gave the man the two coins and told him to
spend one upon the sustenance of his family and the other coin should be used
to purchase an axe. In fact, the axe was brought to Muhammad salallahu alayhi
wasallam and he fixed the handle; he then commanded the man that he should go
and gather firewood (by utilising the axe) and should not return until 2 weeks
later. When the man returned, he had accumulated 10 silver coins. It was at
this juncture that the Prophet Muhammad salallahu alayhi wasallam said, “This
is better for you than the (act of) begging should come as a blemish on your
face on the Day of Judgment. Begging is right only for three people: one who is
in grinding poverty, one who is seriously in debt, or one who is responsible
for compensation and finds it difficult to pay. (i.e. extremely dire
circumstances)”.
Having understood this hadith, it is important to highlight
the work ethic that Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam would inculcate within
the Companions. Respect for a person is when that person acquires sustenance in
a respectable and dignified manner. What respect is there in a person who
hoards money by using their sexual prowess as a means of asking men for gifts?
A person may achieve their goal and gain quite a bit from lustful men but where
is the taste of prosperity in their wealth? It is free from any blessing, free
from any satisfaction, free from any dignity.
Thus it is important to urge our sisters to be such women,
who study hard throughout their youth and become women who are intellectually
astute, morally sound and highly modest. When such characteristics are found
within a woman, she is not in need of stooping to such lows.
The second advice is in relation to my dear Muslim
brothers; we have become too weak in relation to our desire for the
opposite gender. There are many who are all too willing to give time, wealth
and affection to women who are not even halal for them. Many Muslim men are
spending their money on women whom they have never met; their only source of
interaction with these glamour models etc has been through adult entertainment
sources. In an attempt to win the admiration of these women, many men are
emptying out their wallets in buying gifts which would be more rewarding for
them had they spent their wealth on their family members instead. Rasulullah
salallahu alayhi wasallam said, "When a Muslim spends on his family in
anticipation of a reward, it is sadaqa for him." (Al Adabul Mufrad)
I.e. when a man spends on his family members, he is rewarded immensely. Furthermore,
in this documentary, men were spending thousands on these women; Allahu Akbar!
There are people in this world who are in extreme need, they are literally
walking on the banks of destruction and they have no person to feed them. Yet,
we would rather give money to women who are quite simply ‘users’ (matlab
parast) as opposed to the millions who are dying of hunger.
Our priorities in life must be sorted out. On the Day of
Qiyamah, the feet of a person will not move until he has answered 5 questions;
two of which are: Where did you acquire your wealth? Where did you spend your
wealth? Every single person will have to answer for every single penny he
spent, what will be the state of that person who did not care for his zakah but
was enthusiastic upon spending his wealth in shameful places? What answer will
he give to Allah? Thus, it is important for us to build this fear within us.
Lastly, in relation to a man, we need to stop being
‘suckers’ for everything that tickles our fancy. We have to build up our
defences, it shouldn’t be the case that a pretty woman batters her eyelashes
and we feel the need to rescue the damsel in distress. There is a need to
become prudent in such matters and ignore that which is of no benefit. When a
person becomes desperate in regards to the other gender, he loses his respect
in the eyes of people.
Finally, I wanted to mention the topic of modesty.
Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam has said that Hayaa (modesty) is a branch
of faith. In another place he has said, “Every nation has a trait and the trait
of my nation is modesty” (Muwatta). He has also said, “Vulgarity does not exist
in something except that it makes it repulsive and modesty does not exist in
something except that it beautifies it.” In fact, even men are given the example of
Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam who was described as being more bashful
than a veiled virgin within her quarters.
Modesty is quite simply that thing which prevents a person
from doing anything hideous. He is constantly shy and is afraid what people
might think. Moreover, he is most shy of Allah Ta’ala. As a result, he shies
away; take the example of a pious person, when all of his friends are going to
a club, he rejects because his modesty stops him from entering such places.
Thus, the more we increase in our modesty, the greater we become in distinguishing
immoral activities from moral deeds. This is a characteristic which should be
in us all (men and women) but it seems extremely distant from such women who
are involved in ‘rinsing’ activities. The likes of Asmaa bint Abi Bakr
radiallahu anhumaa was such that one day she was carrying a huge weight of
harvest on her shoulders towards her house which was at a distance. The Prophet
Muhammad salallahu alayhi wasallam passed by with a group of men; the Prophet
Muhammad salallahu alayhi wasallam was her brother in law and offered to take
her home by sitting her on his horse but she refused the offer and said, “I am
shy that I travel amongst the men”. Such women are models, the great role models
to have ever walked the earth.
May Allah Ta’ala give us all the ability to recognise that
which is the Haqq as Haqq and then bless us with the ability to follow it. And may He give us the ability to recognise that
which is false as false and bless us with the ability to stay away from it. May He, out of His kindness, endow us with the
characteristics of our beloved Muhammad salallahu alayhi wasallam, and beautify
us with the characteristic of modesty. Ameen.
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