Ilm Fruits
Sex in Western Culture
May 29, 2007 on 4:18 am | In Islam, Islamic Work| By Ibn al-Khattab
The hypocrisy of Western Modern culture is amazing! We need to realize that Islam began as something strange, and will end as something strange, so we need not worry what people think of us; rather, we need to be people that respect and fear Allah (سبحانه وتعال), and the creation of Allah (the people) come second.
Legal marriage age is 16? 18? but:
It's okay for 14-year-old teens to have sex , and their parents having no idea about it, and it's with someone they may not approve of, and the person may not have their son or daughter's best interest at heart. But when she gets pregnant, or he or she gets HIV and doesn't even realize it, and spreads it, they are condemned for it...
Sex is blatantly promoted in our culture through newspaper, television, movies, music ...
It is illegal to have more than one wife, but:
- It is acceptable in our culture for a man to spend his evenings in the strip club or in the pub
- It is acceptable for him to have a side affair with some other strange lady
- His mistress has no legal rights, and yet he gets to use her
- This form of cheating causes social and cultural problems
- This type of relationship spreads diseases, whereas a man with more than one wife will never spread any sexual diseases
- If his second wife was actually his 'girlfriend', then it is okay
- homosexuality is considered okay
Therefore, do not look to the people for what is right and what is wrong. Look to Allah (سبحانه وتعال), for the people will confuse you, and they themselves are confused. This also shows us that democracy is also flawed, because people will vote together on misguidance and follow their desires.
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Very interesting.
Thanks for posting:)
Comment by MuslimahWarrior — May 29, 2007 #
mashaaAllah, exactly they have such hypocrisy. the western world needs to learn to respect woman
Comment by elmaas — May 29, 2007 #
I guess there are some serious misconceptions of the writer of this post. I have been living in a western community for quite a while now and I feel that we dont know or want to know what is going on. For example:
“it’s okay for 14-year-old teens to have sex”
I dont know where was this idea picked up from. It is NOT okay for a 14-year old to have sex in west. If caught, there will be charges against them. So the law says it is NOT okay. Similarly it is NOT okay for their parents either. However, just like everywhere else, kids do sneak out and get involved in prohibited stuff and then pay for it, this happens in the west too.
“# It is acceptable for him to have a side affair with some other strange lady
# His mistress has no legal rights, and yet he gets to use her
# This form of cheating causes social and cultural problems”
It is NOT “acceptable” to have side affairs in west. People cheat on their wives all over the world and cheating is bad- this notion is held everywhere. If a woman finds out that her husband is cheating on her she can file for a divorce which might leave the man begging for a penny!
And it is ILLEGAL to get involved in polygamy which is ofcourse allowed by Islam.
And having lived in various parts of the world I have come to admire the respect that I get from the people in the US. I used to feel harassed in the so-called ” muslim ” societies. I can practice my religion freely without getting dictations from everyone and do whatever I want to do.
I suggest that we stop making judgments based on TV commercials.
Comment by NoName — May 29, 2007 #
Dear NoName, I believe that even though those with morals, and those with religious upbringings may feel and agree with you that cheating on your wife or husband is not acceptable, and neither is premarital sex, I really do believe that actually in our society it is in fact not just tolerated but encouraged.
This is evident from the mass media, and the popular culture, from the songs (from Britney Spears - Oops I did it again… to Jay Z), from the movies, from the TV shows, soap operas (days of our lives, etc) and so on that dramatizes and glamorizes this sort of lifestyle.
The fact that it is no longer illegal to commit ‘adultery’; Infact that is not even the word used, rather the expression commonly used is much more gentle - ‘having an affair’ shows you that as a society we do not value fidelity in relationships.
If we did, there would be stronger punishments for those who break such laws.
Comment by Ibn al-Khattab — May 29, 2007 #
I think there are BETTER things to write about people! :P
Instead of criticizing, lets try to change the corruption in the world.
Anyone can sit back behind a screen and say what they want but what is that gonna do??
Comment by MuslimahWarrior — May 29, 2007 #
Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatu
In light of the comment directly above,
Those who live in the West undoubtedly see its ills and I believe the wisdom behind such a post lies in its comparison. For subhaanAllaah, we see and recognize such things and realize that truly Islaam is the answer, the answer to all such problems. I find it necessary almost to acknowledge such things, or at least make a mental note of it, for in this, one sees the superiority of Islaam.
“The beauty of a thing becomes apparent by its opposite” – this was relayed in a lecture on tawheed, for when we realize the nature of shirk and its evils we may truly appreciate the beauty of tawheed. Similarly, when we draw such comparisons between the West and the ideals of Islaam, how it would, inshaa’Allaah, eradicate the ills prevalent in the society; we raise the station of Islaam in our own eyes, giving it the honor it deserves, inshaaAllah.
However, I think we must distinguish between criticism by which we derive lessons and benefit and plain criticisms – the former allows us to reflect on how things should be, while the latter perhaps may not benefit at all, but instead simply leave a bad taste in our mouths. So inshaa’Allaah, if you are able to look at the situation from different lens, you may derive lessons from it. One such lesson as mentioned in the post that comes from the aforementioned observation is this – “Therefore, do not look to the people for what is right and what is wrong. Look to Allah (سبحانه وتعال), for the people will confuse you, and they themselves are confused.” Walhamdulillah.
Allahu ta’ala ‘alam.
Wa Salamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatu
Comment by Bint Amina — June 8, 2007 #
Wa’alaikum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatu,
To realise that Islam is the answer, we don’t have to CRITICIZE others. First we look at our own faults before we look and talk about others whether they are muslim or nonmuslim. Who do we think we are to put down others for what they say and do when they(non muslims) don’t even know or realise what they are doing is wrong. Just because its wrong in the eyes of Islam, that doesn’t justufy for all. Because if they don’t know, they can’t implement it intentionally. We as muslims give them the message through wisdom, humbleness and with fear of Allah and the pleasure of Allah. Is this how we are suppose to give dawah? Honestly ask yourself this question and take some time to ponder it. Are we really eligible to say such things in this context?
Allahu Alem, but I surely don’t agree with it.
And I don’t think the WEST is the only ones that walk around half nude. These appearances are also WIDE spread in the East now as well. So why is that we criticise a certain nation for what it does and think that the nations we belong to are SO great? SubhanAllah.
May Allah guide us and give us the ablility, knowledge and taqwa in conveying these type of messages, ameeen.
Comment by MuslimahWarrior — June 9, 2007 #
MashaAllah, you are right. I was only posting something to think about, and really it was directed to Muslims that are infatuated with the modern lifestyle, but you are right - it might be taken as an attack and that isn’t the best approach to conveying the message.
Comment by Ibn Al Khattab — June 9, 2007 #
Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatu
That is not what I intended by my post, inshaaAllaah, I hope to clarify.
I should have substituted the word ‘criticism’ with comparison and made the statement general - not exclusive to the West - in order to convey my point more clearly.
Comparison, while it may not be needed to affirm your faith and raise your emaan, inshaaAllaah works to do so by default. What is this comparison I speak of? The same with which the sahabah used to look to their days before Islaam and the practices they had engaged therein and shed tears of regret, looking favorably upon their acceptance of Islaam and comparing the two realities; the same comparison with which we examine the status of the Muslim woman before Islaam and after its emergence, and how mashaaAllah Islaam raised her status; the same comparison with which one sees the wisdom behind the legislations set out by Allaah by witnessing its opposite – that of lowering the gaze, that of covering oneself, so on and so forth. It may be something you reach upon contemplation or discussion, but inshaaAllah they lead to moments in which you ponder upon the wisdom of Islaam and the Magnificence of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala.
This is the type of comparison I was alluding to, inshaaAllah.
Moreover, the fitnah of ma’asiyyah is not exclusive to the West of course, but is a rampant reality – universally so (may Allah ta’ala protect us from it and may we give precedence to His worship – aameen).
Surely, Allah Most High Knows Best
Wa Salamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatu
Comment by Bint Amina — June 12, 2007 #
Wa’alaikum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatu to the sister above:)
I don’t agree with you when you say that the fitna is not as exclusive as the west. Muslims who live in the west and are from muslim countries themselves have admitted how severe the fitnah is back in their own countries these days like Egypt, Saudi, Pakistan, Turkey, etc. And the way people dress being one of them, not to mention how much other fitnah there is back there. SubhanAllah, its widespread! All of these muslims are being influenced by the west and have a desire to be like the people of the west.
Ameeeen to your duas sis.
Wa’alailkum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatu.
Comment by MuslimahWarrior — June 12, 2007 #
Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatu ya ukhtee,
To clarify, I said the fitnah was not exclusive to the West, meaning that fitnah is prevalent in other regions of the world as well. May Allaah ta’ala protect us. Aameen. I think we delude ourselves if we think that the West is the embodiment of fitnah and ignore the other such trials and tribulations that occur ‘back home’, as you’ve mentioned.
Indeed, it [fitnah] is something that is widespread; this leads me to the current state of the ummah and its rectification. I think we all recognize we are experiencing a sad state of affairs, and the solution is not (as sister MuslimahWarrior previously alluded to) to blame others for this situation, but rather, to look intrinsically and focus on ourselves.
Shaykh Nasiruddin al-Albanee has said: “The best way to change the evil is for Muslims to repent to their Lord, correct their beliefs, and nurture themselves and their families according to the correct Islam, as Allaah says ” Verily, Allaah does not change a people’s condition unless they change what is in themselves.” (Soorah ar-Ra’d 13:11).
Tasfiyah wa Tarbiyah (Purification and Cultivation) is the key to returning to the glory of Islaam. Incidently, ‘Tasfiyah wa Tarbiyah’ is also the title of a book written by Shaykh Al Albaanee of profound insight, inshaaAllah I hope you all benefit fromn this work.
Wa Salamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatu
BintAmina
Comment by Bint Amina — June 12, 2007 #
Assalam alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatu!
Sorry sis. I misunderstood your post. I must have been wayyy over tired.
Please forgive me.
You are absolutely correct. It is widespread.
SubhanAllah.
May Allah protect us, ameen.
Comment by MuslimahWarrior — June 16, 2007 #
[…] It is amazing how Islam is attacked time and time again because “men can marry four wives.” Instead of taking the defensive, how about this time we look at the hypocrisy in modern culture regarding sexuality? […]
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