Video Games, Blockbuster Movies and Television
Shaykh Sulayman Gani, Special to sunniforum.com
The Archbishop of Cantebury, Rowan Williams, is probably right when he says that the greed, superficiality, treachery and adultery depicted in ITVs Footballers Wives is a depressingly accurate parable of modern Britain. The f-word is now ubiquitous in so much British Television Drama and comedy (even the c-word is creeping in) to an extent unimaginable a few years ago. Channel 4s No Angels is a prime example. So dont be shocked when your child embarasses you with an f-word. After all he is an innocent child with an impressionable mind. Sarah Nathan, a deputy TV editor writes that in a new episode of US comedy show The Simpsons, he gets a criminal record for cheating Springfield residents out of wedding presents. So dont be surprised if your child becomes a criminal.
The Messenger of Allah is reported to have said: The world is glamorous and green and Allah has sent you as His vicegerents in it and is looking as to how you are behaving. Beware of the temptations of the world and beware of the mischief of women. The first fitnah that caused the destruction of the Bani Israel was because of women.The Prophet is reported to have said: Whoever guarantees for me what is between his jawbones and what is between his legs (that is, whoever can guarantee that his tongue and private parts will not be involved in forbidden acts), I guarantee for him Paradise. (Recorded by al-Bukhari.)
Also take heed of the following verse of the Holy Quran: O mankind! Verily, the promise of Allah is true. So let not this present life deceive you and let not the chief deceiver deceive you about Allah. Surely Shaytaan is an enemy to you, so take (treat) him as an enemy. He only invites his followers that they may be from the dwellers of the blazing fire. " (Surah Fatir 35:5-6)
Allah says in the Quran, quoting a prayer of the Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him), And disgrace me not on the day (when all creatures) will be resurrected. That Day whereon neither wealth nor sons will avail, except him who comes to Allah with a sound heart. (al-Shuaraa 87-89). How can the heart be sound when the eye is committing zina by remaining glued to the TV? The eye is the window to the heart. The heart is never empty. Either we fill it with the love of Allah and the Prophet or the love of the dunya and desires.
How can the desires be controlled and surpressed if hours of precious time is squandered in front of the TV? It seems as if the TV has become the familys nanny or childminder. But even worse, it has turned into a draconian matron demanding everyones constant attention. With children of all ages the TV is switched on almost constantly in order to accommodate their varying tastes. From Cbeebies , to Neighbours, The Simpsons or Friends and finally the evening round of soaps and lifestyle programmes.So serious is this malady of wasting time that even madressa and school homework is incomplete and for many adults and teenagers, the dust that have accumulated on the covers of the glorious Quran during the eleven months of the year will be wiped just before Holy month of Ramadaan.
So how can a person attain salvation when his Imaan is weak because the key to our salvation is Imaan and Istiqaamah as understood from the following hadith on the authority of Abu Amr- and it is also said Abu Amrah-Sufyaan ibn Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: I said, O Messenger of Allah, tell me a statement about Islam such that I will not have to be firm and steadfast to that. (Recorded by Muslim) The key to Istiqaamah is the soundness of the heart and controlling of our tongue.
Our Imaan can only increase by loving Allah in emulating the life of the Messenger peace be upon him. How can we be true and just in our claim of love for Rasulullah (saw) if we are immitating the lifestyles of the rock stars, pop stars, shock stars and football stars- the likes of David Beckam. A married man with two children but having affairs. Is this your role model? How can we be illuminating our hearts with imaan when we take our Deen as an amusement and a sport by following the Olympics games in Athens. Says Allah: There was for you in the messenger of Allah an excellent example whoever desires Allah and the Last Day."
The result and reward of steadfastness is found in the Quran. Verily, those who say, Our Lord is Allah (alone), and stand firm and steadfast, on them will descend angels at the time of their death, saying), Fear not, nor grieve! But receive the glad tidings of Paradise which you have been promised. We have been your friends and protectors in the life of this world and are (so) in the Hereafter. Therein you shall have (all) that you ask. A hospitable gift from (Allah), the Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.' (Fussilat 30-32).
The proper istiqaamah will only come about when Imaan is firmly rooted in the heart. If the heart is sound the rest of the body will be sound but if the heart is diseased and corrupted the rest of the body will be diseased and corrupted. Penny Hancock is a mother of three TV-mad children. This is what shes got to say after she enforced a total two-week ban: Now that it was gone our lives seemed imbued with a tranquillity we had rarely experienced. Experience it for yourselves. Believe you me its worth the try. So make a start and give it a ban for two weeks before the month of Ramadaan sets in or it may be too late. The soul does not know what is going to transpire the next day. The soul does not know on what part of the land it is going to die. Until the root of the problem is not treated, there can be little hope of purging our communities of the plague of social maladies that are increasing day by day.
An intelligent person is the one who knows that he is going to die and makes immediate preparations for the life of eternal bliss and everlasting happiness by. May Allah illuminate our hearts with Imaan. May Allah give us the tawfeeq to increase in His remembrance. May Almighty give us the willpower to eradicate the evil and disaster from our homes. Shaykh Sulayman Gani is Imam at the Tooting Islamic Centre in London
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