බොදු බල සේනාව කරන්නේ ආණ්ඩුවයි, බුද්ධාගමයි දෙකම විනාශ කිරීමේ කුමන්ත්‍රණයක්

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Pornogrpahy: Why it is Haram & How to deal with it?

Definition of Pornography?

Pornography is defined in the English language as an indecent form of art or literature. Islam also views it as indecent and terms it as faahisha in the Quran.

Allah Ta'ala says (what means): "Say: The things that my Lord has indeed forbidden are: shameful deeds whether open or secret…"(Qur'an 7:33)

Faahishah is translated as "shameful deeds" because it refers to every bad deed that is noticeably ugly to human beings. In many places in the Quran, Allah (Subhaanahu WaTa'ala) refers to zinaa, adultery and fornication as a faahishah. In another verse, Allah (Subhaanahu WaTa'ala) refers to the marrying of one's father's wife also as being a faahishah because, like adultery, anyone with a pure nature will clearly see it as hideous. Allah (Subhaanahu WaTa'ala) also calls the crime of the people of Lut (Alaihis Salaam), homosexuality, a faahishah. Likewise to view pictures of nudity, sexual suggestion, intimacy between two people, or a person of the opposite gender who is improperly covered (Islamically) is also an ugly sin to anyone who wishes to adhere to piety.

Television
One of the most pervasive tools of pornography is the television. Shows like "Dawson's Creek" and "Baywatch" have no other purpose except to display blatant degrees of nakedness and indecent scenes of intimacy. Movies also succeed in conveying lewd imagery by almost always including a love/lust story in the story line. However there are other forms of pornography on TV that are much more subtle. For example, most Muslims would not realize that the viewing of several sports events includes pornographic images. The swimsuits that are worn by both men and woman during the Olympics are iniquitously revealing. They expose the 'awrah of a woman and a man for their respective genders and the opposite gender.

The word 'awrah refers to those parts of the body which are Islamically prohibited to expose in front of another (either the opposite gender or the same gender). For example, it is a must for a woman to cover all of her body except for her face and hands in front of men who are permissible for her to marry - that is her 'awrah. Likewise the man's 'awrah is everything between his navel and knees while in front of a woman or a man. The skimpy swimsuits worn by these athletes just don't meet the Islamic dress code.

Underwear Ads

Another subtle example regards women who view advertisements that contain pictures of other women modeling bras and underwear. The 'awrah of Muslim women in front of other Muslim women doesn't allow these areas of the body to be exposed and hence it is haram for even a woman to view them.

It is also important to keep in mind that a person could be "clothed but naked" as Rasoolullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wa Salaam) said. For example, competitors in races usually wear some sort of bodysuit that adheres very tightly to their skin and the exact shape of their body parts is apparent. This is almost equivalent to being naked, since it doesn't take much imagination to figure out what is under such type of clothing.

Lowering the Gaze

When such images become prevalent in a society, what is deemed pornographic changes drastically. The very standard of modesty, which should be a defining characteristic of Muslim dress and behavior, will become degraded. The Islamic standard must be upheld. The true believer fears Allah's judgement and knows that no act will go unaccounted for and that even his own eyes will bear witness against him on the Day of Judgement. Allah (Subhaanahu WaTa'ala) says: "Until, when they reach it (Hell-Fire) their hearing and eyes and skin will testify against them as to what they used to do." Rasoolullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wa Salaam) warned us that there is a zinaa of the eyes just as there is a zinaa of the private parts.

The Islamic solution to living in a society where pornographic images are so visible is to lower one's gaze.

Allah (Subhaanahu WaTa'ala) says: "Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: and Allah is well aquainted with all they do. And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof… "(Qur'an 24:30-31)

The scholars of tafseer say that this means that both men and woman are obliged to direct their sight away from that which is haram and that there is no harm in looking at that which is halal (such as viewing one's spouse while they are uncovered).

In regard to these verses Ibn al-Qayyim (rahimahullah) says: "So He (Allah) put purity after lowering of the gaze and protecting of the private parts. For this reason lowering the gaze away from the prohibited things warrants three great benefits. The first of them is the sweetness of Imaan and the pleasure that comes from it, which is more sweet and pleasing than that which he diverted his eyes away from for Allah's sake. Verily, whoever abandons a thing for Allah's sake, He (Subhaanahu WaTa'ala) compensates him with better than it…The second benefit is a light in the heart and quality of intuition… and the third benefit is the strength of the heart and steadfastness and courage. So Allah (Subhaanahu WaTa'ala) would give him, by His strength, the ability of wisdom and substantiation, and the devil would flee from him as it has been mentioned in the saying, "Whoever fears his whims, the devil would race out of his shadow."

Indeed, the opposite is also true. This is because the eyes are the most direct path to the heart. One who allows his whims to overwhelm him and indulges his eyes in the viewing of haram things has weakened his heart, corrupted his soul, and invited shaytan to control him.

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The Prophet Muhammad was reported to have said: “Each of you is a shepherd and each of you is responsible for his flock …” [Abu Dawud]

As described in the hadith above, all of us are answerable to our subjects. As managers, we are shepherds too and are answerable in two ways:

1. As a servant who is a guardian over the property of his master (the employer).
2. As a caliph who is a shepherd over the people and shall be questioned about his subjects (the subordinates).

This two-way balance is a tight rope to walk on, which often results in one of the two sides being offended. A manager who is productive leads his team to realize the vision of the organization that they all are a part of. He has to direct his sheep in the right direction, guarding them and not allowing them to go astray. On top of that, there may be ‘black sheep’ that he needs to identify and prevent from leading others astray.

Productive Team, Productive Manager

For a manager to be productive, he should have a productive team. However, that is not always possible since, in most cases, teams are composed of individuals with varied levels of qualifications and experience. It becomes imperative for a manager to groom his team members so they can fulfill their fullest potential. You are a manager because you are considered to be most qualified and experienced among your team members. Below are some of the qualities a manager should possess to make himself and his team more productive.

Lead by Example

Your team works under your guidance. At times when they are stuck, you need to roll up your sleeves and get involved to solve critical issues. While doing so, you should not be boasting your contribution or belittling theirs.

The companions of the Holy Prophet were die-hard soldiers and never wanted any pain for him. Yet many a time, the Prophet joined them in digging trenches, toiling in the battle grounds and even in building Al-Masjid an-Nabawi brick by brick, ”… The Prophet himself started carrying unburnt bricks for its building …” [Bukhari]

You need to build your team, task by task, project by project. If there is something on which your team is at odds with you, but you know your decision to be correct, you need to persuade others.One of the ways to do this is to start doing the action yourself. They will automatically follow suit, In sha Allah.

A similar thing happened when most of the companions did not agree with the concessions given to the opponents in the treaty of Hudaibiyya. They were reluctant to come out of the state of Ihram without performing the Umrah. The Holy Prophet continued with what he thought was right. He then “… slaughtered the sacrifice and called his barber who shaved his head. Seeing that, the companions of the Prophet got up, slaughtered their sacrifices, and started shaving the heads of one another …” [Bukhari]

Integrity is Better Than Intelligence

This is a management saying and generally applied by recruitment specialists who are faced with a trade-off between the intelligence and honesty of a candidate. Many of them prefer a honest candidate over an intelligent one.

Managers can apply this concept to themselves too. Being intelligent is a part of your job because your position demands so, but you need to be honest while executing your affairs dealing with your subjects.

The Holy Prophet said: “Any man whom Allah has given the authority of ruling some people, and he does not look after them in an honest manner, will never feel even the smell of Paradise.” [Bukhari]

Be Just

As a manager, one of the biggest trials you may face is being just, especially in a multicultural, multilingual and multi-ethnic environment. Personal likes and dislikes based on these factors tend to creep in while making decisions affecting the team, preventing them to be well-knitted. If two or more members are at odds with one another and you are required to be a judge, you must be just. Favoring a member over the other based on your personal preference causes resentments within the team and you will also lose respect.

The Holy Qur’an asks us to be just: “O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm for Allah, witnesses in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is acquainted with what you do.” [Qur’an: Chapter 5, Verse 8]

There are numerous narrations of the Holy Prophet delivering just verdicts, no matter the person’s background or religion. In one such incident, the Prophet relied on the oath of a defendant Jew even though the claimant was a Muslim because the latter lacked evidence to prove his claim. The dispute between Ash’ath bin Qais and a Jewish man is detailed in Sunan Ibn Majah.

Be Cheerful

If your absence makes people cheerful and your entrance brings silence in the office, you are an authoritarian manager and not a lenient one.

The Holy Prophet told Aisha : “… be lenient, for leniency makes a thing decorated and when it is removed from a thing it makes it defective.” [Abu Dawud]

Also Mu’adh was advised by the Holy Prophet while being sent to Yemen on a mission: “Show leniency (to the people); don’t be hard upon them; give them glad tidings; and do not create aversion. Work in collaboration and don’t be divided.” [Muslim]

Being friendly and cheerful with your subordinates makes them feel comfortable. Creating a friendly atmosphere is a way to invite their ideas, whereas a restricted environment prevents them from sharing their ideas. The Holy Prophet said: “Do not belittle any good deed, even meeting your brother (Muslim) with a cheerful face.” [Muslim]

Avoid using harsh words since “Allah is Gentle and loves gentleness, and He grants reward for it that He does not grant for harshness.” [Ibn Majah]

Be a Mentor

Your success as a manager depends on the strength of your team. To make your team strong, you have to be a mentor. Organize training and workshops for them depending on their job function, then meet them regularly to provide some insights on what you have gained through your overall experience. Let them have a feeling of ‘growing together’.

Be Flexible

If your organization allows, you may also try flexible working hours for your workers. Flexibility in working hours sometime enables them to fulfill their household duties too, like dropping or picking kids to or from school, or attending to an ailing loved one. If required to work at odd hours, taking advantage of information technology, you may also consider allowing a member to work from home. This is definitely a possible option since we live in an age where a person can connect to his office network from his home computer.

Focus on Issues at Hand

Keeping yourself focused on the task at hand leads to better management and quicker delivery. Make your meetings conclusive by discussing and deliberating only the purpose of the meeting. Do not let your attention divert from the topic and remind others to stick to the agenda. If any other topic comes up, politely ask them to keep it aside for a separate discussion. This will not only keep you focused on one task at a time, but your colleagues’ time will be better utilized too. Once you have finished the meeting, write the minutes and circulate among the stakeholders what you have discussed and decided. Even if the meeting was inconclusive, it is better to write and circulate the minutes so the attendees can recall what you already discussed and what needs to be discussed during the next meeting.

Consultation and Participation

When the Makkan army marched towards Madinah, the Prophet wanted to defend Madinah from within. But it was the suggestion of some companions, most of them in their youth, to go out and fight. He agreed to their advice and thus the historic battle at Uhud took place.

As a manager, you must consult your team and invite the participation of the younger members as well. This serves as a big motivation and generates a sense of involvement of even the less experienced ones. Decisions based on consultations often yield productive results. The Quran also emphasizes on consultation: “… and consult them in the matter…” [Qur’an: Chapter 3, Verse 159]

Convince, not Confuse

You do not have to adopt the “If not convinced, confuse” theory. If you do, you are bound to lose trust among your team and co-workers. If someone comes to you with his problem, he comes with a hope of getting a solution from you. You need to address his concerns rather than using jugglery of words and making the situation confusing and worse for him.

Moreover, confusing someone deliberately is akin to misguiding him. Keep things simple and explanation clear. If they are not convinced, try different means of communication to explain, such as explaining through writing, or a graphical display, or any other form of presentation.

Trust Your Team

Adopt a non-interference doctrine once you have assigned a task to your team. Frequent follow-up bugs them. The individuals in the team will then try to finish off the tasks ‘quickly anyhow’, rather than completing correctly and efficiently. Give them some breathing space and let them be on their own to perform, unless you see something going wrong or your interference is extremely necessary. Instead, design a follow-up meeting schedule to review their progress on the tasks.

Rotate Tasks

Adopt a policy of ‘cyclic rotation’ of tasks if there are more members in the team and adopt the ‘hand-shake’ method when exchanging tasks between two members. Performing the same task daily makes it monotonous for them. Newer assignments provides them with an opportunity to learn something new, making them more interested in their jobs. Different ideas from different individual adds value to the way certain tasks are being done. One of the benefits of exchanging and rotating tasks is that you are not left limping with an unexpected resignation or temporary unavailability of a member who was handling critical tasks of which nobody else is aware.

Maintaining your team as a unit ensures greater productivity. Building a team is a managerial skill, but it can be considered an act of virtue too in light of how the Holy Prophet joined the emigrants and the ansar together as brothers for a mission. When an employee leaves, the manager also needs to self-reflect. As many management experts say, “The employee does not leave an organization, he leaves the manager.”

I hope these tips will inspire you in your professional and personal lives. If you have any other tips or comments, feel free to share them in the Comments section below.

About the Author:

The writer is a Middle East-based IT systems analyst originally from Aurangabad, India. He writes on various issues pertaining to the Muslim world. He can be contacted at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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All Ceylon Jamiyathul Ulama conveys its sincere thanks to the Sri Lankan Muslim community for abiding by the guidance provided by our organizing in the past period when various adversities were lobbed at them. We also congratulate the Lankan Muslims for acting in the most pleasant and judicious manner with forbearance thus contributing to preserve peace and harmony in our Motherland.

ACJU once again reminds our people that we should always turn towards the teachings of the Holy Qur’an and exemplary ways of our beloved Prophet (Sal) and his Companions for solutions for any and every crisis that come our way.

Sri Lanka Muslims have a historic reputation as an uncomplicated ethnic group that exists congenially with all the communities that live in this country and as an affable religious minority that always gives prominence for national welfare, unity and harmony. ACJU asserts the importance of steadfastly maintaining that good repute, especially in these turbulence times when we have become a chosen target for provocation.

Muslims are pointedly proscribed from insulting other faiths and the Holy Qur’an enjoins as follows in this regard:

‘And insult not those whom they (disbelievers) worship besides Allah, lest they insult Allah wrongfully without knowledge’
-Sura Al An Aam 108

However, Muslims have become more hurt by the latest stunt of the Bodu Bala Sena organization, in which it has started to make horrendous remarks against the Holy Qur’an by misinterpreting its commands and spitefully commenting on its verses out of context.

Along with other false allegations that could be disproved in no time, the BBS propagates that there is a concept in Islam called ‘Thaqiya’ as facilitated by the Holy Qur’an which allows Muslims to defraud people of other faiths and that makes lawful for Muslims to acquire properties and wealth of non Muslims by cheating them. This incredulous allegation have deeply disturbed the local Muslims and it might agitate global Muslims as well which is not going to profit our country in anyway. Especially in these times when the entire world is scrutinizing us.

We are hoping to soon secure an audience with His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa as well as one with Ven. Chief Prelate of the Asgiri Chapter to make an appeal in this regard with the ultimate hope that necessary steps would be taken to put an end to these atrocities that clearly have surpassed all the limits.

In the meantime, we call our community to continue to be patient and prudent in these chaotic times as certain evil elements eagerly watch for a single slip from our side to ignite nationwide mayhem. We also request Muslims to make additional supplication to Almighty Allah, soon after the forthcoming Jumu’a Prayer to bring about lasting peace and unity to our country.

Ash Sheikh M. M. A. Mubarak
General Secretary,All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama

http://www.acju.lk/press-release/co-existence/