Opinion Editorials, November 2003, www.aljazeerah.info
Human Price of the Israeli Occupation of Palestine
Israeli daily aggression on the Palestinian people
Mission and meaning of Al-Jazeerah
Cities, localities, and tourist attractions
Proper Control of a Natural Desire
Sayyid Qutb
Arab News, 11/7/03
In the name of God, the Merciful, the Beneficent
Tell believing men to lower their gaze and to be mindful of their chastity. This is most conducive to their purity. God is certainly aware of all that they do.
And tell believing women to lower their gaze and to be mindful of their chastity, and not to display their charms except what may ordinarily appear thereof. Let them draw their head-coverings over their bosoms and not display their charms to any but their husbands, or their fathers, or their husbands’ fathers, or their sons, or their husbands’ sons, or their brothers, or their brothers’ son, or their sisters’ sons, or their womenfolk, or those whom they rightfully possess, or such male attendants as are free of physical desire, or children that are as yet unaware of women’s nakedness. Let them not swing their legs in walking so as to draw attention to their hidden charms. Believers, turn to God in repentance, so that you may achieve success. (Light, Al-Noor: 24: 30-31)
These two verses represent one of the ways Islam uses for achieving its goal of establishing a clean human society. It aims to prevent uncontrollable excitement of the sexual urge. Islam wants the natural sexual urge, of both men and women, to remain healthy, maintaining its natural strength and to satisfy it in the proper, clean manner.
In a certain period of time, an idea was promoted that easy mixing between the two sexes, playful conversation and revealing physical attractions help to provide a relaxed social atmosphere, with no rigid inhibitions. It was said that this is necessary as preventive measure against arbitrary suppression of natural desires and psychological complexes and disorders. It reduces the pressure of the sexual urge and prevents an uncontrollable explosion, etc.
Such ideas were promoted as a result of the advancement of theories that aimed to deprive man of his distinctive characteristics that separate the human race from animals, and to put man at the same level as animals. The most important of these theories was Freud’s. But all this was no more than theoretical assumptions. I have seen with my own eyes, in one permissive society that has abandoned all social, moral and religious restrictions, solid evidence to undermine its very foundation. I have seen in a country that does not place a single restriction on exposing the human body or on sexual relations, in all forms and types, that such freedom in no way refines or controls the sexual urge. On the contrary, it led to an insatiable quest for sexual pleasures. I also saw much of the psychological problems and disorders which were claimed to be triggered only by deprivation and isolation from the other sex. They were on the increase, as were all types of sexual perversion. And all this was a direct result of free, unrestrained mixing between the two sexes, total permissiveness, exposure of much of the human body in the street, seductive gestures, suggestive glances, etc. This is not the place for recording such scenes in detail, but I only have to say that all this indicates the need to revise those theories, which are disproved by what prevails in society.
Attraction to the other sex is both natural and profound, because God has made it the means by which human life continues and man can fulfill his task on earth. It is a permanent attraction that subsides for a while and then regains strength. To stir it at all times is bound to keep it on the boil. Thus, it requires physical satisfaction. If this does not take place, tension will rise and man finds himself in a sort of permanent torture. Excitement takes place through a look, a move, a smile, a joke and even a tone in one’s speech. The best safeguard is to reduce such excitement so that the mutual attraction between man and woman remains within its natural limits, and finds its satisfaction in the proper and natural way. This is the line Islam prefers, coupled with a refinement of human nature and the provision of different concerns that take up considerable human energy. Thus, physical satisfaction of the sexual desire is not the only outlet for such energy. The two verses we are discussing today and next week give us some examples of how Islam helps to reduce chances of excitement and sin: “Tell believing men to lower their gaze and to be mindful of their chastity. This is most conducive to their purity. God is certainly aware of all that they do.” Lowering their gaze is an act of refining men’s manners. It represents an attempt to rise above the desire to look at women’s physical charms. As such, it is a practical step to ensure that the first window of temptation is shut. Minding their chastity is the natural result of lowering their gaze. It is indeed the second step that comes after strengthening one’s will and rising above the natural urge right at the beginning. Hence, the two are stated in the same verse as a cause and effect, or as two consecutive steps both in personal conscience and in reality.
“This is most conducive to their purity.” It ensures that their feelings remain pure, unaffected by licentious desire and promiscuous action. Thus, feelings retain their noble human standards, and do not sink into animal levels. This protects honor, integrity and sanctities within the community. Besides, it is God who lays down such preventive measures, fully aware as He certainly is of people’s psychology, natural instincts, thoughts and motives: “God is certainly aware of all that they do.”
“And tell believing women to lower their gaze and to be mindful of their chastity.” They must not show their hungry or seductive looks at men to arouse their desires. Nor are they permitted any sexual behavior other than what is lawful and clean, satisfying the natural desire in healthy and pure environment. Thus, children that are born as a result will have nothing to be ashamed of when they have to face society and play their roles in it.
“And not to display their charms except what may ordinarily appear thereof.” The Arabic term translated here as “charms” has wider connotations than natural beauty. It includes adornments women add to look more attractive. Such adornments are lawful for women to use, because they satisfy a natural female tendency that makes women always want to look beautiful and attractive. Such adornments differ from one time to another, but whatever form they take, they are meant to satisfy the same natural motive of appearing more beautiful and displaying charms before men.
Since this is a natural tendency, Islam does not suppress it; it brings it under control so that a woman displays her charms before one man, who is her life spouse who sees her as no one else does. In addition, her close relatives who may not be married to her may see some of her charms as well, because their desires are not excited as a result, considering their close relation. However, the charms or adornment that appears in a woman’s face and hands is permissible to see. The Prophet said to Asmaa bint Abu Bakr, his sister-in-law: “Asmaa! When a woman attains puberty, nothing should be seen of her except this (and he pointed to the face and hands).” (Related by Abu Dawood)
We will continue our discussion of this verse next week, God willing.
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| Earth, a planet hungry for peace |
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| The Israeli apartheid (security) wall around Palestinian population centers (Ran Cohen, pmc, 5/24/03). |
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| The Israeli apartheid (security) wall around Palestinian population centers in the West Bank, like a Python. (Alquds,10/25/03). |
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