Besides the semi-naked or naked pictures of women and men in these magazines, all of these so called “family” magazines, have regular features of extremely perverse and un-islamic nature. An example of titles from one of the above magazines in one months issue alone is shown: “Land that man, ace your job and look your sexiest ever” “Quickie : Stop keeping dirty daydreams to yourself. Disclose the erotic details to your guy so he’ll get in the mood to make your fantasies real.” “Online’s love and sex expert” “Free! _ Naughty Note Cards: Tuck one in his briefcase or drawer and he’ll be weak-kneed with desire all day” and many others where people are unashamed to describe and seek advice on perveted/immoral things. These are regular features of these so-called “family” magazines. They are also some useful articles like “cooking tips”, “upbringing of children”, medical advice and general news. What response should be given to wife/daugthers/sons who argue that there is only read these articles and feel that disallowing them to buy these magazines is too harsh. Would a husband be justified in preventing his family from purchasing/viewing these magazines as there is no real need to read them and the fact that the harms are far greater then the benefits. The effects of this on the morality of our womenfolk (and men) is become more and more visible in our muslim societies. Can Mufti Saheb offer some advice in dealing with this matter? Jazaakallah Khair.
from the Darul Ifta
Q: Can a person read magazines like Personality, Scope, You, etc. which have
nude pictures, aspects of ‘love making’ as well as some good tips like
recipes and health guidelines?
A: Almighty Allah Ta’ala has created human beings in pairs, males and
females. Every male and female by human nature is attracted to the forms,
shapes and colour of the opposite sex. Similarly males and females are
attracted to some outstanding feminine and masculine qualities respectively.
Attraction to the opposite sex has its positive factors, for example,
marriage, procreation etc. as well as negative factors which includes every
illicit and licentious relationship of incest, rape, masturbation, adultery,
prostitution, etc, etc, etc. Human beings by nature are prone to commit
evil, therefore the sensitive instinct of attraction has to be regulated by
the perfect Divine Laws of Our Creator, Allah Ta’ala who is all knowing
about the nature of mankind. The Quran and the Ahaadith are replete with
orders that protect one from becoming a victim of the negative factors of
attraction to the opposite sex, hence the institution of Hijaab for females,
the prohibition of talking to males with an alluring tone, the prohibition
to apply perfume and exit the home, the prohibition for males and females to
lower their gazes, etc.
Since human beings are prone to evil, they revolt against such laws that
requires them to suppress their desires. In the prime stages of Islam, when
Rasulullah (sallahu alayhi wa sallam) began reciting and propagating the
Quran, which requires a believer to suppress one’s desires and submit to the
Laws of Allah Ta’ala, a mushrik Nadr ibn Haris conspired to import foreign
literature to Makkah Mukkaramah having unIslamic contents in them in order
to impede the propagation of Islam.Almighty Allah Ta’ala has condemned such
literature. He says, ‘And among men are those who purchase lahwal hadeeth
(futile talks) which misleads from the path of Allah Ta’ala without
knowledge, for them is a painful punishment.’ (Luqman – verse 6). Even
today, disbelievers propagate their culture and practices by publishing such
literature and circulating them as widely as possible.
The reason behind the conspiracy is that a human being is stealthy. Just as
he is sensitive to the different seasons of the year, so too is he sensitive
to people’s character and conduct and can be influenced to assume and
imitate other people’s evil character and conduct. Such evil and immoral
behaviour then become his principles of life and govern every aspect of his
life. Allah Ta’ala has pointed out the consequences of such literature as
deviating one from the path of Allah. Such literature has the potential of
actually depriving one of his Islamic values and morals (Maariful Quran
vol.6). Allah Ta’ala mentions in the Quran – “Verily those people who love
to spread evil among the believers, for them is a painful punishment”.
(Noor-verse19)The different types of contemporary magazines, You,
Personality, Scope etc. promotes the western culture of freedom and are
filled with every type of evil, swingers club, pornography, sex over the
phone, contact numbers for prostitutes. Such literature also falls in the
category of lahwal-hadees (futile talks) which deviates one from the
straight path. The negative factors in such magazines outweigh the possible
positive factors in them, for example baking tips, etc. Such beneficial
information could be made available through other avenues. It not
permissible to sell, purchase and read such magazines. The income from
selling such books will be haraam.
Mufti Ebrahim Desai