Dear Congregation!

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The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ mentioned the following statement in regard to the characteristics of Islam: “Every religion has its characteristics, and the characteristic of Islam is modesty (haya).” According to this prophetic statement modesty (haya) is one of the essential values we need to protect and uphold. We are experiencing a decay of modesty in the times that we are living in and rapidly moving away from such virtuous values. This may be caused primarily by the internet, which in itself is a blessing and a great trial for humanity at the same time. The internet can be a click away from gaining useful information and a click away from having access to a lot of profane content, that corrupts one’s heart. According to statistics one in four searches on the internet is for obscene content. One of these indecent web pages alone receives up to 81 million visitors a day. Unfortunately, there are many Muslims who are part of this figure.

Dear Congregation!

As Muslims we generally prefer not to speak about these topics – they are among the taboo list of areas we avoid speaking about. However, if we avoid speaking about these issues, we cannot provide solutions to these problems. According to research one in ten people are addicted to such obscene content known as pornography. Young men contribute most to these statistics. Engaging in such obscenities dwindles ones mental and spiritual well-being. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: “A furtive glance is one of the poisoned arrows of Shaytan, on whom be God’s curse. Whoever forsakes it for the fear of Allah, will receive from Him a faith – the sweetness of which he will find within his heart.”

Gazing upon the haram (forbidden) can have a permanent impact upon the heart that can get far worse over time, which is the reason it has been likened to a poisonous arrow in the hadith.

Respected Believers!

Engaging with obscene content damages us not only in this life, but in the hereafter as well. A lot of those, who are addicted to such content often cannot admit this reality and thus lose control of their habits. As a result, they tend to become desensitized and can even develop biological dysfunctions, which can harm their marriage. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ warned us with the following statement: “I certainly know people of my ummah who will come on the Day of Resurrection with good deeds like huge white mountains (…) in purity (and greatness) but Allah will make them like scattered dust.”

Thawban (ra) said: O Messenger of Allah, describe them to us and tell us more, so that we will not become of them unknowingly. He ﷺ said: “They are your brothers and from your race, worshipping at night as you do, but they will be people who, when they are alone, transgress the sacred limits of Allah.”

Respected Congregation!

Despite the seriousness of this issue, a believer must not lose hope in the mercy of Allah. Brothers and sisters which fell victim to this addiction must turn to their creator with repentance and ask him for forgiveness while engaging in prayer and fasting. Furthermore, they should keep righteous company and keep themselves busy with beneficial deeds.

Dear Believers!

To conclude the sermon, let us all reflect upon the following verse of the Quran: “Tell the believing men that they must lower their gazes and guard their private parts; it is more decent for them. Surely Allah is All-Aware of what they do.” May our Allah make us among the successful in protecting our eyes from what is indecent and haram; may Allah protect us from those whose deeds are scattered like dust, Amin!

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