I heard a very interesting lecture recently on how to maintain your modesty, wherever you are, particularly on social networking sites. It’s common to see men and women free mixing here, direct messaging and interacting in a way they obviously shouldn’t. To those who do that, stop and think for a while - Do you think you are doing something that would please Allah? Modesty is a branch of Imaan, and when you talk whether through writings or etc to non-mahrams, you are actually lifting your pardah and your modesty. Allah has told us that if our modesty if lifted, we are fit to do anything. To all of us, isn’t modesty a very priceless thing? Are you willing to sell it in the cost of interacting with non-mahrams?
Remember, when a man and a girl are alone, Shaytan is the third person there. When you are tweeting or facebooking, it’s obviously between yourselves, so what makes you think that Shaytan will not intrude and create feelings among you that would lead to haraam? We may wear the Hijab/Niqab, but if our walk, talk, voice or actions attract a man, we are accountable for it and if that happens, you are lifting your modesty. If you may not have any feeling towards the one you are tweeting/facebooking, can you absolutely guarantee that the other person feels the same way about you? If your tweets/status, even if it be a “yes”, “no”, “Hi” or even a “hmm” attracts a non-mahram, what are you going to say when you stand before Allah (SWT) on the Day of Judgement? How are you ever going to justify yourself for talking or attracting a non-mahram?
This is a humble reminder, first to myself and then to the others. Some of us may not reply to non-mahrams, but if they are following us, out tweets/status would appear on their timeline. How can you guarantee that someone will not be attracted to your tweets/status. If a person is drawn to your style of tweeting/writing, he/she might have feeling on you. This, more often than not, ends up with men interacting with girls and vice versa, so I think it's just better to be avoided. Aren’t you accountable to Allah for those feelings you created, although it may be unknowingly. What are you going to tell Allah when He questions you about it in front of the entire mankind on the Day of Judgement? Think for yourself.
I know that some of those reading this will find that it is hard to be accepted, but please remember that you are accountable for each and every action you do on the Day of Judgement. Isn’t the greater Jihaad fighting against your own desires? Do it for the sake of Allah and your sacrifice might be that one thing which may lead you to either Jannah or Jahannam. Allah has told in the Quran that Shaytan makes our deeds fair-seeming to us. Fight against Shaytan and fight against your own self. This is not only for your betterment, but also the betterment for the entire Ummah InshaAllah. And it's not impossible - I've seen a lot of sisters on Twitter and Facebook who have in right there on their bio : "Brothers, don't follow or add me". MashaAllah, I really admire the strength of those sisters and if they can, surely we can as well, right?
A sign of true Imaan is when you fear Allah, both in secret and in public. It might be hard for us to do avoid this temptation, but just think of how happy and pleased out beloved Rabb with be with us. Isn't gaining His pleasure the ultimate thing we all want? If after reading this, you still continue talking to non-mahrams on twitter or facebook, or any other form of socializing, remember that doing a sin even after knowing fully well that it's bad is an even bigger sin. That guilt will always be with you. Do this one sacrifice and see for yourself how rewarding it will be,InshaAllah. It might be tough, but as time goes on you will see that what you did was actually your duty.
Do it solely for the pleasure of Allah and if Allah is pleased with your sacrifice and effort, isn’t that an exceptional honor. Allah will be proud of our sacrifice and He will make it easy for us InshaAllah. For the sake of Allah, please share it and keep sharing it so that other might benefit from this InshaAllah. If this can bring about a change in someone, Allah will reward you for it. May Allah accept all of us.
Aameen.
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