Question:
Assalamualaikum,
What are your suggestions for a teenager to avoid from looking at negative matters?
Answer:
Waalaikumussalam wbt,
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
Allah SWT states:
قُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ أَزْكَىٰ لَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ
“Tell the believing men to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what they do.”
Surah al-Nur (30)
Allah SWT also states:
وَقُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا
“And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof,”
Surah al-Nur (31)
Indeed, we would know ourselves better than anyone else. With our mind and heart which are both blessings of Allah SWT, we know which are haram and which are halal. For haram matters, we know that our desires are inclined towards it as stated by the words of Prophet Joesph (Yusuf) AS recorded by Allah SWT in the Quran:
إِنَّ النَّفْسَ لَأَمَّارَةٌ بِالسُّوءِ إِلَّا مَا رَحِمَ رَبِّي
“Indeed, the soul is a persistent enjoiner of evil, except those upon which my Lord has mercy.”
Surah Yusuf (53)
Our desires can be controlled with the process of mujahadah. Among the forms of mujahadah are:
- Surround yourself with pious people and friends
- Avoid places or opportunities for one’s desires to commit sins
- Replace negative things with something positive such as busying oneself with group activities such as charitable efforts and attending religious sermons.
Hopefully, we are blessed with guidance from Allah SWT and be among the people of taqwa.
Wallahua’lam.