Question:
Assalamualaikum SS Mufti. I’m a university student in one of the local universities. My roommate would often watch pornographic videos and it is difficult for me to avoid it. My question is, what are the effects of this towards worship if we watch these types of movies and how could I stop it from happening?
Answer:
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.
It is prohibited to look at the aurah of others especially obscene or pornography materials. Allah SWT state:
وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِفُرُوجِهِمْ حَافِظُونَ ﴿٥﴾ إِلَّا عَلَىٰ أَزْوَاجِهِمْ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ غَيْرُ مَلُومِينَ ﴿٦﴾ فَمَنِ ابْتَغَىٰ وَرَاءَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُولَـٰئِكَ هُمُ الْعَادُونَ ﴿٧﴾
“And they who guard their private parts. Except from their wives or those their right hands possess, for indeed, they will not be blamed - But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors.”
Surah al-Mu’minun (5-7)
Syeikh Dr Yusuf al-QAradhawi in his book Taubah Ilallah, cited Ibn Qayyim in his book al-Jawab al-Kafi li Man Saala al-Adawa’ al-Syafi regarding the effects and influences of sins as the following:
- Difficulties in learning
- Impediment of sustenance
- Far from the blessing of Allah SWT
- Isolated and feel left out among people
- Hearts are darkened
- Prevented from obedience
- Shorten one’s life
- Lead to other sins and transgressions
- Weaken the will to do good deeds
- Proud of the sin or transgression
- Inviting humiliation and punishment from Allah SWT
- Considers the sin or transgression as trivial
- Negative effects of transgression on all living creation
- Humiliated in the eyes of people
- Weaken one’s intellect
- Draw curses upon oneself
- Prevented from receiving the supplication of prophets and angels
- Weaken one’s heart towards Allah SWT
- Eliminate blessings
- Negligence upon oneself
- Difficult life
To prevent this shameful act from happening, one should give advice as well as perform amar ma’ruf nahi mungkar. Replace the act with acts of worship such as reciting the Quran or listening to beneficial religious sermons. Avoid being alone and try to surround yourself with good friends that could help and guide us towards goodness. Wallahua’lam.