WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.720 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 00:00:03.620 --> 00:00:05.740 The story of our mother Eve. 00:00:08.279 --> 00:00:12.259 O Eve, do not approach that which is forbidden. 00:00:14.169 --> 00:00:15.390 O Eve. 00:00:15.769 --> 00:00:19.789 Some people argue about the issues of what is forbidden and what is permitted. 00:00:20.109 --> 00:00:26.010 They demand a Qur'anic text for every matter labeled as forbidden. 00:00:26.589 --> 00:00:29.050 And the reason is that these people, in reality, 00:00:29.170 --> 00:00:32.850 are among those whom Satan has misled and diverted from the path. 00:00:33.250 --> 00:00:37.869 It has reached the point where they even deny that Allah has forbidden alcohol, 00:00:38.070 --> 00:00:41.130 despite the explicit verse in the Qur'an. 00:00:41.490 --> 00:00:46.450 The cause is their failure to understand the speech of Allah and the language of the Arabs. 00:00:47.060 --> 00:00:52.700 We have a lesson in the story of our mother Eve regarding the understanding of Qur'anic expressions, 00:00:52.979 --> 00:00:56.579 and the educational dimensions they contain. 00:00:57.240 --> 00:00:58.640 Allah the Almighty says: 00:00:59.289 --> 00:01:06.650 "And We said, 'O Adam, dwell, you and your wife, in Paradise and eat..." 00:01:06.930 --> 00:01:15.329 "...therefrom in [ease and] abundance from wherever you will. But do not approach this tree, lest you be among the wrongdoers.'" 00:01:16.489 --> 00:01:18.370 He forbade them from approaching it, 00:01:18.689 --> 00:01:21.170 and did not merely forbid them from eating from it. 00:01:21.730 --> 00:01:24.129 So, is it permissible for them to eat from it? 00:01:24.989 --> 00:01:27.670 Al-Tahir Ibn 'Ashur, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 00:01:28.230 --> 00:01:29.069 His statement: 00:01:29.549 --> 00:01:31.870 "But do not approach this tree," 00:01:32.269 --> 00:01:36.069 is a stronger warning than simply forbidding them from eating from it. 00:01:36.590 --> 00:01:41.189 This is because the prohibition against approaching it serves to block the means that lead to eating from it. 00:01:41.959 --> 00:01:45.920 This means that preventing the precursors to an act 00:01:46.280 --> 00:01:49.079 is a prevention of falling into the act itself. 00:01:49.739 --> 00:01:52.340 And here lies the danger, O Eve. 00:01:52.780 --> 00:01:54.579 The precursors to the forbidden, 00:01:55.140 --> 00:01:58.540 may not appear to you as something that will cause you to fall into the forbidden, 00:01:58.980 --> 00:02:02.980 but they will drag you, step by step, into the forbidden. 00:02:03.620 --> 00:02:07.579 That is why the scholars have established the principle of "blocking the means" (sadd al-dhara'i') to prohibited things, 00:02:07.900 --> 00:02:09.500 as a protection for your honor. 00:02:10.550 --> 00:02:13.270 Muhammad Rashid Rida, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 00:02:14.020 --> 00:02:17.500 "The prohibition against approaching a thing is more emphatic than the prohibition against the thing itself," 00:02:18.060 --> 00:02:20.180 as we have explained in the Tafsir. 00:02:20.780 --> 00:02:23.900 “It is made lawful for you to go in unto your wives on the night of the fast. They are raiment for you and ye are raiment for them. Allah is Aware that ye were deceiving yourselves in this respect and He hath turned in mercy toward you and relieved you. So hold intercourse with them and seek that which Allah hath ordained for you, and eat and drink until the white thread becometh distinct to you from the black thread of the dawn. Then strictly observe the fast till nightfall and touch them not, but be at your devotions in the mosques. These are the limits imposed by Allah, so approach them not. Thus Allah expoundeth His revelation to mankind that they may ward off (evil).” (2:187) 00:02:24.659 --> 00:02:30.099 It necessitates staying away from the sources of doubt that entice one toward it and lead to it, 00:02:30.419 --> 00:02:32.099 out of piety and precaution. 00:02:32.740 --> 00:02:36.139 Whoever falls into doubtful matters falls into the forbidden, 00:02:36.699 --> 00:02:38.939 like a shepherd grazing his flock around a protected sanctuary; 00:02:39.259 --> 00:02:41.020 he is on the verge of falling into it. 00:02:41.460 --> 00:02:43.180 As mentioned in the hadith. 00:02:44.210 --> 00:02:45.930 This is another meaning 00:02:46.250 --> 00:02:48.689 that Sheikh Rashid Rida points to, 00:02:49.169 --> 00:02:50.969 which is staying away from doubtful matters, 00:02:51.490 --> 00:02:55.009 in accordance with the hadith of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. 00:02:55.729 --> 00:02:58.289 So, if a matter becomes doubtful to you, O Eve, 00:02:58.849 --> 00:02:59.650 then leave it. 00:03:00.250 --> 00:03:05.610 For in the clear, permissible things, there is enough to suffice you from doubtful and forbidden things. 00:03:07.259 --> 00:03:08.180 O Eve, 00:03:08.819 --> 00:03:12.659 your mother was only forbidden from eating from a specific tree, 00:03:13.219 --> 00:03:15.699 and everything else in Paradise was made permissible for her. 00:03:16.419 --> 00:03:20.259 But Satan diverted her attention from the vast permissible, 00:03:20.819 --> 00:03:22.979 and focused it on the narrow forbidden. 00:03:23.659 --> 00:03:25.900 So, be aware of Satan's methods. 00:03:26.800 --> 00:03:29.039 Sayyid Qutb, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 00:03:29.759 --> 00:03:32.759 The Qur'an remains silent on the identity of this tree, 00:03:33.400 --> 00:03:38.000 because identifying its species adds nothing to the wisdom behind its prohibition. 00:03:38.599 --> 00:03:42.479 This suggests that the prohibition itself is what is intended. 00:03:43.389 --> 00:03:46.469 Allah permitted them to enjoy the permissible, 00:03:46.990 --> 00:03:49.789 and instructed them to abstain from the forbidden. 00:03:50.550 --> 00:03:54.349 There must be a forbidden thing from which this species learns 00:03:54.669 --> 00:03:56.189 to stand at a limit, 00:03:56.909 --> 00:04:00.110 and to train the will embedded in its nature, 00:04:00.550 --> 00:04:03.710 with which it controls its desires and passions, 00:04:04.310 --> 00:04:07.870 and rises above these desires and passions. 00:04:08.710 --> 00:04:12.830 Thus, it remains a master over them, not ruled by them like an animal. 00:04:13.590 --> 00:04:16.110 This is the characteristic of a human being, 00:04:16.670 --> 00:04:19.110 by which he is distinguished from the animal, 00:04:19.589 --> 00:04:22.509 and through which the meaning of being human is realized within him. 00:04:24.339 --> 00:04:25.339 O Eve, 00:04:26.100 --> 00:04:30.019 prohibition is a test of the strength of your will. 00:04:30.579 --> 00:04:32.540 So, strive to succeed in it. 00:04:33.490 --> 00:04:35.490 Abu Zahra, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 00:04:36.250 --> 00:04:39.810 Allah the Almighty called Adam by his name to honor him. 00:04:40.529 --> 00:04:44.490 He permitted him to dwell with his wife Eve in Paradise, 00:04:45.089 --> 00:04:48.889 and to eat from it wherever he wished of its fruits, 00:04:49.449 --> 00:04:52.089 in any part of it he desired. 00:04:52.850 --> 00:04:56.050 But He forbade them from a specific tree, 00:04:56.610 --> 00:05:00.089 as a test of the strength of their souls and their will, 00:05:00.769 --> 00:05:04.689 and to repel the temptation of Iblis toward them wherever he intended. 00:05:05.529 --> 00:05:08.209 He clarified that if they ate from it, 00:05:08.730 --> 00:05:10.290 they would be among the wrongdoers, 00:05:10.649 --> 00:05:12.490 for disobeying the command of their Lord, 00:05:12.970 --> 00:05:14.730 and for the weakness of their will. 00:05:15.529 --> 00:05:16.610 The root of wrongdoing 00:05:17.009 --> 00:05:18.730 is the weakness of the wrongdoer's will. 00:05:19.569 --> 00:05:24.329 Allah's prohibition to them was not to approach this tree, 00:05:25.050 --> 00:05:26.329 and the prohibition against approaching 00:05:26.689 --> 00:05:28.769 is a prohibition against eating, a fortiori. 00:05:29.600 --> 00:05:31.519 We do not know what this tree is, 00:05:32.120 --> 00:05:34.040 so let us not try to identify it, 00:05:34.519 --> 00:05:37.240 as long as Allah the Almighty has not named it. 00:05:38.040 --> 00:05:39.319 But Iblis 00:05:39.600 --> 00:05:43.439 found the door through which he could enter to whisper to them. 00:05:44.600 --> 00:05:49.560 These are some examples that have been forbidden to us under the principle of "blocking the means," 00:05:50.120 --> 00:05:51.920 so that we do not fall into the forbidden. 00:05:52.819 --> 00:05:53.899 Allah the Almighty says: 00:05:54.740 --> 00:05:59.459 “Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and be modest. That is purer for them. Lo! Allah is aware of what they do.” (24:30) 00:06:00.139 --> 00:06:01.699 "That is purer for them." 00:06:02.379 --> 00:06:05.660 “Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and be modest. That is purer for them. Lo! Allah is aware of what they do.” (24:30) 00:06:06.379 --> 00:06:12.139 “And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest, and to display of their adornment only that which is apparent, and to draw their veils over their bosoms, and not to reveal their adornment save to their own husbands or fathers or husbands' fathers, or their sons or their husbands' sons, or their brothers or their brothers' sons or sisters' sons, or their women, or their slaves, or male attendants who lack vigour, or children who know naught of women's nakedness. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And turn unto Allah together, O believers, in order that ye may succeed.” (24:31) 00:06:13.209 --> 00:06:15.129 Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 00:06:15.920 --> 00:06:19.360 Since lowering the gaze is the foundation for guarding one's chastity, 00:06:19.839 --> 00:06:20.879 He began by mentioning it. 00:06:21.560 --> 00:06:24.680 And since its prohibition is a prohibition of the means, 00:06:25.279 --> 00:06:27.439 it is permitted for a greater benefit, 00:06:28.120 --> 00:06:30.560 and forbidden if corruption is feared from it, 00:06:31.120 --> 00:06:34.680 and no greater benefit outweighs that corruption. 00:06:35.319 --> 00:06:38.360 He, glory be to Him, did not command lowering it absolutely, 00:06:38.920 --> 00:06:40.519 but commanded lowering part of it. 00:06:41.279 --> 00:06:42.639 As for guarding one's chastity, 00:06:43.199 --> 00:06:44.879 it is mandatory in every case, 00:06:45.279 --> 00:06:47.279 and not permitted except through its rightful means. 00:06:47.879 --> 00:06:50.360 Therefore, He commanded its protection. 00:06:51.540 --> 00:06:55.060 Allah, glory be to Him, has made the eye the mirror of the heart. 00:06:55.819 --> 00:06:57.540 So, if the servant lowers his gaze, 00:06:58.060 --> 00:07:00.620 the heart lowers its desire and intent. 00:07:01.379 --> 00:07:02.860 And if he lets his gaze roam, 00:07:03.420 --> 00:07:05.180 the heart lets its desire roam. 00:07:06.180 --> 00:07:08.500 So do not let your gaze roam, O Eve, 00:07:08.980 --> 00:07:10.579 lest you fall into the forbidden. 00:07:11.500 --> 00:07:15.540 Another example occurred to the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:07:15.540 --> 00:07:17.259 with his wife Safiyyah. 00:07:17.899 --> 00:07:20.300 Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, said regarding it: 00:07:21.110 --> 00:07:26.709 When Safiyyah, may Allah be pleased with her, came to visit him, peace be upon him, 00:07:26.709 --> 00:07:27.910 while he was in retreat (i'tikaf), 00:07:28.629 --> 00:07:31.629 he stood up with her to escort her to her house. 00:07:32.230 --> 00:07:34.629 Two men from the Ansar saw them, 00:07:35.310 --> 00:07:36.029 and he said: 00:07:36.589 --> 00:07:37.910 "Take it easy, 00:07:38.389 --> 00:07:40.589 she is Safiyyah bint Huyayy." 00:07:41.430 --> 00:07:42.269 They said: 00:07:42.750 --> 00:07:45.110 "Subhan Allah, O Messenger of Allah!" 00:07:45.990 --> 00:07:46.709 He said: 00:07:47.350 --> 00:07:50.949 "Indeed, Satan flows through the son of Adam like blood. 00:07:51.629 --> 00:07:55.350 I feared that he might cast evil into your hearts." 00:07:56.139 --> 00:07:58.860 He blocked the means to their thinking ill of him 00:07:59.379 --> 00:08:01.740 by informing them that she was Safiyyah. 00:08:02.759 --> 00:08:06.240 So do not go, O Eve, to places of suspicion, 00:08:06.680 --> 00:08:08.199 lest you be thought ill of. 00:08:08.759 --> 00:08:15.040 And do not adorn yourself in a way that makes those who see you think you are adorning yourself with the forbidden. 00:08:15.980 --> 00:08:17.259 A final example 00:08:17.740 --> 00:08:21.540 is one of the calamities of this time in some societies, 00:08:22.139 --> 00:08:25.459 which is a woman marrying herself off without a guardian (wali). 00:08:26.379 --> 00:08:28.300 Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 00:08:29.019 --> 00:08:34.379 The prohibition of a woman gifting herself to anyone other than the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:08:35.019 --> 00:08:36.059 the secret of this is 00:08:36.700 --> 00:08:39.220 that in the opposite of this, and the failure to observe it, 00:08:39.779 --> 00:08:43.820 lies a means to the occurrence of fornication in the guise of marriage. 00:08:44.419 --> 00:08:45.500 As in the narration: 00:08:46.220 --> 00:08:49.620 "The adulteress is she who marries herself off." 00:08:50.500 --> 00:08:53.419 For there is no adulteress who says, 00:08:54.019 --> 00:08:57.620 "I marry myself to you for such-and-such" in secret from her guardian, 00:08:58.220 --> 00:09:00.299 without witnesses or public announcement, 00:09:00.779 --> 00:09:03.620 and without a wedding feast, tambourine, or sound, 00:09:04.019 --> 00:09:05.100 but that she has done it. 00:09:05.970 --> 00:09:09.009 It is known with certainty that the corruption of adultery 00:09:09.330 --> 00:09:12.450 is not negated by her saying, "I have wed myself to you," 00:09:12.850 --> 00:09:14.409 or "I have married myself to you," 00:09:14.929 --> 00:09:17.450 or "I have made myself permissible to you for such-and-such." 00:09:18.230 --> 00:09:20.789 If the corruption of adultery were negated by that, 00:09:21.350 --> 00:09:25.269 it would be one of the easiest matters for her and the man. 00:09:25.990 --> 00:09:28.429 Therefore, the Lawgiver has magnified the importance of this contract, 00:09:28.950 --> 00:09:33.669 and blocked the means to its resemblance to adultery by every path. 00:09:34.710 --> 00:09:37.750 We will continue in a future meeting, if Allah wills. 00:09:38.269 --> 00:09:41.190 And praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.