The deluge of temptation

At the beginning of my teens watching ‘kissing scene’ In a movie was something strange to me , I would ‘fast forward’ such scenes. Growing into my puberty , I found watching it interesting , whenever we discussed the film we have watched in our class back then , I’m just tempted to have more as I always felt like I’m lagging behind. After so much plunge into the act . I now watched repeatedly that I sometimes imagine practicing such immoralities myself. Then I upgraded to a stage that it’s no big deal to me anymore.

           The desire to eat and carnal urges are intrinsic factor in human that comes naturally . Looking into a life of neonate , he knows how to show his desire for food when he is hungry without anyone teaching him that . Such happen for sexual urges too. These things will come naturally. It is the program of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala). Now that we have established the  fact that these things is going to happen to us at one point in time. How do we address it ? This will now call us back to our theme “the deluge of temptation”.

         Temptation is becoming overwhelming ; it’s increasing in volume especially when it comes to sexual desires (carnal urges) and dishonourable feelings. The call to action is the needing to pay attention to this (desires and urges) instead of overlooking it or giving brief treatment to such feelings. Trying to get help by confession to someone who can help instead of holding it in

          Tempt according to Oxford dictionary means to attract someone or make someone want to do or have something even if they know it’s wrong . Temptation is therefore the desire to do something knowing fully that is bad . For an individual to be tempted to do something , this implies that there is an instigator whom or which would be the tempter. The chief tempter on earth is shaytan . He has his agents in various forms and versions . He even have so many offspring on earth that works for him.

          Man has always been in a continuous struggle with his soul against the devil. This battle is dated back to the time of our creation . Iblis(devil) when he was banished from heaven as a result of his disobediency and arrogancy, he begged Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) to be repreived till the day of judgement and he was granted . From  that day, he made promise to mislead the children of Adam ( surah Ar-raf verses 12:19). This is telling us that we are not free from the plot of the devil. We all are going to be tempted by him . How are we not going to fall into his plot when he  tempt us carnally? How do we protect ourselves?

          We have to understand that carnal urges is not something we can just sideline as it comes with so many evils it it’s not carefully attended to  . The first thing we have to identify is what are those things that tempt us into having this feeling . Right it comes at sometime in our life but there are factors that instigate it  . These things include social media , exposure to pornography, peer influence, immoralities in the society, reading Ungodly novels, erotic movies, and so on. When will fail to pay attention to our body , all these tempters  might eventually take hold of us leading to  zina (fornication and adultery) of all sort ( the eye , the hand , mouth etc) and even masturbation.

           Many people refuse to be sincere with  themselves when tested with this trial ( sexual urges ), as a result they look for ways to satisfy it illegally among which is masturbation. Arousal of sexual desires for someone that is not married can be ‘killing’. But so many youth who can’t commit fornication results to masturbation which is not Islamical and a sin at that! Masturbation is the manual erotic stimulation of  the genitals or other erotic regions often to orgasm either by oneself or partner.

           “I will be waiting for them In front , behind , besides , above and even below them” , said shaytan. And the most high responded to him that “you won’t have power over my righteous slave who are sincere in their faith . The creator of the universe and all that exist has given us a way out of this temptation . Why should we allow the devil to deluge us in .

           Dishonorable feelings and carnal urges can’t be overlooked , it has to be taken care of . When such desires step-in in life,  We need to make shrift to  those who can be trusted. Those who can councel on how to combat it . It’s not a dangerous thing when it is put under control instead of paying short shrift about it. Sexual desires is not something that can be prevented . So when something cannot be stopped that means we have to put it under control so as to prevent the evils of it . How do we go about this ?

           “Wind will come and storm will be blown” but refuge of stronger foundation will be retained. Carnal urges and ignoble passion are all trials of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) on his slaves. When will build our relationship with Allah . We have a strong refuge where we can always seek protection from all temptations. He guides us and facilitate our affairs in the right way.

           Positive thinking is also a way to avoid falling into temptation of carnal urges and dishonourable thinking. “Every from of evil that we plunge into began as a passing thoughts, then it became a settled thoughts, then a niyyah (i.e I have the intention to commit that sin) , then it becomes a habit . Someone that satisfies his sexual desire through masturbation , the idea first began as a passing thoughts gradually till it becomes an habit which is a bad habit! When the idea fist crept in to the mind , why not a confession , why not look for a way out instead of making short shrift. We have to fill our heart with rememberance of Allah and moisturise our tongue with it . This will prevent all form of evil thought that might eventually lead to the bad action .

           Fasting and marriage is also a way out of the temptation of carnal urges and ignoble passion. “Successful indeed are the believers , those who guard their private parts except from their wives and those who their right hand possess” (surah Al mu’min).  And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquility in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought.(Q30vs21). The noblest of being , prophet Muhammad (saw) said ; Whoever is able to get married should do so , as to satisfy his  carnal urges and do away with ignoble passion . However , those who are not opportune to do so should fast  as this reduce their sexual powers .(sahih Bukhari 5066).

          Temptation from carnal urges has destroyed so many youth life today due to the fact that they decide to ignore the feeling when it crept in.  Many ladies from noble families turn prostitutes due to wrong approach they took when tried with carnal urges. Even many so-called religious elite now fall into this temptation. Some Muslim parents  even shun early marriages for their children all in the name of stupid custom of the elders should marry first , or in the name of education not considering how carnal urges might have been tempting them .

          Among the ways we can reduce this temptation is parents assistance. Parent should assist their children , they should support those of their children who might want to get married but not having the means to do so ! Parent should be their children’s best Friend so that they can open up to them when they need help .

        Islam is a religion that touch all aspect of human life . Our religious elites should change people’s belief towards masaajid as it not just only a place for prayer but for counselling and seeking advice too . It should be a place of refuge for Muslims. Religious leaders should take out time to orient people on this things as this temptation is what is destroying many youth silently . And finally we as Muslims all need to study the life of prophet and the companions . They ask the prophet anything that is not clear to them . They were never shy to do so. We should try and emulate them too .

We ask Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala to guide us and protect us from all evils (ameen)

©Aminat Adejumo

2022