The phenomenon of relapse after commitment: a young man was with the youth, and perhaps he memorized some of the Qur'an and attended some of the lessons of knowledge
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The questioner : He says: Your Eminence, it is a phenomenon, may Allah the Exalted not make it widespread, but we wish for you to treat it before it spreads, and that is: the phenomenon of relapse after commitment. A young man was with the youth, and perhaps he memorized some of the Qur'an and attended some of the lessons of knowledge. But he—may Allah protect us from that—changed his state, whether with his former companions, or with his family, or in the mosque of his neighborhood. So what is your advice to him and those like him? And what is the obligation of the one who knows of his state?
The Shaykh : First, I see that this is pessimism, meaning the statement that relapse is widespread or has become widespread or the like. And I see that many young men—praise be to Allah—have started to commit themselves to the religion. And those who relapsed had something in their hearts before the relapse. But it did not materialize, so they relapsed. But they are a minority—praise be to Allah. And most of the youth are on the straight path. And there is no doubt that relapse has causes. And one of its greatest causes is: what exists in the satellite channels, which we ask Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, in this place, to empower the government to eliminate them, so that there is safety and so that there is stability. And we do not see anything greater for stability than the exaltation of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, and staying away from His prohibitions. And if people are restrained by honor, that is security. And the one who does not give security except out of fear of the ruler, his security is weak. And he will seize the opportunity. But if his security is by faith, that is what remains. And these satellite channels—the dishes—there is no doubt that they rob faith, they rob..., in them is a calamity that makes the skin shudder, and the livers are cut apart, and the hearts tremble. In them are things we hear about, meaning, not even animals do them—may Allah protect us from that. Competitions for lying, for prostitution, and for baseness. Things that make the head gray. They make children gray. If the youth watch such things, then perhaps they will not be blamed if they relapse—may Allah protect us from that. But we do not excuse them—the youth. It is obligatory for the youth to boycott them, and not to sit to them, and not to talk about them; this is the obligation. But with that, we ask Allah, Mighty and Majestic, to empower the government over these dishes, and to prohibit them strictly. And that is not difficult for Allah. And they are, if Allah wills, capable of that. And we hope that they will do it. Yes.
The Shaykh : First, I see that this is pessimism, meaning the statement that relapse is widespread or has become widespread or the like. And I see that many young men—praise be to Allah—have started to commit themselves to the religion. And those who relapsed had something in their hearts before the relapse. But it did not materialize, so they relapsed. But they are a minority—praise be to Allah. And most of the youth are on the straight path. And there is no doubt that relapse has causes. And one of its greatest causes is: what exists in the satellite channels, which we ask Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, in this place, to empower the government to eliminate them, so that there is safety and so that there is stability. And we do not see anything greater for stability than the exaltation of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, and staying away from His prohibitions. And if people are restrained by honor, that is security. And the one who does not give security except out of fear of the ruler, his security is weak. And he will seize the opportunity. But if his security is by faith, that is what remains. And these satellite channels—the dishes—there is no doubt that they rob faith, they rob..., in them is a calamity that makes the skin shudder, and the livers are cut apart, and the hearts tremble. In them are things we hear about, meaning, not even animals do them—may Allah protect us from that. Competitions for lying, for prostitution, and for baseness. Things that make the head gray. They make children gray. If the youth watch such things, then perhaps they will not be blamed if they relapse—may Allah protect us from that. But we do not excuse them—the youth. It is obligatory for the youth to boycott them, and not to sit to them, and not to talk about them; this is the obligation. But with that, we ask Allah, Mighty and Majestic, to empower the government over these dishes, and to prohibit them strictly. And that is not difficult for Allah. And they are, if Allah wills, capable of that. And we hope that they will do it. Yes.