What is your advice for one who wastes his time playing cards, watching satellite channels, and other forbidden things?
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The questioner : May the mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you.
The Shaykh : Peace be upon you, and Allah's mercy and blessings.
The questioner : We have a group of young men living in old, ruined houses. After visiting this group, we found that they are engaged in a number of wrongs. Unfortunately, this is a phenomenon that has spread in many countries and societies. We found some of these young men sitting watching satellite channels, and some of them playing cards. In general, they spend their time in things that are of no benefit. After visiting them, they wished to hear from you some words on this topic and some advice. Perhaps we can pass this tape on to them, and may Allah will that this tape be a cause of their guidance. May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : First: Why did they choose these old, ruined houses?
The questioner : So that they would be far from the new neighborhoods and from people and so on.
The Shaykh : I mean, on the outskirts of the country.
The questioner : And the rent is lower.
The Shaykh : On the outskirts of the country?
The questioner : Yes, the houses where our ancestors used to live long ago; they have returned to them.
The Shaykh : I mean, inside the town.
The questioner : Inside the town.
The Shaykh : Now, as for the answer to what you mentioned: The truth is that, unfortunately, the youth have fallen into emptiness, complete emptiness. You know that emptiness is one of the greatest causes of corruption, as the wise poet said:
"Youth, emptiness, and wealth *** are a corruption for a man, what a corruption"
Therefore, these young men should seize the time of their youth in what pleases Allah (Mighty and Majestic), whether by seeking knowledge, studying among themselves, reading tafsir or hadith, or reading other beneficial books. They should avoid gossip, backbiting, foul speech, describing women, and the like. They should also avoid these temptations that are spread on video, on satellite channels, or on television, for by Allah, it is a deadly poison that destroys a person's character first and then his creed. Because if the character is corrupted, everything is corrupted. For this reason, Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Isra 17:32] This means a bad path, not just for the sake of zina and satisfying desire, but because it causes a person's heart to turn away from Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) and turn toward the causes of His anger and wrath. My advice to these young men is not to waste their youth in such forbidden matters. Each one of them should think for a moment: Why was he created? Is this world merely pleasures and desires? Then let him measure himself so that he knows his heart is in a state of desolation, and that this joy in this amusement is only a superficial, physical joy. But the joy of the heart in the remembrance of Allah the Exalted, loving Him, fearing Him, and hoping in Him, that is the true joy. So let him think. Then this young man should avoid the company of such companions, for these companions are, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) described them, bad companions: Sahih Ibn Hibban 6:255 So those who are zealous for themselves and give them advice should avoid the company of these evildoers. We ask Allah for safety. Then their families, whether a father, an older brother, or an uncle, should monitor them, get to know their conditions, and prevent them from associating with bad companions, because every man is a shepherd over his family and is responsible for his flock. Yes.
The questioner : Shaykh, excuse me, if it were suggested to the rulers, may Allah guide them, in this country, that they not rent to these people without the approval of the authority, so that it can be monitored.
The Shaykh : Their guardian or the general authority?
The questioner : The authority in the town.
The Shaykh : But the general authority, not their guardian?
The questioner : No, the general authority. I mean, they should not rent until the authority approves of this young man, because, Shaykh, most of those who rent now are fifteen or twenty years old, very young in age.
The Shaykh : There is no doubt that this is one of the means of repelling this harm and a sound path to preventing it. Yes, after that.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : I have a question, Shaykh. I have a question.
The Shaykh : On the right.
The Shaykh : Peace be upon you, and Allah's mercy and blessings.
The questioner : We have a group of young men living in old, ruined houses. After visiting this group, we found that they are engaged in a number of wrongs. Unfortunately, this is a phenomenon that has spread in many countries and societies. We found some of these young men sitting watching satellite channels, and some of them playing cards. In general, they spend their time in things that are of no benefit. After visiting them, they wished to hear from you some words on this topic and some advice. Perhaps we can pass this tape on to them, and may Allah will that this tape be a cause of their guidance. May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : First: Why did they choose these old, ruined houses?
The questioner : So that they would be far from the new neighborhoods and from people and so on.
The Shaykh : I mean, on the outskirts of the country.
The questioner : And the rent is lower.
The Shaykh : On the outskirts of the country?
The questioner : Yes, the houses where our ancestors used to live long ago; they have returned to them.
The Shaykh : I mean, inside the town.
The questioner : Inside the town.
The Shaykh : Now, as for the answer to what you mentioned: The truth is that, unfortunately, the youth have fallen into emptiness, complete emptiness. You know that emptiness is one of the greatest causes of corruption, as the wise poet said:
"Youth, emptiness, and wealth *** are a corruption for a man, what a corruption"
Therefore, these young men should seize the time of their youth in what pleases Allah (Mighty and Majestic), whether by seeking knowledge, studying among themselves, reading tafsir or hadith, or reading other beneficial books. They should avoid gossip, backbiting, foul speech, describing women, and the like. They should also avoid these temptations that are spread on video, on satellite channels, or on television, for by Allah, it is a deadly poison that destroys a person's character first and then his creed. Because if the character is corrupted, everything is corrupted. For this reason, Allah the Exalted said:
And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is ever an immorality and is evil as a way.
وَلا تَقْرَبُوا الزِّنَى إِنَّهُ كَانَ فَاحِشَةً وَسَاءَ سَبِيلاًAnd the companion of bad company is like the bellower of the bellows: either he burns your clothes or you find a foul smell from him.
ومثل جليس السوء كنافخ الكير إما أن يحرق ثيابك وإما أن تجد منه رائحة كريهةThe questioner : Shaykh, excuse me, if it were suggested to the rulers, may Allah guide them, in this country, that they not rent to these people without the approval of the authority, so that it can be monitored.
The Shaykh : Their guardian or the general authority?
The questioner : The authority in the town.
The Shaykh : But the general authority, not their guardian?
The questioner : No, the general authority. I mean, they should not rent until the authority approves of this young man, because, Shaykh, most of those who rent now are fifteen or twenty years old, very young in age.
The Shaykh : There is no doubt that this is one of the means of repelling this harm and a sound path to preventing it. Yes, after that.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : I have a question, Shaykh. I have a question.
The Shaykh : On the right.