What are the factors that help youth in the face of desires?
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Question:
Youth live in the stage of adolescence, a critical stage of conflict with their desires, and they see that if they let these desires run wild, it will destroy them in this world and the Hereafter. What is the weapon by which youth can hold fast in the face of these desires?
Answer:
There is no doubt that the current is great and dangerous for youth and non-youth alike; even the elders are in danger, and even the older ones are in danger. The matter is great, and the causes of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) are numerous and varied: in the markets, in the homes, and in every place, even for the elders, even for the older ones. So what about the youth?
And the path to safety is to be cautious of the causes of fitnah: lowering the gaze, not being alone with women—specifically a non-mahram woman—, not keeping the company of the wicked, and striving to keep the company of the righteous. These are among the causes of safety; the believer strives to keep the company of the righteous and be with them, or he stays in his home, except for going out for prayer and what is necessary. He should be cautious of wandering in the markets, for they are a cause of fitnah. He should not go out except for a need, while lowering his gaze and being cautious, or he goes out for prayer.
So if he stays in his home, it is safer for him, except for a need, while lowering his gaze, and while reflecting on the Qur'an, and increasing in its recitation; for it nurtures faith in the hearts, and the fear of Allah, and caution from Him. It is the Book of Allah, containing guidance and light, containing guidance to all good: [Al-Isra: 9], [Fussilat: 44]. It is a cure for the diseases of the hearts, greater than any other, and a cure for some diseases of the body as well, but its cure for what is in the breasts is greater, its cure for the hearts is greater and larger. As the Exalted said: [Yunus: 57]. So by increasing in its recitation and reflecting on its meanings, faith is strengthened, and the fear of Allah is strengthened, and hope in Him, and caution from His sins, and from the causes of His anger.
And the company of the righteous helps in that, and caution from following the desires. The desires drag their owner into evil, so beware of your desires and your soul that commands evil. Allah says: [Sad: 26], and He the Exalted says: [Al-Qasas: 50], and He the Exalted says: [An-Nazi'at 79:40] Then indeed, Paradise is the refuge [An-Nazi'at: 40-41]. And He said regarding the disbelievers: [An-Najm: 23]. So beware of imitating them. Whatever your soul and your desires incline toward, beware of it until you know that it is correct and that it is good; otherwise, the desires will lead you to calamity.
And among the greatest causes of safety: the company of the righteous, striving for them, and taking them as companions, and staying in the home when they are absent, except for a need: such as going out for prayer, studying knowledge, and the necessities that are required. And if you are afflicted with the markets, lower your gaze, and beware of following the desires, and the company of the wicked, not in the markets, nor in anything else.
Youth live in the stage of adolescence, a critical stage of conflict with their desires, and they see that if they let these desires run wild, it will destroy them in this world and the Hereafter. What is the weapon by which youth can hold fast in the face of these desires?
Answer:
There is no doubt that the current is great and dangerous for youth and non-youth alike; even the elders are in danger, and even the older ones are in danger. The matter is great, and the causes of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) are numerous and varied: in the markets, in the homes, and in every place, even for the elders, even for the older ones. So what about the youth?
And the path to safety is to be cautious of the causes of fitnah: lowering the gaze, not being alone with women—specifically a non-mahram woman—, not keeping the company of the wicked, and striving to keep the company of the righteous. These are among the causes of safety; the believer strives to keep the company of the righteous and be with them, or he stays in his home, except for going out for prayer and what is necessary. He should be cautious of wandering in the markets, for they are a cause of fitnah. He should not go out except for a need, while lowering his gaze and being cautious, or he goes out for prayer.
So if he stays in his home, it is safer for him, except for a need, while lowering his gaze, and while reflecting on the Qur'an, and increasing in its recitation; for it nurtures faith in the hearts, and the fear of Allah, and caution from Him. It is the Book of Allah, containing guidance and light, containing guidance to all good:
Indeed, this Qur'an guides to that which is most suitable
إِنَّ هَذَا الْقُرْآنَ يَهْدِي لِلَّتِي هِيَ أَقْوَمُSay, "It is, for those who believe, a guidance and cure."
قُلْ هُوَ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا هُدًى وَشِفَاءٌO mankind, there has to come to you instruction from your Lord and healing for what is in the breasts and guidance and mercy for the believers.
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قَدْ جَاءَتْكُمْ مَوْعِظَةٌ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَشِفَاءٌ لِمَا فِي الصُّدُورِ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَAnd the company of the righteous helps in that, and caution from following the desires. The desires drag their owner into evil, so beware of your desires and your soul that commands evil. Allah says:
do not follow [your own] desire, as it will lead you astray from the way of Allah
وَلَا تَتَّبِعِ الْهَوَى فَيُضِلَّكَ عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللَّهِAnd who is more astray than one who follows his desire without guidance from Allah?
وَمَنْ أَضَلُّ مِمَّنِ اتَّبَعَ هَوَاهُ بِغَيْرِ هُدًى مِنَ اللَّهِBut as for he who feared the position of his Lord and prevented the soul from [unlawful] inclination,
وَأَمَّا مَنْ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهِ وَنَهَى النَّفْسَ عَنِ الْهَوَى They follow not except assumption and what [their] souls desire
إِنْ يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا الظَّنَّ وَمَا تَهْوَى الْأَنْفُسُAnd among the greatest causes of safety: the company of the righteous, striving for them, and taking them as companions, and staying in the home when they are absent, except for a need: such as going out for prayer, studying knowledge, and the necessities that are required. And if you are afflicted with the markets, lower your gaze, and beware of following the desires, and the company of the wicked, not in the markets, nor in anything else.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.