How The Prophet [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] Dealt With The Young Man Who Sought His Permission to Commit Zinaa – [An Admonition By Shaikh Abdur-Razzaaq Al-Badr]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Listen carefully to this affair! By Allaah! Sometimes it is very easy for those who have not experienced the difficulties of guiding teenagers to offer haphazard solutions without much contemplation. One must take into consideration – as the Shaikh stated in this short audio- that the youth of today face greater trials, so they are in need of advice and rifq. And most important of all, they are in need of supplication. May Allaah guide our children and make them the coolness of our eyes in this Dunyaa and Aakhirah Aameen.
Abu Umaamah [radiyallaahu-anhu] said: A young man came to the Prophet [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] and said, “O Messenger of Allaah, give me permission to commit fornication’’. The people turned to him to rebuke him, saying, “Shh, shh.” [The Prophet (sallal laahu alayhi wasallam)] said, “Come here’’, so he came close to him and he told him to sit down. He said, “Would you like that for your mother?” He said, “No, by Allaah, may I be sacrificed for you’’. He said, “Nor do people like it for their mothers’’. He said, “Would you like it for your daughter?” He said, “No, by Allaah, may I be sacrificed for you’’. He said, “Nor do people like it for their daughters’’. He said, “Would you like it for your sister?” He said, “No, by Allaah, may I be sacrificed for you’’. He said, “Nor do people like it for their sisters’’. He said, “Would you like it for your paternal aunt?” He said, “No, by Allaah, may I be sacrificed for you’’. He said, “Nor do people like it for their paternal aunts.” He said, “Would you like it for your maternal aunt?” He said, “No, by Allaah, may I be sacrificed for you.” He said, “Nor do people like it for their maternal aunts’’. Then he placed his hand on him and said, “O Allaah, forgive him his sin, purify his heart, and guard his chastity.” And after that, this young man never did anything. [Reported by Ahmad 21708]
Shaikh Abdur-Razzaaq Al-Badr [hafidhahullaah] said:
The trustworthy adviser, the one sent as a mercy to the Aalameen – may Allaah mention him with praise and sends salutations of peace upon him- placed his hand on the chest of that young man and said, ‘’O Allaah! Forgive him his sin, purify his heart and guard his chastity’’.
Three supplications; write them down, memorise them and give them importance: ‘’O Allaah! Forgive him his sin, purify his heart and guard his chastity’’.
I say: Write them down and memorise them, for indeed the youth at present are in an era of Fitan [trials and tribulations]. I don’t think that youth who was [present] during the era of the Prophet [sallal laahu-alayhi wasallam] encountered Fitan [i.e. trials and tribulations] similar to that which is encountered by the youth at present in this era; therefore -in this era- the youth [i.e. male and female] is in need- [Shaikh pauses and cries]- of being shown mercy by the people of virtue, compassionate towards him, show him love and supplicate for him sincerely from the [bottom] of their hearts. The supplication of a father for his child is answered and the supplication of a mother for her child is answered.
A father should not say about his son, ‘’May Allaah humiliate him’’ or ‘’May Allaah prevent him from receiving good or despised him’’ or ‘’May Allaah curse him’’. He [i.e. the father] should not be a helper of shaytaan against him [i.e. the child]. The youth are in need of mercy- the father’s mercy, the mother’s mercy, the mercy of relatives, the mercy of colleagues [and] friends. The youth are in need of these sincere supplications from the truthful [or sincere] hearts- out of hoping for Allaah’s [Glorified and Exalted be He] reward.
Due to the effect of this sincere advice, mercy and supplication of the Prophet [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam], this youth who was present in that era of the Prophet [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] departed from the presence of the Prophet [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] and nothing [i.e. that sin] remained in his heart; the desire left his heart. He got up, whilst the slightest desire for this affair [i.e. fornication] – which the hearts are inclined towards and are greatly put to trial by way of it – did not remain in his heart. He got up, whilst there was nothing in his heart. Three affairs [i.e. regarding the manner in which the Prophet (sallal laahu alayhi wasallam) dealt with him]: Mercy, fine advice [or admonition] and truthful [or sincere] supplication, and the effect [or fruitful outcome] is great indeed; the effect [or fruitful outcome] is great indeed.
By Allaah! The youth nowadays are in need of those who show them gentleness; those who truthfully [or sincerely] supplicate for them; those who give fine advice [or admonition] and clarification to them, and those who are not helpers of shaytaan against them.
In relation to the likes of this advice, the Prophet [sallal laahu alayhi- wasallam] said: ‘’Do not be helpers to shaytaan against your brother’’ when they – [i.e. some of the companions said about a man who was brought to the Prophet several times due to consumption of alcohol] – said: ‘’May Allaah humiliate him’’, ‘’May Allaah curse him’’, (so) the Prophet said, ‘’Do not be a helper to Shaytaan against your brother’’, so he guided one towards saying, ‘’May Allaah forgive you’’, supplicate for him [i.e. the sinner].
In a nutshell, the [intended meanings of these admonitions] – which the Prophet [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] detailed – awakens the hearts when they have a heartfelt effect; it awakens the heart; ‘’Do you love that for your mother; do you love that for your daughter; do you love that for your sister etc….’’ This awakens the heart – a great and blessed awakening; so he leaves with this detailed and fine advice [or admonition], truthful [or sincere] supplication to Allaah [Glorified and Exalted be He]; it brings about a tremendous and blessed outcome, for indeed Tawfeeq [i.e. being granted guidance and the ability to act upon it], rectification of the hearts and purity of the souls is in the hands of Allaah, who guides whomsoever He pleases to the straight path. [Paraphrased. Listen to audio]
