Save your Future Generations from the Evils of Media
On 23rd April 2010, our leader Huzoor-e-Anwar(aba) delivered an important Friday Sermon in Switzerland regarding the tarbiyyat (moral training) of the members of the Jama’at and especially the younger generations. He explained in detail different moral ills in various societies and especially the moral ills created in western societies by the latest technology. To deal with these, he drew the attention of the parents, Nizam-e-Jama’at (organization of Jama’at) and the auxiliary organizations. Huzoor-e-Anwar(aba) said:
“Sometimes one’s children go against the word of God, which is a type of shirk [associating partners with Allah]. Disobeying a clear commandment of Allah the Exalted, so that one may agree with the demands of the children is a covert shirk. Such matters make one forget Allah the Exalted. Some people have distanced themselves from Ahmadiyyat because of their children. When excessive love for children and freedom given to children made the children leave the faith, the parents themselves left the faith. Allah, the Exalted states in the Holy Quran:
یٰۤاَیُّہَا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا لَا تُلۡہِکُمۡ اَمۡوَالُکُمۡ وَ لَاۤ اَوۡلَادُکُمۡ عَنۡ ذِکۡرِ اللّٰہِۚ
‘O ye who believe! let not your wealth and your children divert you from the remembrance of Allah…’ [Holy Quran: 63:10]
“Then, the Promised Messiah(as) expects one to always safeguard oneself from falsehood, fornication, trespasses of the eye, quarrel, cruelty, dishonesty, mischief and rebellion. We need to constantly evaluate ourselves to see if we are staying away from these evils. Some people consider these things to be trivial and insignificant. They lie in their business and their affairs. They consider falsehood to be insignificant, even though Allah the Exalted has equated falsehood with shirk. The evils of fornication and trespasses of the eyes are common due to the media. In homes, through television or the Internet, such vulgar and obscene films and programs are shown that push a human toward evil. The young boys and girls in some Ahmadi homes have been engaged in such evils. In the beginning, such films are seen in the name of open-mindedness. Then some unfortunate homes get embroiled in these evils. The fornication of the mind and the eyes is real and gradually this behavior leads to actual sin. Parents [sometimes] are not careful in the beginning, but when the matter gets out of control, they lament and cry that our children have gone astray… our progeny has gone astray. Hence, it is important to be watchful. Do not let children sit in front of TV when vulgar programs are shown and be mindful of their Internet.
Some parents are not highly educated. It is the duty of the Nizam-e-Jama’at to make them aware. Similarly, Ansarullah, Lajna and Khuddam ul Ahmadiyya should make programs for their own auxiliaries to safeguard against these evils. Affiliate young boys and girls to the Nizam-e-Jama’at and the auxiliaries so that they always give precedence to their faith. In this regard, mothers and fathers should fully cooperate with the Nizam-e-Jama’at or the auxiliary. If the mother and father show weakness, then it will be tantamount to killing their children. In particular, as the head of the household, men have the greatest duty and obligation to save their children from falling in the fire. Allah through His Benevolence, saved you or your elders from suffering the torment of the fire by enabling you or your elders to recognize the Imam of this age. The world and especially other Muslims are anxious to find a leader who can guide them. You have been blessed by Allah that you receive guidance through the Bai’at of the Imam. By staying connected to the Khilafat, you are reminded of staying firm on virtues. Thus, the blessings of Allah demand that when reminded you should say Labbaik [Here I am] and make a pledge to avoid all evils. Establish virtues yourself and instruct your children to do the same and make efforts in this regard. Always remember this commandment and warning from Allah:
یٰۤاَیُّہَا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا قُوۡۤا اَنۡفُسَکُمۡ وَ اَہۡلِیۡکُمۡ نَارًا
‘O ye who believe! save yourselves and your families from a Fire…’ [Holy Quran 66:7]
These days the glitz and glamor of this world, vain vulgarities and many societal ills are standing in front of us trying to ensnare us and take us away from morality; though these are not considered ills by western standards, these are ills according to Islamic teachings. As I said before, some wrong acts are done in the name of broad-mindedness, but then they keep pushing us towards evil. This is neither entertainment nor freedom; rather, these are pits of fire in the name of entertainment and freedom. Allah the Exalted, who is extremely Gracious to His people, has clearly explained for the believers that this is fire. This is a fire; save yourself from it and save your children from it. I say to the young men and women who live in this society that this is not the objective of your lives. Do not think that the purpose of your life is to get involved in these vain pursuits; that this [lifestyle] is all there is for us. Through the status of being an Ahmadi, there should be a difference between you and others.”
(Friday sermon delivered 23 April 2010 in Switzerland. Published AlFazl International 14 May 2010)
Attend to the Training of Children from a Young Age
In a Friday sermon Huzoor-e-Anwar(aba) explained how the environment affects the mind of children and plays a role in building their character. He said:
“In the fitrat (nature) of man, Allah the Exalted has placed a tendency to copy others in our surroundings, which manifests from childhood, as it is part of the nature of man. Hence, the tendency to copy others is in the nature of a child. This tendency is certainly for our benefit, but the wrong use sometimes leads to man’s destruction or takes him towards destruction. It is a consequence of this tendency to copy and be influenced by his environment that man learns a language from one’s parents, learns other deeds and good things which make a child a well-mannered person. If the parents are virtuous, observe the Salat, read and recite the Holy Quran, live with each other in an atmosphere of love and affection, and abhor falsehood, then the children under their influence will adopt virtues. On the contrary, if the child sees lying, fighting and disputes, making fun of others in the home, not giving due regard to the dignity of the Jama’at or other such bad actions, then because of that tendency to copy or because of the impact of the environment the child learns these evils. When he goes out, he tries to learn whatever he sees in his surroundings and among his friends. This is why I repeatedly draw attention to the parents that they should keep an eye on the outside environment of the children. And even within the home they should keep an eye on the programs that they watch on television or their Internet usage.”
(Friday sermon delivered 13 December 2013 at Baitul Futuh Mosque, London. Published AlFazl International 03 January 2014)
Unnecessary use of Mobile phones by Young Children
Huzoor(aba) has warned us about the negative influence of the wrong use of the latest technology including mobile phones on the character of children. Advising young Ahmadi men and children at the occasion of the Ijtema of Atfal ul Ahamdiyya Germany, he(aba) said:
“There is a widespread problem here of children demanding from their parents to buy them mobile phones. Some are just 10 years of age and say that they should have a mobile phone. Are you doing some sort of business? Or are you are doing some kind of work in which information is required to be accessed every minute? When asked, they reply ‘we need to call our parents.’ If your parents are not worried, there is also no need for you to worry, because phones can also lead to bad habits. Through phones, some people contact children directly and then incite them into bad habits. Hence, the phone is also a very harmful thing due to which children lose all good sense and get involved in wrongdoings, so avoid this. As for the TV programs, as I said you may watch cartoons or informative programs. However, you must avoid all vulgar and indecent programs.”
(Address at National Itfal tul Ahmadiyya Ijtema Germany 16 September 2011. Published AlFazl Internatonl 09 March 2012)
Block Immoral Television Programs
For the sake of entertainment, not only children, but even adults sit for hours in front of the television. As a result of this, some people lose the ability to discern what is evil. Hence, Huzoor-e-Anwar(aba) advised against watching immoral television programs and treading the dangerous path of indecency. He said:
“Hence, an utmost effort is needed to safeguard oneself from the Satanic attacks. In this regard, Allah the Exalted says that ‘Ahsan Qaul’ [good word] is needed.”
In this regard, Huzoor-e-Anwar explained the Quranic commandment of ‘Qaul-e-Sadid’ [the true word] mentioned in Sura Al-Furqan verse 70. He(aba) said:
“To attain standards of truthfulness, it is further enjoined to promptly leave gatherings where there is no truthfulness and where crude and vain talk take place. Do not go to gatherings where there is talk against the teachings of Allah the Exalted. Sometimes, in family gatherings or our own gatherings, unconsciously things are said which are vain and crude: things are said against the Nizam (administrative system). I have mentioned it many times before that if there are issues regarding the office holders and reformation is not taking place at lower levels, then these should be brought to my attention. However, if you talk about these things in gatherings, they become vain talk because [carelessly talking about them] does not lead to reformation. On the contrary, it will lead to further discord, conflicts, and disputes.
Then, in this age, there are obscene films on TV. There are extremely vulgar and indecent films on the Internet. There are dances and songs. Some Indian film songs depict praying to gods and goddesses or they are being extolled which negates the power of One Powerful God. Or these gods, goddesses and idols are professed as the source of nearness to God. This is vain and is Shirk (associating partners with God). Shirk equates falsehood. [We] must not listen to such songs.”
Huzoor-e-Anwar(aba) also said:
“Allah says:
وَ اِمَّا یَنۡزَغَنَّکَ مِنَ الشَّیۡطٰنِ نَزۡغٌ فَاسۡتَعِذۡ بِاللّٰہِ ؕ اِنَّہٗ سَمِیۡعٌ عَلِیۡمٌ
‘And if an evil suggestion from Satan incite thee, then seek refuge in Allah; surely, He is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.’ [Holy Quran 7:201]
If Satan says something to incite you or he brings to you such conversation that are against the “Ahsan Qaul” [good word], then seek refuge with Allah. You should pray a lot to come under Allah’s protection. We should say the prayer:
اَعُوْذُ بَاللّٰہِ مَنِ الشَّیْطٰنِ الرَّجَیْمِ
I seek refuge with Allah against Satan the accursed’
Say:
لَاحَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّۃَ اِلَّا بِاللّٰہ
‘There is no might nor power except through Allah’
Allah, Who sees and listens, gives us hope that if a prayer is made with sincerity of intent, God certainly listens.”
(Friday sermon delivered 18 October 2013 at Baitul Huda Mosque, Sydney, Australia. Published AlFazl International 08 November 2013)
On several occasions Huzoor-e-Anwar has advised us to avoid vain things (which include TV and the Internet). At the occasion of Lajna Ima’illah Ijtema in Germany, he(aba) said:
“Then there is idle and vain talk. I especially need to draw the attention of young children towards the fact that idle talk is not merely conversations carried on by elderly women, who do it and should abstain from it. However, TV and Internet are now considered vain for the girls between the ages of 10 to 12 years old and young ladies, as well. If you are spending your entire day watching programs which contain no moral lesson, then this amounts to a vain and useless activity. Furthermore, on the Internet, you sometimes visit such sites from where there is no point of return and this continuously spreads immorality. Sometimes such cases are reported in which girls are trapped by boys in wrong groups and have to leave their homes; thus, becoming a disgrace for their families and the Jama’at. Therefore, it is extremely important to save yourself from the Internet etc. Other than this, there are many other programs on the Internet that poison minds. There are many immoral programs on TV. Parents should block such channels, which leave a filthy effect on the mind of children. Such channels should be kept on a permanent block. When children watch TV for 1 to 2 hours, however much they want to watch they can do so, but they should only watch decent and wholesome dramas and cartoons. If they are watching something indecent, it is the responsibility of the parent. And 12 or 13-year-old girls who are in an age of consciousness, it is their responsibility to stay away from such programs. You are an Ahmadi and the character of an Ahmadi should be distinct and unique from others. It should be clear that this is an Ahmadi girl.”
(Address delivered at Annual Ijtema Lajna Ima’illah Germany 17 September 2011. Published AlFazl International 16 November 2012)