Misuse of electronic media - Problems and solutions

The benefits of advantages of internet are no doubt huge, but it is also a staggeringly huge means of spreading indecency.  Using internet, a girl very conveniently starts a “relationship” with a non-Mahram guy.  Through e-mail and chatting, their “relationship” becomes even more intimate.  Even members of the family are not as close as this guy and girl get close to each other.  Islam has declared even (unnecessary) talk between a non-Mahram guy and girl as prohibited.  We have to greet someone with Salaam before we talk, but in light of the Holy Quran and the Hadith, the Fuqaha (jurists) have declared greeting a young girl/woman with Salaam as forbidden.

Even the voice of women is included in Hijab, but through voice chatting, non-Mahram boys and girls talk to each other without any reservations and don’t feel any shame in doing so.

Not only this, but during chatting, they comfortably see each other.  Modesty is being destroyed this way, but their eyes are not lowered.  Alas!  Nomadic life would have been better than use of internet in this manner.  Rustics who live in villages are many times better than these “sophisticated” people.

In the same way through video calling of mobile phones, boys and girls see each other.  For this neither computer, etc. is needed nor any other trappings.

All this is being done in spite of the fact that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has warned against lewd gazing.  There is a Hadith in Kanz Ul Ummal of Imam Ali Muttaqi Hindi and in Jame’ Ul Ahadith Wal Maraseel of Imam Suyuti (May Allah shower His mercy on them):

Translation: Hadhrat Abu Umama (May Almighty Allah be well pleased with him) narrates from the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) that He said:  You keep your gaze down and guard your private parts, otherwise Almighty Allah will change your faces.  (Mo’jam Kabeer, Hadith No. 7746; Jame’ Ul Ahadith Wal Maraseel, Hadith No. 18309; Kanz Ul Ummal, Hadith No. 13082)