Spreading Vulgarity; A Qur'anic Analysis

A common statement we hear from the people spreading vulgarity and indecency through different forms of media is that how would they feed their family if they leave doing so!! Should they let their children die of hunger? Should they not earn to educate them well...?
The argument, though making sense on the face value as it seems to be a genuine issue that if we go on to shut our Film Industry or other smilar businesses that spread the filth of Vulgarity and Indecency among the people under the banner of entertainment, it could result in a large number of people loosing their jobs. But let us have an indepth analysis of this argument.
To start with the discussion, we should first set it clear in our minds that Alhamdulillah Allah Almighty has blessed us with Islam. We firmly believe that the Holy Qur'an is the ultimate source of guidance... It is the final Message for the humanity. And the life of our Holy Prophet (pbuh) is the best of examples for Mankind, specially for us Muslims. Therefore the Qur'an and Sunnah must cover Instructions and guidance regarding every aspect of our Life. So first let us ask the Qur'an to see what it guides us about this issue.
Allah Almighty at several places in the Qur'an, makes it pretty clear that the responsibility to provide Sustenance (Rizq) to every "Living-being" that lives on the face of this earth is on Him alone. HE says:

"And there is no creature on earth but that upon Allah is its provision, and HE knows its place of dwelling and place of storage. All is in a clear register." (Surah Hud'11:6)
So it is quite clear that Allah is the one who provides RIZQ to the believers and the non-believers without any distinction. But the blessing demands Thankfulness and Submission to the Creator!! As stated in another Ayah:

"Then eat of what Allah has provided for you [which is] lawful and good. And be Grateful for the favor of Allah , if it is [indeed] Him that you worship." (Surah An-Nahl'16:114)

But still the actual question is yet not answered... Is it correct to earn your livelihood through spreading Indecent and Vulgar material... Be it in the form of Movies, Dramas, Vulgar Songs, Pornogrophy, Indecent Magazines and Pictures e.t.c?
If we ponder over the Qur'an to get the answer of the above question, we would find several Ayaat where Qur'an has categorically mentioned about Spreading Indecency and Immodesty to be the ''Vision" of the Cursed Satan. In fact it would not be wrong to say that it is the biggest tool of Satan to dellude Mankind by Undressing Men and Women. Allah Almighty warns in Qur'an to be watchful in that regard. HE says:

"O mankind, eat from whatever is on earth [that is] lawful and good and do NOT follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy.He only orders you to EVIL and IMMORALITY and to say about Allah what you do not know." (Al-Baqarah'2:168-169)

Here Allah Almighty clearly declares the tool of Satan to be 'Evil' and 'Indecency'. Moreover Allah also prohibits mankind to earn their livelihood through Immoral and Haram means as it is ultimately the route to the cursed Devil. Similarly in another place in the Qura'n Allah Almighty announces the punishment of those who spread Immorality among the believers:

"Indeed, those who like that immorality should be spread [or publicized] among those who have believed will have a painful punishment in this world and the Hereafter. And Allah knows and you do not know." (Surah Nur'24:19)

Holy Prophet (pbuh) said in one of His narrations;

"Indeed haya (modesty) and Iman are Companions. When one of them is lifted, the other leaves as well." (Baihaqi)

And to quote another narration, He (pbuh) said:

"Haya comes from Iman; Iman leads to Paradise. Obscenity comes from antipathy; and antipathy leads to the fire." (Bukhari)

May Allah protect us from such severe retribution in this World and the Hereafter!
In the end we would analyze whether it is justified to promote Indecency based on the argument that it would destroy the future of their children or it would make them live from hand to mouth if they leave such kinds of businesses...!
How good this argument is to legitimize the Spread of Vulgarity, but we should wait and think for a moment that where would we be able to draw a line then? Based on this rationality, Why shouldn't then a person be allowed to do whatever business he wishes to do to earn his livelihood, if at the end of the day he is doing it for the sake of his Family...? Why should he be stopped to earn through Pornography...? Why should a Drug-dealer be stopped, if he is doing it for the sake of a better future of his family...? And why should Child-labor be illegal if the child is doing it to support his family...? And it goes on...!!
We need to understand that a person could never be allowed to do a job which could either effect himself or the Society at large... A person can not feed his family at the cost of destroying hundreds of other families...! And without a doubt, Indecency or Vulgarity is a disease which is deeply harmful and infecting the Morals of a society.
Let us conclude it with a Hadith of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace). He said:“A body nourished on Haram sustenance (rizq) will not enter paradise.” (Ref: Sunan Tirmidhi)

We ask those who make this baseless point for earning through 'Haram', are they ready to take their children to Hellfire... with them, for the sake of the enjoyment of a few days!!! How infavorable deal are they making! May Allah grant us the Faith on His Sustenance and immediately quit anything that displeases Him. Ameen!


By: Sharjeel, Mohammed Sharjeel is a Islamic activist, and a social media activist, carrying out his task on the topic of "Modesty".

Role of Media - Where we are heading to?

The role of the media illustrated in a cartoon

The present era is of information, the information flow is fastest as possible, and still getting fast. An incident happened in the Far East can be seen LIVE in the Far West and the whole world. Beside all this information flow, the world is getting towards egotism and oppression. Have you ever experienced while watching TV that many times the news reporters and journalist can make an action but they remain idle and neutral as robots as they don’t have any feeling.

Kevin Carter was a photographer who took the photo of a child in Africa in the days when there was no water and food, he took a photo of that child who was going to die in some time due to no food and water and beside him there is a crow sitting waiting for the child to die so that he can eat his body. He took the photo came back to the modern world, after some time he was awarded as the best photographer on the basis of this picture. But, from next day he got emails from his fans, they were asking that why he did not act when he saw the child dying, why he was not able to feed him, even provide him the water, why he was not able to take this child and come here, at least this can save a life, why he was not able to take any positive action, why… these were the questions which make him think about his actions and what he have done, he thought about the pastime which was ruined, maybe he can save the life of that child, maybe that child might bring something positive to this world. Didn’t found out the answers of all these questions he was depressed, later he committed suicide! But is this solved the problem? No!

Kevin Carter's award winning photo

When the media has given the utmost freedom them it becomes out of control, there must be certain limits and boundaries which should be followed, under which media should perform their activities. Another story is from Pakistan, in the era of Chief of Army Staff and former dictator from Pakistan Musharraf has allowed many channels in Pakistan he has given the total freedom to the media as well (later which make him to go away, is another story, we will talk about later) in his period of ruling, the destructions of the northern Pakistan through earthquake was done, lets not discuss the destructions done by the quake but the role of media in it. during the incident we have seen a channel going into the ruins and they found a person dying in his house was very injured, despite looking for any help they started to interview him that how he was injured and how is he feeling now etc, later they showed him dying LIVE on the camera! A big question mark on the role of media! Are they not made up of blood and flesh like us? Are they from another planet or what? 

This is the question all journalists should ask themselves, the owners of media channels, newspapers should ask themselves, how they can make a positive action else only reporting! This should be done and this has to be done. If the media personnel are reading this right now, please respond…