This comment from Feryal Salem is too precious to leave hidden in a comment thread: Being Muslim does not mean one is the epitome of full practice in everything. This video is about Muslims not Islam. For viewers, this video was also about being accepting with people over where they are at in the evolution of their iman without being critical. It also reflects on the nuances of daily life where from a perspective of female privelege (for a change) I can watch that video as many times as I like as a woman because there is nothing in there that is not permissible for me to look at. Whereas it would differ for a man depending on his level of taqwa and whether he finds the women on there attractive etc. It is like real life. If you are not the parent or teacher of the people in the video, your criticism of them is pointless backbiting and su zann/thinking ill of Muslims. The role of the viewer is to exercise thinking the best of people. Also like real life, each person is responsible for their own souls and should have the power to lower their gaze when they feel they need to. The command to lower the gaze indicates that things which one needs to practice self restraint with will inevitably exist in society. Some modern Muslim men seem to try to create a system where they eradicate anything that would need them to practice the command of male modesty and lowering the gaze. Indeed, without spiritual training or rejecting the process of inward tarbiyah as bida, one lacks the spiritual power/himma for practices such as male modesty and lowering the gaze. Without spirituality, the only way to abstain from sin is to create a sterile environment for oneself.
Posted on: Sun, 20 Apr 2014 16:18:28 +0000