Our religion of Islam is really great, every day we discover new benefits of lowering our gazes as Allah Almighty orders us……..
In recent years, a number of psychologists and sociologists have joined the chorus of religious and political opponents in warning about the impact of pervasive pornography. They argue that porn is transforming sexuality and relationships—for the worse. Experts say men who frequently view porn may develop unrealistic expectations of women’s appearance and behavior, have difficulty forming and sustaining relationships and feeling sexually satisfied.
Experts say that pornography makes couples apart. At the 2003 meeting of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, two-thirds of the 350 divorce lawyers who attended said the Internet played a significant role in divorces in the past year, with excessive interest in online porn contributing to more than half of such cases. “This is clearly related to the Internet,” says Richard Barry, president of the association.
Also, experts assure that Porn doesn’t just give men bad ideas; it can give kids the wrong idea at a formative age and that Pornography is affecting people at an increasingly young age,” says sociologist Diana Russell, who has written several books on the subject. Recent studies show a correlation between increased aggressiveness in boys and exposure to pornography, and a link between childhood use of porn and sexually abusive behavior in adulthood.
Divorce and porno
Many lawyers who are consulted for divorce are viewing on of the reasons for the breakdown in the marriage as being that spouse is using internet chat rooms behind the other’s back. There are cases for women who ask for divorce because man is addicted to pornography and in some cases those men lose their jobs because of that.
Porn leads to addiction
The brain is the functioning turnstile that helps us decides on moral issues, prompts us to act, think, love, run, flee or fight. The brain is designed to be flexible and pliable. What we choose to watch and act on is firmly “imprinted” on our brain. When a person is exposed repeatedly to pornography the brain is stimulated and releases chemicals. This “cocktail” of chemicals builds a dependency within the brain driving feedback loops that require more and more stimulation to sustain the “high”. The release of chemicals also causes the brain to shut down specific functions, rewire pathways, set expectations, and weight decision making in an improper way.
Therefore, numerous respected scientists and psychiatrists have concluded that pornography is an addiction like alcohol or drug abuse. Some scientists believe it is even more addictive than heroine.
Islam ordered us to lower our gazes, why?
Allah Almighty asked people not to waste their valuable time and not to look at women with libido as that leads to many dangerous effects on community and people themselves. Also He Almighty ordered us to practice the sexual relations only between wives and husbands as it is the only legitimate way between man and woman. Here we find that Allah Almighty orders men not to look to forbidden things by saying: (Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.). That is purer for them. Verily, Allah is All-Aware of what they do.){Sûrat An-Nûr -(The Light)- verse30 } and in the next verse Allah Almighty speaks to women by saying: (And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts) and not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent (like both eyes for necessity to see the way, or outer palms of hands or one eye or dress like veil, gloves, head-cover, apron, etc.),).){Sûrat An-Nûr -(The Light)- verse31}.
Western societies and experts are calling people to avoid pornography, in many verses in the Qur’an we can find that meaning but the difference is that is s a divine order 1400 years ago and these western calls are launched just couple of years ago, Allah says: (And come not near to the unlawful sexual intercourse. Verily, it is a Fahishah [i.e. anything that transgresses its limits (a great sin)], and an evil way (that leads one to Hell unless Allah forgives him){Sûrat Al-Isrâ’-(The Journey by Night- verse 32}.
At the end we should be proud by this great religion that wants us to be happy in this life and in the hereafter as He Almighty praises the believers who say: (Our Lord! Give us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good, and save us from the torment of the Fire!){Sûrat Al-Baqarah – The Cow -verse201}
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By: Abduldaem Al-Kaheel
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