Magazine Articles

= written by Amr Khaled =

1 * Electronic love

E-love

An article written by Mr Amr Khaled for Al-Yaqdha magazine on February,18th.2004.

Love is one of the most sublime and elevated feelings, but it should be a  pure and responsible kind of love. However, with the huge technological progress,  and the advent of the “crystal ball” also known as the internet, distances between internet users are shortened giving birth to what is called “electronic love”.  This is done via chatting softwares.

Every time I meet young people, they ask me the following question: “Is chatting illicit? Dear Sir, I have this strange feeling, things are progressing so quickly.  I feel confused. What can I do?”. The problem becomes more serious with the huge spread of the internet service. Most questions focus on this topic.   The beginning is usually the same.

Chat starts in a poised manner; an innocent friendship aiming at discussing general matters. Progressively, these dialogues become longer and longer and may last for long hours drifting to different areas where emotions are titillated and twiddled! The internet gives its users a big audacity, for there is no embarrassment nor restraints, which gives way to lies and fantasy. Each partner draws in his mind a wonderful image of the other and the relationship develops into phone conversations then meeting if possible. As we said before, love means responsibility and loftiness, so how can a lofty relationship be built on cheating and lying? How can communication and mutual understanding exist through a falsified relationship that has no roots? Islam insists on protecting the heart and feelings of Muslims from illusion and in saving their time so that it isn’t wasted on trivial things.

And just like the Arab poet once said:

Your life is but breaths that could be counted, Once a breath goes, of your life a portion goes.

That’s why I tell every young person that I am not against the internet, on the contrary, I think it’s the most important and useful invention if it is used properly. We all have noticed its strong impact on the “ Intifada” (Palestinian uprising) and how it is used for Da’wa (call for Allah's causes) and for defending Islam to show its magnanimous nature. You must know that Allah has made righteousness to be a natural flawless instinct that urges humans to build up their lives on the basis of purity, chastity, virtue and pietism. Every divergence from these laws results in wronging oneselves, confusion, loss and grief. Allah (SWT) says what can be translated as, “and any who transgresses the limits of Allah, does verily wrong his (own) soul” (TMQ, At-Talaq:1)[1]. Allah (SWT) has placed in the moral constitution of His servants the love of good and righteousness. "Our Lord is He Who gave to each (created) thing its form and nature, and further, gave (it) guidance." (TMQ, Taha:50). That’s why I wasn’t amazed at the young peoples’ complaints and confusion concerning internet relationships. Their flawless instincts and soft hearts make them perceive when something is wrong. “If a suggestion from Satan assail thy (mind), seek refuge with Allah; for He heareth and knoweth (all things).Those who fear Allah, when a thought of evil from Satan assaults them, bring Allah to remembrance, when lo! they see (aright)!” (TMQ, Al-Araaf : 200-201).  In this case, willingness, endeavour and Allah’s help are needed.

Youth is a period of flowing vitality, juvenility and beauty. The middle of anything is usually the strongest, for instance the sun is stronger at midday; and youth is a period of strength; it occurs between two periods of weakness: the weakness of childhood and that of old age. Allah (SWT) says what can be translated as, “It is Allah Who created you in a state of (helpless) weakness, then gave (you) strength after weakness, then, after strength, gave (you weakness and a hoary head: He creates as He wills, and it is He Who has all knowledge and power.” (TMQ, Ar-Room: 54). On the day of judgement, man is questioned about four main things.  The prophet (PBUH) said, “On the day of judgement, a servant can’t move until he is questioned about four things: his life and how he spent it, his youth and how he wasted it, his knowledge  and what he did with it and his money - how he got it and on what he spent it.” The period of youth is emphasized due to its importance, for Allah (SWT) favoured young people with plenty of health, time and endeavour. Unfortunately, emptiness, absence of a good upbringing, poor family control, and the numerous distractions; all these things make the youth a target to loss and going astray. That’s why I think that the principles Islam suggested for the moral constitution of a right person who deserves to belong to “the best nation that has ever been created for mankind” if achieved, can preserve young people. These principles are as follows:

-         Belief in Allah (SWT), His angels, His Scriptures and His messengers as a step towards submission to and love of Allah (SWT). The youth ought to believe that all this universe is created for Allah (SWT), that the means of living is predestined by Allah (SWT) and that after this worldly life there is another life where one must account for one's deeds. If one's life is filled up with the requirements of this belief, only then its impact  will be reflected on one's life!

-         Applying spiritual and behavioural beliefs to real life, starting with the family and moving to school, society, mosque and clubs. Bringing up youth on the basis of faithfulness, loyalty, trust, trueness, purity, bravery, gallantry and assuming responsibility can’t be achieved in a society that divides lies into white and black, and considers affection and pity as human weaknesses and takes trueness, trust and loyalty for old societies’ remains!

These were some principles that we are trying to achieve so that our youth would be among those who will enjoy the shadow of Allah’s (SWT) throne when there will be no other shadow but His. Those are the youths who grew up on obeying  Allah (SWT) !  

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