Re: The male hunter knows the weaknesses of his female victims
I went a to a restuarant with a group of teachers and ended up sitting next to a shelf lined with wine bottles. Did I purchase the product? No. Even if, out of curiosity…I read the label…the price…does it mean that I’m going to buy it and drink it? No. Does one necessarily need to freak out if I happen to be in close proximity to it? I don’t think so. I went to a Caucasian’s friends engagement party…alcohol all around me…did I participate? No. Is that a reflection of my iman/faith? Yes, it is. Do I HAVE to be stopped by another Muslim and interrogated as to what I’m doing at the party? I don’t think so. You would ABSOLUTELY HAVE to request the person (be it a scholar or otherwise) to share the reason with you…for being in close proximity to a haram product…even though they could merely be looking out of curiosity, or comparing prices, etc??? It’s a subjective matter…and to each his own…but I personally find that a bit much. For the furnace example…I feel that’s an issue of more immediate danger.
Yes, it is good to guide…but Islam also emphasizes moderation and taking the middle path. Too much of even a good thing is not good. A part of the “test” (of faith) is knowing how to handle yourself when you are in close proximity to something that isn’t allowed or halal or whatever. You could be near the pork…but it’s your faith that prevents you from buying or consuming it. Where does one draw the line? Because while dawa and guidance have their place…there is also the hadith that a Muslim is one who does not interfere with the affairs of others. Calling whe females here “victims” almost seems to imply that they’re naive and easily misled…etc. I don’t think that’s necessarily true. There has to be some balance…one can’t be prim and proper…and keep a watch over every single minute thing that they’re doing…and also censure and chide over every eechi beechi thing that someone else is doing and saying either. There are examples where the Prophet SAWS…when he was angered by something someone told him…he’d be silent and turn away. It’s not like he tried to chide/scold/reprimand/judge people on every single matter. While guidance and dawa are important…we also have examples that one of the qualities of a Muslim is that he minds his own business as well. Where should the line be drawn? It’s a good thing that Allah is more merciful to us…than we are to our ownselves and even to others. Because I feel that sometimes we…not only make religion difficult to follow for our ownselves…we also (with frequent censuring/chiding…be it directly stated or expressed in cryptic poetry)…make if difficult for others to follow it as well.
***Being a good Muslim brother/sister is not only confined to preaching and guiding all the time. It also includes giving someone space/room…and the benefit of the doubt…etc.