 The right of hearing is to keep it pure from listening to backbiting and listening to that to which is unlawful to listen. The right of sight. The right of sight is that you lower it before everything which is unlawful to you and that you take heed whenever you look at anything. Salamu alaikum dear respective viewers, welcome to the first show of the brand new year of Live in London Let us continue our discussion on the Rasalaat al-Haqquq, the great works by Imam Sajjad, the Treaty of Rights. Previously we've discussed the rights of God, the rights of the self, the rights of the tongue but here Imam Sajjad discusses the right of hearing and the right of sight. Have we actually honoured our two senses that Allah SWT has blessed us with and how we used it properly to go towards Allah SWT and to perfect ourselves and to honour the Ahlul Bayt, alaihi salam. Let us continue our discussion with Dr. Sayyid Amman Akshawani. Salamu alaikum doctor. Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullah. So Sayyid you've been away for a while, you've been travelling, how are your travels? Alhamdulillah the travels were brilliant, I was on Ziyarah and I think we had a live show from Karbala and then at the same time had a wonderful experience in Pakistan. Mashallah. In Islamabad met many wonderful people. So it was all in all a very productive trip, very educational and very blessed to meet so many wonderful people. Mashallah. Doctor in regards to this discussion, the rights of hearing, the rights of sight. Imam Sajjad is talking about two very important and pivotal senses that we use in our everyday lives. Generally speaking how does hearing and viewing affect our bodies at all? Fundamental no doubt in the life of any human being is the ability to hear and the ability to see as in we know very well when one looks around them and sees somebody who for example is blind and you realize just how blessed you are that you are able to see while others may not necessarily have that blessing. Although if you do ask some of those who are blind they'll tell you that God compensates in different ways but the reality is that when you do see somebody who's blind or somebody who's hard of hearing you begin to reflect on the blessings that God has given you and all your senses but especially in relation to your hearing and your sight. I think sometimes us as human beings take these for granted and that's why Imam Zain Al-Abideen wants us to reflect on the rights that these senses have on us that they're not to be taken for granted. Many of us will take them for granted and many of us forget that these are really trusts of God which have been given to the human being so that we can be thankful, we become grateful, we become humble. And the Quran Allah SWT mentions that when discussing our creation He's the one who had provided us with hearing, with sight and that we should be thankful back to Allah SWT for having these blessings in our life. Some of us may go through months or may go through years in our life without ever saying Alhamdulillah, praising God or thanking God. For being able to see or being able to hear. Some of us take these for granted. And it's only when you see for example a friend of yours who's gone through an accident for example or a troublesome moment where they've lost their eyesight or they've lost their hearing that you realize just how blessed you are. So no doubt these play a pivotal role in the life of what sometimes is a very forgetful human being. You know they say that in Arabic when you look at the word for the human being sometimes the word insan is used and the question was asked why is the word insan used in relation to the human being? And some said it's because part of that word insan if you were to break it up is nisyan, this forgetfulness in the human being. We have a tendency to forget blessings that have been showered upon us forget those who have been generous to us. You always remember the line of Imam Ali alayhi salam when he says it taqi sharra man ahsanta ilayh. Beware of the evil of the one you've been generous to. There are many who forget the generosity and the blessings you've shown them and many of us forget the blessings and the generosity which Allah has bestowed upon us and amongst these greatest blessings no doubt is our ability to hear and our ability to see. Yes. That's right. Doctor many say that music is forbidden and this probably comes to one's mind first of all when thinking about you know, audios that are prohibited for mostly not to hear. How can we you know stop listening and I mean how do we you know our weddings and stuff you know sometimes they actually want music to be there it's a tragedy, it's a calamity sometimes. How do we address this issue? Yeah you're absolutely right that amongst the areas in which we're all tested is our love for the voice of the human and the instrumentals that surround it. I think this idea that every type of music is haram and that it's just a black and white issue and that all music is prohibited is something that we have to come to terms with is not the reality. There is no way that we could say that every genre of music is prohibited in Islam or that God does not want us for example to use our voices to their maximum potential. There are those who are being blessed with the most wonderful voices. We find that in our traditions the likes of Nabi Dawood were known for the wonderful voices in the way that they would supplicate the Psalms of David known in biblical literature as well as within the literature of the religion of Islam seek to highlight just how wonderful the hymns were of this prophet of God. But yes at the same time it seems that in Islamic tradition one of the weapons of Satan is to ensure that there are certain genres of music that there are certain instruments or that there are for example certain even human beings who are employed to provide immoral messages, obscene messages. Now my ear amongst its rites or the hearing amongst its rites is I don't allow it to be accustomed to that which is obscene or that which is insulting. I find myself for example that I'm surrounding myself with world of musicians where the language is immoral, where the language is obscene, where the language is insulting then God did not bless me with my hearing so that my hearing is listening to such words or such messages. It is sad I believe when the human being enjoys listening to those who are cursing and those who are obscene in their language and whether it's you or me sitting here we can't deny that that may have been us for a certain period of time that we may have enjoyed a certain musician from the world of hip hop from the world of R&B from the world of rap you know even from rock and roll and jazz and so on we may have enjoyed certain musicians whose words may have been not necessarily the message that the Quran seeks to espouse. So when you're saying for example that today some of us may have certain gatherings that we feel will be boring without music yes this is true but then we have to reflect upon ourselves that that music has it got a major role in my life possibly even more than the Quran has? How did the words of the musicians become what my hearing is accustomed to rather than for example the words of the Quran and the Ahlul Bayt A.S. Now someone says well these two could go hand in hand because there are people out there who want music for example all their gatherings but at the same time have a profound love for the Prophet Muhammad and his family. You'll find for example they are the type of people who are generous when it comes to the prophetic message for example in the month of Muharram or in the month of Ramadan they want to be amongst those who sponsor for example the gatherings where the Quran and the Ahlul Bayt A.S. are remembered and they'll say to you that listen why can't we listen to why can't we have both why can't we have a period of mourning and a period of listening to for example such instrumentals or listening to such voices our reply is that the hearing that we have and I'll add the sight that we have because a lot of these music productions have videos associated with them they weren't meant to be accustomed to such viewing or to such listening. Imam Zayn al-Abdina A.S. when writing Rasalaat al-Huqooq is providing us with an understanding that the ears that you have or the eyes that you have don't take them for granted. All of these you're going to be questioned about the way that you honored them and protected them in the Quran many times you find that Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala will mention the hearing the sight the heart all of them will be questioned I when it comes to for example the question concerning music and whether the hearing of the human being or the sight of the human being should be accustomed to that world I turn around and say on the day of judgment I've got enough issues to answer for already why do I want to add more but at the same time I don't want to make it a black and white issue where that means that every genre of music is completely forbidden in Islam if you look at the legal texts of the scholars they'll say to you that no there are certain types of instrumentals that are allowed there are certain genres of music which one may listen to and so we shouldn't have this black and white approach because I know that there are certain people who have this black and white approach that it's either my way or the highway you either don't listen to music completely or that you are to be attacked in the family or in the community no not at all all we want to make the point is that the hearing and the sight are going to be questioned on the day of judgment just make sure that what you listen to what you see you're going to be able to answer for Just a quick reminder to all the viewers this is a live show and we are taking calls in and if you have a question for the seer please contact us on 0203 515 0199 and inshallah we'll be able to answer your question and alternatively you can send in a whatsapp and the number should be at the bottom of the lower third and inshallah we'll be able to address your question so in regards to music I mean is it actually mentioned anywhere in the Quran that this is forbidding the rules or any sort of I think even if it was mentioned in the Quran I don't think that's going to stop many people I think that's something interesting when people ask the question that is it mentioned in the Quran I don't think it's going to stop many people even if there was a clear cut verse that says for example music is forbidden what you have is this general message and the general message begins with the concept that we're going to question what you've listened to there are no two hearts in one body and that the rightiest of the believers are those who keep their hearing away from vain words if you look at chapter 23 of the Holy Quran Surah al-Mu'minun you've got Allah Subhanu wa ta'ala clearly stating Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Raheem in the name of God the most beneficent, most merciful قد أفلح المؤمنون successful are the believers now all of us want to have on our tombstone the word mu'min you know rather than Muslim I'd rather have mu'min anyone can be a Muslim it's a matter of you know tongue movement of seven eight words and you become a Muslim a mu'min is the actual application and submission to the tenets of the religion so there's a whole chapter called al-Mu'minun God mentioned successful are the believers now what's the criteria for being a mu'min الذينهم في صلاةهم خاشعون those who display a certain level of humility within their prayer والذينهم عن اللغوي معرضون and those who keep away from the vain words if you feel that the music that you're listening to the language is vain language the language opposes that of the Holy Quran then if you want to classify yourself amongst the mu'min then you have to ask yourself if the Quran is saying those who keep away والذينهم عن اللغوي معرضون they keep away from the vain words they don't allow their hearing to be accustomed to the world of vain words rather they want their hearing to be that hearing which accustomed itself to that which allows the development and the evolution and the growth of the human spirit you know a recognition that there is a divine breath within us which we want to cultivate and no one thing there is a realization from the works of Imam Zain Al-Abni Alai Salam that we have to be aware of what we hear because we need to recognize what we hear there is a pathway to the heart of the human being anything we listen to there's a pathway to the heart of the human and therefore when it comes to the Quran the Quran has mentioned on numerous occasions that the believers are those who keep away from the vain words the Ahlul Bayt Al-Alaym Al-Salam in their discussion for example in the world of music you'll find the Ahlul Bayt Al-Alaym Al-Salam look at this by saying either the effects of listening to that music which is obscene or immoral or sometimes by telling the person why don't you yourself ask yourself that this which I'm listening to is it a reflection of the teachings of the Ahlul Bayt or no I remember Imam Al-Salam on one occasion when there was this person who had come into town and Imam Al-Salam asks him where did you stay last night and he says I stayed at so and so's house and the Imam quite interestingly replies by saying how could you stay at this person's house and so the person goes to him what's wrong with staying at his house and the Imam replies in that house music is played and there are three effects the first one the angels do not visit that house the second one the supplications of the members of that house are not answered by God and third do not be surprised if a sudden calamity affects the members of that house now the Imam here is showing the repercussions of this act some might look at it and say listen I'm not committing adultery I'm not committing for example murder yes you're not committing these sins there's no doubt but still every sin has a certain repercussion no trial affects the life of the human being except for a sin that they may have committed sometimes and so on the one hand the Ahlul Bayt Al-Salam want us to recognize that listening to something which is obscene or something which is immoral brings about certain trials in one's life removes certain blessings Imam Al-Rada Al-Salam when he's asked the question by somebody that you've never ever said music is halal or haram why? the Imam interestingly doesn't reply to him by saying music is haram the Imam turns around to him and says to him if I were to ask you the musician that you listen to these ears which God has given you this blessing of hearing that you've been given that person who you listen to would you place him with the people of truth or with the people of falsehood is this character the character of someone of truth or the character of someone of falsehood and that was enough for that person so sometimes people I notice you'll find that certain people will come and sit with a Maulana who's 60, 70 years old Maulana is music haram as if that Maulana is sitting on the internet downloading tunes 24-7 in some cases that Maulana hasn't got a clue about any of those tunes he's giving a general message and that general message is that the right of one's hearing is that you're accustomed to that which is good and that you recognize that what you hear there is a pathway to your heart and that there are no two hearts in one body that sense now in that discussion we were talking more about the lyrics but what about the actual music itself musical instruments are these haram or are they allowed again I don't think it's black and white on the musical instruments I think that there are Maharaja and there are grand scholars who differ in their opinions concerning certain instruments that there are some who'll say that there are certain instruments which are completely forbidden and that there are other instruments which like a knife a knife can cut an orange or kill a human and likewise there are certain instruments that can be used in a positive way and there are certain instruments that can be used in the negative if you're looking at certain Islamic countries in the world today or some that are known as Islamic states say Saudi Arabia for example Pakistan for example Iran for example Saudi Arabia on the television instruments are used now the Mufti or the Maharaja of those particular countries may for example have their own precautionary measure about which instruments can be used which instruments can't be used but if you're looking at those countries you'll find that instruments are used in many of the television and many of the film productions say that every instrument every musical instrument is forbidden to be used no I think this is also contextual I think you cannot separate law from the social milieu of the time when that law was being revealed there are many people who will discuss law who are not good historians at all you ask somebody for example have you studied the Luma al-Damashqiya say yes yes I have ask him Luma al-Damashqiya when was it written what was the context of when it was written what happened to the author of the Luma al-Damashqiya for example they won't know there are many who for example may have studied Wasa al-Shia there are many who may have studied al-Kafi of Sheikh al-Kulani there are many who may have studied but they don't know the historical context of when these are written are these written at the time of the Boyids and the time of the Seljuks and the time of the Safawids are they written at the time of the Mamluks when are these works written who are they addressing is it an empire that's known for its lascivious nature, debauchery then maybe certain instruments which are discussed as being forbidden and that we are not allowed to listen to the music from these instruments for example or we're not allowed to play them is it maybe related to the menu at the time where you have for example an empire which is indulging in obscene or forbidden lyrics even amongst the songs that they're singing or the gatherings that they're having are full of for example alcohol and so on so I think it's not black and white for a person to say okay you know what you can't listen to any type of music or that instruments for example cannot be played at all I think there is a major discussion to be had in terms of text and context on these issues yeah say it you've grown up in the West and I believe you're quite in touch with the youth why is it sometimes the youth will prefer to listen to music or jump at listening to music but they're not so keen when it comes to listening to the Quran and maybe purifying language barrier well language barrier is a big thing the Quran's Arabic is not easy you're looking at certain verses of the Holy Quran there are words we don't use on an everyday basis I remember many times wherever I'd lecture in the world people say to me you know what you've got an advantage over us if I'm speaking to a non-Arab community so I'll be like what's my advantage over you they're like well you're Arab that means that when you read the Quran it's easier for you firstly there are many non-Arabs out there whose Quranic knowledge is greater than mine I can show you a few in Indonesia and a few in India and a few in Iran who have worked tirelessly and meticulously to get accustomed to the depth of the Holy Quran but secondly the Arabic that's spoken in the Quran is not the Arabic that I use at home with my mom and dad or that I use with my wife or with my siblings for example that's not the Quran that I use the Arabic the Arabic that I speak at home slang I'm sure if you speak Urdu for example you're not going to speak at high level Urdu at home with your parents no academically no no there are certain Mawlana's Urdu speaking Mawlana's or Farsi speaking Mawlana's or Arabic speaking Mawlana's who are known for a very high language when they speak where you're sitting there thinking hold on I speak Urdu but I don't know what this guy has reached in terms of levels and likewise when it comes to the Arabic of the Quran I don't think we have to expect our youth to have this love for listening to the Holy Quran in contrast to listening to the music of the musicians because the Arabic of the Quran is not easy for them to comprehend now that's not an excuse for them as well to say well you know what because I don't understand the Arabic of the Quran I'm only going to listen to music there's no such thing as oh I need to replace it with something else okay I'll replace it with anything I feel like there has to be made an effort for a person to gain from listening to the Holy Quran to read the translation of the Arabic of the Holy Quran but I think also maybe sometimes the message in some of the works of the musicians may relate to their life a bit more I don't think Allah SWT expects us to leave our houses like zombies with Qura'ans in our phones walking in the streets listening to them 24-7 Allah SWT wasn't interested just in those who try and memorize but rather those who reflect upon the Quran contemplate upon the Quran when some people are listening to the words of the musicians and if you look at some of the great musicians out there who had certain lyrics with meaning a person can look at that and say that relates to me but a person who's not contemplating on the Quran at all or reflecting on the Quran will never see what is there that may relate to them even though there is so much that relates you have for example certain tests in your relationship with people for example then you look at the tests that Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him and his family had you have for example a trial in your marriage then within the Holy Quran you can see the trial in the marriage of Nabi Nuh or Nabi Lord for example you want to get married to somebody but you're not sure how to go about it you could see what happens with for example Moses and the daughter of Shuaib you have a family issue you can go to Adam Habib and Qabil there are many stories within the Holy Quran that can relate to our life but it does require an effort to try and contemplate on them then with that contemplation there will be more of a fervor to want to listen to the Holy Quran Sayyed one would argue that we can listen to Nasheed and Latamiat but Nasheed and Latamiat have a similar origin to music they have a similar effect on the body as well I mean who decides and how do we decide that this form of audio is acceptable and the other isn't I must admit barring the obvious criterion which is that which the content is obscene or immoral you don't need a jurist to tell you I think sometimes the second level of criteria or the second barometer that is normally given legally is that that which you're listening to would not be played would for example be the type of thing or the type of tune that would be played for example at a club or at an immoral gathering if it is the type of tune that would be played at a night club or at a place of immoral gathering let's say then it becomes forbidden to listen to it with some of these Nasheeds for example I don't know I'm not really one who's an avid follower of of the latest Nasheeds but sometimes for example you look at some of the beautiful work of someone like Sami Yusuf for example I remember hearing one of the productions of Sami Yusuf talking about you know there being a river in heaven for Imam Ali and Imam Hassan Imam Hussein I don't think that's going to be played at a club in San Trope or or at a club in Vegas anytime soon and I think likewise when you're listening to for example and you're seeing some of the Nasheeds that he has you know let's say praising Imam Ali I can't see that being played you know at a club in Chelsea or mayfair anytime soon all those stranger things have happened so when you're looking at that I think the criteria would be as long as what you're listening to is not something that would be played at an immoral gathering that would be the second criteria the first would be that the words don't oppose the Quran or the traditions of the Ahl al Bayt backbiting is a big issue if you allow me to recite the treaty of rights on hearing the right of hearing is to keep it pure from listening to backbiting Imam Sajad straight away kind of attacks backbiting why is it that our community enjoys it sees it as a good time pass entertaining maybe it's an ego issue of getting one over the other why does our community consider to have this as a problem and could you please remind us of how Islam how serious Islam treats backbiting and its punishments I think Islam treats backbiting in one way but slandering in another and slandering is worse than backbiting you know I sometimes find that it's actually the more religious people who are backbiter not the less religious because the more religious have a way of justifying their backbiting religiously we have in Iraq and even in the Middle East before we want to backbite someone we say something may God not make this gheba and then we launch the attack what happens there is that we figured out a loophole which is that God don't make this gheba but full out attack and I sometimes find that even within our communities even until a couple of days ago someone was showing me that there is a clip being spread about me that said Ammar said this and said Ammar said that and most of these people who send these clips around to try and defame you if that can even be done with such clips or attack you most of these people are people who view themselves as soldiers of God I don't think it's the less religious people I think the ones who aren't so religious I use this term religious I'm still trying to understand the definition of it but that will come to another day it's a skewed definition that the religious give to the word religious but those people sincerely believe that they are soldiers of God what they'll do is they'll backbite backbite means I'll tell the truth about someone but knowing that they don't want that said about them and then they'll go to an even higher level which is slandering is when you blatantly know that you're saying something about someone which is a lie but your intention and your aim is to defame that person for a greater good we have people who dress like Mouliners and they would actually go around to youth around the world saying defame character A character B character C and if you have to lie about them then lie about them because for the greater cause it's worth it that person has not understood the right of hearing in Islam that in Islam I should never allow these ears to welcome backbiting meaning for example now someone's coming to you said Mohsen says did you hear this about said you got two options there you either could turn around and say you know what bro he's not here when he comes here you say it in front of him and I think that's when many people change their minds because there are a lot of people out there who in front of you they're smiling they probably stabbed you in the back 24 million times but in front of you salam sayyidina I love you but you know it's full of stabs now all you could turn around and you could listen to what they're saying sometimes the person backbiting is a troublemaker there's also the ones who are forgotten the right of their ears and that is I shouldn't be allowing this to come to my ears God did not give me these ears did not give me the ability to hear so I listen to negative vibes and jabs against people's characters you know in certain parts of the world there are actually magazines which are dedicated to backbiting and to slandering you know if you look at these Hollywood stars there are magazines that have destroyed marriages there are newspapers in this country that hacked people's phones and ended up exposing their private lives when a person asks me about Islam I turn to many a non-muslim out there and I'm like you know what you whose reputation got destroyed you who the tabloids or the broadsheets ripped apart their personal life come and look at what Islam says about backbiting Islam says in chapter 49 of the Holy Quran which is a chapter anyone out there who wants to know what the core message of morals in Islam is just read chapter 49 of the Quran and there is this one ayah in chapter 49 one verse do not backbite one another do you like to eat the dead flesh of your brother it's something that discuss indeed but you're behind someone's back and you're ripping them to pieces and then when you see them how are you I love you I love hate and that's the beauty about the hearing side combination in Islam and in the Quran how many times you find Allah swt puts hearing and sight next to each other in the Quran for example Allah in the Quran says a seal has been placed over them over their hearts over their and over their eyes look how the ears and eyes close to each other will ask you about your heart and about your ears and about your eyes and it's as if we are being told these aren't just physical entities they have a bearing on your spiritual growth what you allow to come into your hearing and what you allow your eyes to see either see you become higher than an angel or lower than an animal because we know very well animal emotion no intellect no emotion human being intellect and that means if the human being is able to master their senses they become higher than the angel if the human being allows what's around them to dictate what they should see what they listen to many of the things that people listen to and what many of the things people watch are from peer pressure if you look for example people listening to music I guarantee you there are people out there who listen to music just to keep up with their peers at school because they're not going to be part of that cool conversation when it comes to who knows what the latest you know likewise when it comes to for example the peer pressure there are certain things that you are told look at that because of your peers if you as a human being can turn around and say hold on God gave me the blessings of hearing inside not so that you dictate to me what I hear and what I see but rather that which is beneficial is what I listen to why do we for example in our community stress on listening or watching Majalis so many things to watch on tv so many wonderful things to watch on tv but that is it allowing my growth or not Majalis Al Hussein what are they but a university which allows for my growth what is the wasila what's the intermediary in that growth my hearing and my sight listening to the majlis some people on their way to work one hour doing nothing in the car some people put majlis in the car education growth I'm allowing myself before I go to work to listen to something likewise some of us know we can watch anything we put a majlis either on youtube or on the television it doesn't only have to be religious could be something about the world of nature the world of science the world of economics the world of politics I have to always ask myself that which I'm hearing that which I'm seeing has a bearing on my growth as a human being is it taking me to the angelic and higher or is it taking me to the animalistic and lower and just for the viewers could you please remind us about the punishments of back biting how severe it is specifically what's been mentioned with the hadith and the Quran I'm interested in talking about punishment so much in all honesty you know I think we've heard enough punishment lectures for years for me to then start talking about well you know what you're gonna be placed on some I don't know some crane somewhere with molten lead and lava I rather believe the human being at any moment in their life can have a switch can have a spark can have a change I don't want to be that person who sits and says oh you who back bite there will be molten lead and brass and petrol and gas and unleaded and everything will be in your ears and in your mouths I don't want to go down that route God has made it clear enough that don't back bite one another ripping the flesh and the dead flesh of your brother that should be enough for a person that's sent are there any other prohibitions in terms of hearing in Islam that people may not be aware of well I don't think there's any other prohibitions as such these are the main if you're talking about prohibitions then you're talking about that which is obscene or immoral yeah if you allow me we need to go to a break so to the viewers please continue to watch us after the break and continue with this discussion on hearing and seeing insha'Allah we'll see you after the break peace be upon you peace be upon you and welcome back to live in London where we were discussing the rights of hearing and the rights of seeing from the Treaty of Rights by Imam Sajad Dr Islam sometimes is attacked for restricting women from being open speaking does Islam actually restrict women being heard for their rights for their opinions yeah culture restricts them not Islam and because we have a lot of leaders in our community who want to impose the way they were raised on the way everybody else should live that means that women in some cases will not get a word in edge ways it's not the religion of Islam that's the issue it's that sometimes the patriarchal leadership will never ever envisage that a woman should be part of the community's political decision making that a woman should be involved in religious discussion and what they've done quite cleverly is place Sayyeda Fatima and Sayyeda Zainab as the token examples but they'll never want to apply them either not apply them because they'll say that was a reactionary situation it wasn't the norm that Sayyeda Fatima says otherwise never give lectures it was just because it called for that or they'll turn around and say well we give these examples in public if people tell us that Islam is against women but they themselves if for example a lady wants to give a lecture in the community they themselves will all of a sudden start bringing their own patriarchal world view and not allow the woman's voice to be heard I've been to events where when the Muslim woman is giving the talk I do something on purpose when I'm at an event and normally they'll give me let's say the main table there's a couple of things that I've done on purpose in the past firstly I'll sit on any table anywhere and sometimes the organises come here I'm fine where I am let me just chill here and then secondly if I am taken to the front table I always find that people on the front table have this sad behavioural pattern where they don't mind having their back facing the person giving the talk so for example you'll see that this front table full of supposed scholars no no the front table I'm saying say there is a stage and that there is tables everywhere normally the one closest to the stage is made up of people who supposedly are scholars you've got to give them benefit of the day it's probably a day out for them and what happens is that when we when someone goes up to give a talk these guys will not turn around so imagine if I'm giving a talk and imagine you've got your back facing me imagine I'm about to start the talk you turn around wouldn't you? I would but you'll find that there are some who won't turn around now especially sometimes when the woman in our coming to give a talk you'll find that there are people who find it normal that this lady is trying to speak for about 20-25 minutes and they'll have their back facing her comfortably when someone says therefore are our woman being heard I think the culture doesn't allow but the religion does but that's not to say that there aren't centres and organisations who are making an effort to try and resolve this so are we actually allowed to visit a man's list where a woman is actually why not? why not? what's the woman doing up there? woman's giving us lecture about the Quran and the Ahlul Bayt going to any lecture 70% of that attendance of that lecture is about your attitude and 30% is about your intellect you want to go to a place where you want to learn 70% of it is your attitude when you enter that place I don't care if it's a man or woman they give a presentation I want to listen we make it sound like that this lady who's gone up to give a lecture is all of a sudden going to start I don't know take her and start dancing in front of us or something so are we allowed in Islam to listen to her of course we're allowed to listen to her what's the issue someone says but Mawlana so and so says maybe Mawlana sitting where he sits has probably never seen a lady without with her face showing except his wife whereas there are many contexts where there is no harm in this so yes there's no problem I would be honoured if there is someone giving a lecture about a certain topic I'd be honoured to come and sit and listen to that lecture I don't care about the agenda well said then thank you for clarifying that just a quick reminder to all the viewers that this is a live show and if you have any questions you'd like to direct towards the say it please contact us on 0203 515-0199 if not alternatively you can send your question in via WhatsApp and we'll do our best to answer them saying that with your permission let's continue the discussion on towards sites there are unfortunately people who are born blind has Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala actually chosen for them not to have sites is there why are they born blind? well medically speaking I'm no one to comment on why someone's born blind but all of us I suppose are given a test in one way and some of them may see it as a blessing in the other let me explain a test in the sense that some of us are tested with our health some are tested with our wealth some are tested with our children some are tested with the loss of life and so this no doubt is a test it does mean that there are certain obligations which will not for example be compulsory on them which may be compulsory on us and so on but on the other hand there are those who are blind but they will turn around and say while my heart is not blind then I've been blessed by God that's it Doctor I believe we have a caller on the line answer the call you're naming where you're calling from you're naming where you're calling from you're naming where you're calling from we can hear you we can hear you I don't think they can hear us technical team if you can get back in contact with that viewer and inshallah we'll be able to answer the viewer's question there are those who will turn around to you and say that I'm honoured that God gave me sight in my heart and I think that there are many profound personalities who have said that line I remember a story where Prophet Jesus the Prophet Isa asks God a question he says to him which servant of yours, which creation of yours do you love the most is the most thankful for your blessings instead to him there's a lady at the end of your road she's the most thankful for what I've given her the Prophet Jesus begins to walk towards the end of his road he gets close to this lady he notices she's got no feet he gets closer notices she has no hands he gets even closer notices she's blind now he's wondering hold on I said to God who's your greatest creation and he said there's this lady at the end of your road who's so thankful for what I've given her but now I notice that there is this lady in front of me and she's got no hands, no feet and you would complain she's blind so he said to her may I ask you a question are you grateful for what you've been through she goes how can I not be grateful to God he says so what do you mean she says how can I not thank the Lord who did not give me the feet that may walk towards that which is haram or the hands that may touch haram or the eyes that may look towards haram what a generous Lord this is there are some of us with what we've looked at in our life it's going to be a long day of judgment for us that blind man or that blind woman will say sorry guys you guys have got quite a few things to answer for me and Jew will be shown certain clips of what we allowed these eyes to see so who's more blessed and what type of sight does a person want in their life the sight of the eyes the heart beautiful doctor you were mentioning what is the difference between akma and a'amah in regards to Jesus akma and a'amah both are translated in English as blind akma means physically blind a'amah can be physical blindness and blindness of the heart so when the Quran mentions Christ it says he can give sight back towards those who are blind yes we believe this the Christian religion believes this as well the word akma has used akma is when you're talking of someone who is physically blind a'amah can refer to you being physically blind but also spiritually blind and what about basira basar as in both means sight what's the difference between that basar for example is referring to your physical eyesight yes to see something basira is referring to insight so if you imagine there are people who have outside I could see what's in front of me I see cameras I see television screen I see you in front of me with my basar basira is insight here I can see past the layers that surround me I move from the world of knowledge to the world of wisdom from the world of ilm to the world of hakma and that's the difference between basar and basira insightful thank you doctor in the Quran Allah swt mentions those who are blind in the dunya will also be blind in the hereafter now one could argue what does Allah have against blind people what sort of justice is this from Allah swt those who are blind in this world will be blind in the hereafter does not refer to those who are physically blind interesting discussion the verses of the holy Quran are they open for tatwil or not some school said in Islamic theology you cannot interpret you only take what literally is written for example if the Quran says do not say to your parents of we are told that you can't even say of to your parents of some schools in islam said of represent don't don't be rude don't be abrasive other schools said no if Allah says that means any other word you call your parents you can't just don't say of so if I now turn around to my parents and I say to them for example you people are cowards I hate you that school says you can't say that no problem say why because the Quran says don't say of as long as you don't say the word of there's no issue so no no no of is metaphorical for not being rude had there been a word smaller than of it would not be newsed likewise when it came to this verse those who are blind in this world will be blind in hereafter you're absolutely right someone could turn around and say hold on a minute first you guys discuss the right of sight I don't even have sight and then the Quran mentions that those who are blind in this world will be blind here what if I don't want to be blind I want to also go to heaven and see the lakes and see the rivers and see everything else that's around the lakes and the rivers when you go to heaven I want to be in that world as well we reply by saying no those who are blind in this world meaning those who have not found the truth fight the truth don't want an interest in the truth will also be blinded away from the truth in the hereafter I remember there was one Mufti in Saudi Arabia who tried to debate one of our scholars saying that you shia do tafsir and taweel of the holy Quran and you say that there are these verses that can be interpreted in different layers this is not allowed and you people you shia are the people of bid'a and people of kufr and people of shirk so our Mawlana looked at him and he said to him I want to ask you a question because the Mufti was blind he said to him so every verse in the Quran take literally he said yeah every verse we take literally so the ayah says that those who are blind in this world will be blind in the hereafter what do you say about that that means blind in the heart so he goes now who is doing taweel of the Quran me or you so when it comes to such an ayah of the holy Quran those who thought this is God being anti-blind no blindness of the heart like we said the difference between basa and basira likewise there is a difference between blindness of the heart and the physical blindness Doctor are there any famous blind people that have inspired you in terms of Islamic history or narrative well probably one of the greatest narrators of tradition in the school who was blind but he was given the title of the father of the visionaries is Abu Basir how many times do you read the hadith Abu Basir narrates from Imam al-Sad how many times have you read ask anyone who has read the books of the school of Ahlul Bayt and they'll say to you you'll always come across a tradition Abu Basir was blind Abu Basir was blind but what did he have he had the prophet peace be upon him and his family once you have that are you blind you have the most light in you maybe blind here but you know what if I've got sight with my heart I've got insight I've got Basir there is no better gift to be given there are many personalities there are many personalities who their blindness did not affect what was in some cases the sharpest minds Ibn Abbas for example blind at the end of his life but unbelievable number of traditions narrated you look at for example if you look one of the most famous lectures in Egypt of Ahlul Sunnah Sheikh Abdul Hamid Kishk a phenomenal lecturer memorised the Quran, memorised traditions has one of the greatest lecturers I've personally ever heard on Imam al-Husayn in the 10th of Muharram and he was blind and so you have personalities in history their blindness didn't affect their memoriser of Quran their blindness didn't affect their memorisation of tradition their blindness did not for example affect their narration of traditions as well and these are people to definitely learn from Doctor we have a call online and let's cross our fingers insha'Allah we'll be able to get through to them Salam alaykum, your name and where you're calling from Salam alaykum technical team if you could please try and call the caller back and insha'Allah we'll be able to get through to them sorry doctors you were saying so these are personalities we've been inspired by Doctor there is a famous saying or a rule let's say a rule of thumb in our community which is we've lost a sight that one glance is allowed a permissible some people try and take advantage of this one glance so this one's there how do we address this, what do we say to these people just make sure that you know you have good neck movements and keep turning as that as that one look continues because you always have someone in the community will say well if one looks allowed then this was my one look and well that wasn't really the intention behind it one look is understandable but then after that you have that consciousness of God and it's not easy why should I sit here and pretend that I'm God's gift on earth at the end many of us have fallen with what we thought was one look and then we needed a second look just to make sure for example but a person of taqwa will be someone who'll try and insure that you know what my eyes I know very well that I'm going to be questioned about what I've seen also at the same time there is a delicate spiritual point if I believe that Imam of my time is alive is it that I don't see him because I don't want to see him no I want to see him is it that I don't see him because he's not next to me no he's next to me sometimes these eyes that have accumulated so much sin maybe that's the reason I can't see purity and so sometimes testing yourself with these battles of the one look and so on maybe that might have an instrumental effect on being able to see the Imam of your time one day beautiful doctor very touching doctor the technical team have told me that they fixed the problem and inshallah we'll be able to get through to our caller salamu alaykum your name and where you're calling from salamu alaykum salamu alaykum my name is Radha Khan and I'm calling from Dublin salam to Sayyed Ammar and to you Sayyed Mohsin first of all I would like to say to Sayyed Ammar that we are blessed to have him such a prolific scholar and it's amazing that the work that he's doing for the community of the followers of Alabay thank you thanks so much the question I have to Sayyed Ammar is that about regards to Sufi music there's always this consensus that Sufi music according to many scholars of the school of Alabay it is somewhat permissible but I don't seem to get my head around it that the usage of name of Imam Ali repeatedly with music sends you in a state of trance so I just wanted your opinion on this if you could kindly explain to me what do what do Shia school of thought says about Sufi music thank you very much brother talk to peace I think in the Indo-Pac subcontinent there is a genre of music which is known as kawali and amongst the lyrics is a phenomenal love for the prophet Muhammad peace be upon him and his family I think anything in moderation is acceptable the brothers talking about such type of music which brings you to a trance we don't want that music to be what our ears are accustomed to rather that poetry which brings you closer to God and the prophet and his family there is no harm there thank you very much doctor doctor in the west I mean we have conversations with loads of people whether it's interviews at work, whether it's colleagues at school and you and I both know it's accustomed to look at the person while you're speaking to them but at the same time Islam tells us to lower our gaze in the west sometimes this is seen as actually rude to be looking down and not speaking to the individual as if they're not looking at the individual no problem look at the custom of your time what's the problem there's no issue I've gone to a university interview there's a professor in front of me there's no harm to continue a conversation no lustful intention there you're going in you're having a discussion about education there's no harm Islam says for example it's lowering their gaze keeping it away from lustful harmful intentions and actions otherwise you're going for an interview at work there's no issues there at all thank you very much doctor we have another caller on the line Salamu Alaikum your name were you calling for him yeah Salamu Alaikum my name's Hussein I'm calling from Australia more question is does any of the imams compare back by any of the common majestines for example if we give an example you have Imam Jafar Asbar he says for example he says does any of the imams compare backbiting to any of the common majestines thank you there are numerous traditions of comparison all of the effects of backbiting and I think the great scholar Dasta Ghaib in his book the greatest sins there is a chapter on backbiting and he lists all of the traditions of the Ahlul Bayt about backbiting and what it's compared to that would be the best reference for all of these traditions of comparison say it I think it's a very maybe a bit of a taboo topic but I think it's very important is that there is an issue an epidemic as such in our community of watching indecency or immoral videos and images how do we tackle this issue as a community how do we stop people from falling into such a sin even the prophets of God went through trials with the sexual energy of the human being if you look for example at the story of Prophet Yusuf you know a prophet of God is faced with a major trial and that is the wife of someone who has employed him wanting to have a physical relationship with him and one wonders why does God actually show us the scene of Zuleikha and Yusuf and really what God is highlighting to us is one of the most important as well as possibly pivotal desires in the life of the human being is their sexual desires and the human being wants to look at that which is sexually pleasing to the eye the right of your sight is that you don't allow it to become accustomed to that which is obscene or immoral but we're all going to go through a frantic hormone period where our hormones are raging where we see bodily changes and where we want to view images which hither to this point either we haven't viewed or are very difficult to get to now animals have sex and we have sex and animals eat and we eat and animals sleep and we sleep but the human being what differentiates them from every animal on this earth is discipline, dignity honor humility these are what differentiates the human from even that which 99% is similar to it in DNA and so in our communities if there is this pornography for example issue that exists it's not something new but it has to be discussed there has to be an arena where people who have faced an addiction to pornography and have overcome it remember this doesn't just affect Muslims there are many non-Muslims out there who are porn to the extent that some statistics say to us that these eyes that God gave the human being as a blessing are eyes which look at the internet on a regular basis and 60% of the internet is porn that much and so when that statistic tells us that it's a major test to honor and observe the rights the hack of one's eyes because you've got this freedom to go online go to websites for free in the 80s or in the 70s people had to go and buy videos and so if you're ever traveled in America or even in the UK you'll find that a lot of these places which sell pornography are in the middle of a highway junction in the middle of nowhere and it would say for example let's say that this is a sex shop and anybody is allowed to come inside and then there were certain streets which were meant to be sex streets where you could go in and watch a porn film or go to porn cinemas now it's so readily available that unless our scholars address this openly the way our imams addressed it openly has a chapter called the book of Nikah if you look at that chapter how Imam Al-Sadaq alayhi salam alayhi salam how they openly discuss sexual positions how they openly discuss and you know in a couple of shows we're going to have the rights of the private parts and I'll elaborate on this further but you've got this ability in this day and age to actually use your eyes to watch porn for free it goes to show you that you think these eyes have no effect on your spirituality they could destroy or they can make or they can allow growth so we need to be a lot more open in our works and have a lot more counselors who are willing to hear out people who face a pornography addiction for example their life thank you doctor we have a caller on the line salam alaykum your name and where you're calling from alaykum sir my salams obviously what is my two dear brothers say the monaxonian say it more thank you it's a very good channel my question to you guys is how do we go about in the 21st century about tackling the problem in a technological way can you give us more detail to your question how do you mean by technological sir I mean obviously technology is progressing into where we've got like artificial intelligence coming in obviously people actually becoming deluded into this pathway which is way from religion so what mechanisms can be used to bring people back to the religion and what should we be doing as the generation I don't think Islam wants us to view science negatively I think Islam on the contrary says that scientific progress should be appreciated should be lauded and should be supported and I think using technology to to be able to spread the word of the Quran and the word of the Ahlul Bayt is something fundamental I do believe that we are behind as a community technologically but I do at the same time believe that some of our younger generations making great strides so look at what the current trends are in the world of technology what is happening in the world of apps what's happening in the world of chat what's happening in the world of pictures and try your hardest to find ways of incorporating the religious message on there religion doesn't just have to be you know confined to the mosque or confined to Majalis or confined to the seminaries there are different ways in which a person is able to promulgate religion in their time very insightful thank you doctor we have another caller on the line and inshallah we'll be able to answer the question salamu alaykum your name and where you're calling from the same how do you explain to him that this is morally wrong without causing conflict and how do you for example you know because some people come up with these views on just learning just going through a stage how do you explain to them without causing tension thank you very much I think one of the best ways is to tell the person would you like if someone spoke behind your back you know I think it's a simple line but it affects many of us now when you tell someone listen bro stop backbiting would you like if someone spoke behind your back or revealed something about your life and sometimes the person may not accept it there and then they'll mull over it on their way home and this is something very important to realize that the human being's ego doesn't allow them there and then to say yeah you're alright on their way home that night after having had dinner with you or after having had a discussion with you they'd say you know he had a point I don't say that backbiting is something that can be deleted in one day it requires a major struggle it's the jihad of the nefs of the human the human being wants to hear people's lives ruined and destroyed it's a struggle where I think it requires patience even with the backbiter that's it Doctor we have another caller on the line we'll try and get the question in salamu alaykum your name and your question please to the doctor hello salamu alaykum salam your name and where you're calling from my name is umad bine I'm calling from last year your question for the doctor please say it I'm trying to memorize the holy Quran and I was wondering if there was any advice or tips that you might give me to make it easier for me thank you very much for your question it's a great question and it's great to hear members of our community who are eager to memorize the holy Quran it doesn't happen very often that you hear people who want to memorize the verses of the Quran I would definitely say if you can find someone who's a mentor or someone who you can buffer your memorizing with in the Islamic seminary or in the hausa mubahatha is a fundamental aspect if you're able to for example discuss with someone your findings this is something fundamental and something of the utmost importance I think likewise when you memorize the Quran it's always great to have someone there who's alongside you on a trivial level you go to the gym you want a gym buddy still go to the gym alone but that body encourages you to support each other I think likewise with the memorization of the holy Quran I think having someone who's there as a mentor or as a teacher or as a partner I think that's something which hopefully will be beneficial to the system another call on the line doctor salamu alaykum your name and where you're calling from yes wa alaykum wa salam this is Agha Shabir from New Jersey oh wow New Jersey today is Martin Luther King Junior Day in the United States so can you please speak on the issue of racism and also be a great brother and how do we look at others with our wives with our parents thank you very much for your question doctor Martin Luther King yes thank you Agha Shabir salam to everybody in New Jersey all of our beloved brothers and sisters over there today is Martin Luther King Day in the United States and having lived in the United States for a number of years it really is a great day and at an important time today we saw the passing away of one of the one of the icons of British football Cyril Regis I don't know if you remember Cyril Regis but in my time certainly when I was younger I remember Cyril Regis having a major role in the removal of racism and standing up against racism and encouraging many black football players for example to come through you know when later on you saw famous black football players playing in British football such as Ian Wright John Barnes Stan Colimo Thierry Henri and later on these were inspired and a lot took a lot wanted to give credit to someone like Cyril Regis who passed away today and our condolences go towards the Regis family and I think therefore it's very important for us on a day like this to recognize that sadly that racism still exists and it sadly still exists within our own communities and our own communities a lot of our brethren from an African background are still not treated with the respect they deserve are still in some cases humiliated and I think it's vital for us to realize the Ahlul Bayt Al-Maslam firstly had a love for those who came from Africa to the extent many married from Africa to the extent that the likes of Sayyid the Fidda for example if she's of an African origin some say of an Indian origin there's difference of opinion or there are others such as John of Abyssinia who are honored companions likewise anyone who has a mustard seed weight of racism and prejudice can be raised with the people of Jahili on the day of judgement so I think it's a fitting day to remember just how important the campaigns anti-racism are and how much they should be supported Thank you very much Doctor just for the viewers out there we do have we do have some more time and if you'd like to call in and squeeze in your questions call us on 0203 515 0199 and the doctor inshallah will be able to answer them for you but before that Doctor can we read some questions that have been sent in I've got a good one here it's talking about going to the seaside into the beach, I mean this is a great western tradition that you are going to be exposed to indecency at the beach is it wise for a Muslim to go on a nice sunny day to margate or south end there are other beaches which I'm just thinking of now where we've had a you know you have a struggle when you're going there you know to that beach and you look one way look the other and and there isn't much clothing and then you begin to ask yourself should I really be here and I think there's a line that the human being has to draw at some points you know while the religion of Islam is not a religion that wants to remove you away from enjoying yourself there are points where the religion says there is a line that you must be drawing where you say no this is not the place for us another question here to do with the taboos topic we're talking about what do you recommend for an individual to wheel him off this sin and exercise this to help him refrain from sin make sure they don't stay idle you know idle idle time can be a real real poison in the life of the human being keep yourself busy and I think the parents also have to be up to date with what's happening in the world of technology and up to date with you know their sons or their daughters relation ma'am alayhi salam ta'zim ma'am al-hassan that my son Hassan know that the heart of the youth is like an uncultivated piece of land whatever you throw on it it accepts therefore I try to mold your heart before it hardened so that you were able to learn from my examples and apply them to yours and I think there are many fathers out there who need to have a bit more role as a friend with their sons or daughters in being very open about discussing things which maybe their fathers weren't willing to be so open about times have changed last question is there anything you recommend that we can listen to to you know give us thawab or remove sins is there any sort of narration to this must have to do this and it's very beneficial to be listening to or a certain audio piece I think like I said the Qur'an is the cure the Qur'an is a shifa for the Sadoor and I think there is nothing better to listen to in the life of a Muslim than the holy Qur'an thank you very much doctor any final thoughts or anything you want the viewer to take from this discussion just that you know as I said our physical senses have a bearing on our spirituality which too cannot be disconnected so what we're going to hear what we're going to see let's remember that there is a major connection to our spiritual growth thank you very much for a very insightful discussion thank you so much to all the viewers thank you for joining us on this discussion on the rights of hearing and the rights of seeing inshallah we'll be having a show on the weekend on Friday to do with the rights of the hands and the rights of the feet inshallah if the doctor will allow it to happen and he will be here see you next time thank you