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What is chastity in Islam?
Chastity is one of the greatest and one of the very necessary virtues in Islam. Chastity means morally guiding one’s thoughts and body from everything that Allah says is Haram. Chastity is the characteristic of someone who is pure and modest. It is very crucial for both Muslim men and women to safeguard their chastity so as to remain closer to Allah. Nikah, the law of Allah, helps an individual to preserve his/ her chastity. If you think chastity means the preservation of only the private parts o the body then it is not so. Chastity is maintaining a moral character so that you set the right example of an Ideal Muslim.
Men have a natural desire for women, and vice versa. We all know that out of the worldly pleasures, the most dearest to the Prophet (Peace be upon Him) were women and perfumes. Alike Him, all human beings are attracted to the opposite sex. Satan takes advantage of that to entice men and move their lusts when a woman approaches or moves away from them. Satan does the wrong thing by picturing her to them in an attractive and appealing form. Nevertheless, such thoughts lead to different kinds of sinning so that they can fulfil their lusts.
Usamah Bin Zayd (R.A.) reported that Allah’s Messenger, the Prophet (Peace be upon Him) said,
“I have not left after me a trial more harmful to men than women.”
[Recorded by al-Bukhari, Muslims and others]
A married person has a quick means of protection against the whispers of Satan while it tries to seduce the men.
Jabir (R.A.) reported that that Allah’s Messenger, the Prophet (Peace be upon Him) said,
“A woman approaches in the tempting form of a devil, and moves away in the tempting form of a devil. When any of you finds in a woman something that attracts him, he should go to his wife, because she has the same as the other woman has, and that satisfies his desire in a lawful way.”
[as-Sahihah no.235]
So, we see that since the beginning of this humankind our limits have been set in a lawful manner as stated by Allah and His Messenger. It is for our betterment that we do not waste too much time in understanding that Nikah will unfold infinite benefits for us in this life and in the Afterlife.
In shaa Allah!
