Chastity - Islam

The tenets of all religions are aimed in general at the masses for their upliftment. The common man, be he of any religion will not be in a position to follow the highest ideals required for self-realization all of a sudden. It takes much effort and practice to get things right in one's lifestyle. So when Muhammed the prophet recommends complete loyalty and fidelity within marriage and excludes all activities involving straying from this fidelity in thought, word and deed, as forbidden, it is the first and basic step towards the establishment of Brahmacharya.

By staying loyal to one's wife and refraining from sexual thought, word and deed with others, a basic level of character and integrity is built within man. This is the first step and not the last. A married muslim couple who are leading a proper life governed by the tenets of Islam will naturally gravitate towards a life of Brahmacharya by the other tenets advocated by the prophet. Such a couple, who have much love and reverence for Allah will without their knowledge restrict their sexual contact for the purpose of progeny and not pleasure; for how can a man or woman truly devoted to the Supreme creator and constantly trying to please him be engrossed in carnal and sexual pleasures? Islam professes the devout muslim to move from the natural state to the moral state and from the moral state to the spiritual state. This cannot be achieved if a man is constantly fixed on sexuality as a form of entertainment. It is a clear indication that man is supposed to make himself spiritual through the constant thought of Allah and get over his animalistic tendencies.

Here are some quotes from the Holy Quran which point to the importance of chastity:

"Those of you who own the means and marry should keep their eyes uncraving and their chastity secure. Those who don't, may practise fasting for it curbs desire. " - (Ibn Massoud)

This statement clearly shows that a man must marry with a pure and honest motive and never for lust. The prophet has suggested fasting as a means to curb sexual passion. In the verse [4:24] of the Holy Quran, it is clearly mentioned that attempts at marriage should be fueled with pure love and not lust or passion. This makes purity of thought and intention, the basis of marriage. Lust fueled by recreational sexuality has no place.

"Follow not the footsteps of Satan" - (Al;Qur’an, 2:209)

The footsteps of Satan here represent all those thoughts & activities that lead man astray from the path of virtue and into the doom of sin. This is another indirect way of pointing to the fact that sexual activity even within marriage is to be limited for its rightful purpose and not more; for how can a man even within his marriage, stay away from the footsteps Satan represented by lust, passion and excessive desire as long as he is a slave to these? It is a known fact that sexual activity even within marriage, if carried out continually for the purpose of entertainment and pleasure fires up lust and desire in large amounts. The person remains in this state even after accomplishing the sexual act. On the other hand, those who limit sexuality for progeny and prevent the state of lust engulfing them automatically become chaste and develop a stronger tendency for God-thought and lesser tendency for lust. So for the really God-loving man or woman, sexuality becomes the last thing on their mind and leads to a natural form of Brahmacharya without their own knowledge.

“Indeed, he truly prospers who purifies himself.” (Al;Qur’an, 87:15)

True purification requires a life involving abstention from indulgence in sense pleasure as the source of entertainment or relaxation. Any spiritual aspirant, be he a Hindu, Muslim or Christian will reiterate that spiritual thoughts and pure mental states are impossible in the state of lust and passion. A man lustfully gazing at a woman cannot show the traits of kindness, mercy and compassion while he is engrossed in this state of lust. He is engrossed in lust and thick in selfish tendencies at this moment. He has little concern for others and is far away from his sense of duty and discipline. He is completely under the will of passion and knows not what reasoning is. This sows the seeds of impurity within him on a deep note. If one were to frequently occupy such a state, how could he ever dream of purifying himself as professed by Muhammed the prohet? The same applies to a man who is constantly behind his wife for carnal satisfaction. How on earth can purity develop in one weighed by such tendencies? So the need for Brahmacharya even within Muslim marriage goes unsaid. Social patterns and practices bent on flaring up the sexual desire are frowned upon by Islam. A devout muslim, who has really understood the tenets of Islam in the right spirit will soon find that recreational sexuality, even within marriage comes in the way of true spiritual progress. He voluntarily gives up such a life and focuses his thoughts and deeds on the ways of pleasing Allah with the right conduct.

The great Muslim Saint from India, Kabir has said -
" Those sunk in lust have not the chance to come out of suffering. Assured to such a one is suffering, beyond doubt".

This is a beautiful statement that holds good both for the married and unmarried. Nowhere in Islam has it been advocated for man to behave in the grip of passion for the sake of recreation or entertainment. He is always asked to govern his actions with the thought of Allah and in the right direction. Sexuality is shown as the means for procreation and not recreation and this is clearly understood by the true knowers of Islam.

It is sincerity and genuineness in being devoted to the Almighty Lord, call him Allah, Krishna or Christ that forms the basis for Brahmacharya. This devotion is nothing but being true to one's own real self. A person in the grip of lust and passion cannot be true to his very own self, let alone others. Ejaculation is only a physical release and not the cause. The cause is an impure mind driven by lust. So as long as the mind is not kept pure, one cannot claim to be chaste. Mere restraint from ejaculation is of no use and ultimately fails.

Hence a true Muslim will come to the realization that even with one's wedded spouse, involving oneself in recreational sexuality beyond the precincts of requirement for progeny lead one astray and far into the bounds of Satan who is nothing but the representation of Ignorance called as 'Avidya' by the Hindu saints. While the gross, sensual and sexually enslaved man, be he a Hindu, Muslim or Christian always tries to grab each and every form of sexual pleasure, through his wife or outside, the devout spiritual man who loves and respects God, automatically reduces and finally gives up on recreational sexuality through the course of his advancement in the course of time.

ॐ तत् सत्
(That Supreme being is the absolute truth)