The Qur'an in Surah Al-An`aam (6: 151) says: "Do not even go near lewdness - whether overt or covert". In Surah Al-A`raaf (7: 33) the Qur'an says: "Declare [O Prophet,] indeed my Lord has prohibited lewdness, whether overt or covert." Then at another instance, in Surah Bani-Israeel (17: 32) the Qur'an says: "Do not even go near fornication".

An important point to note in the first and third verses cited above is the phrase: "Do not even go near". This phrase implies that a person should not only try to avoid lewdness and/or fornication, but should also try to avoid all kinds of stimulants that might lead to lewdness and/or fornication.

I do not think there would be any doubt in anybody's mind that pornographic material even if not considered lewdness itself, is very close to and a stimulant toward lewdness and should therefore be considered an evil deed.

We must always remember that whatever time we are given to live in this life is to do all the good that we can and thereby purify our minds, bodies and souls from all kinds of soiling effects. All our faculties are a gift to us from our Creator, to be used for the right purpose. We must try to put them to the best possible use. All misuse of these gifts, according to the Qur'an, shall be questioned. The Qur'an says: "Indeed the eyes, the ears and the heart, each of the senses shall be closely questioned." (Bani-Israeel 17: 36). It is in about the same sense that Jesus, in his sermon of the mount said that if any of man's faculties is leading him astray, it is better to rid oneself of that faculty rather than being led astray. Matthew, in his Gospel has reported Jesus to have said:

"You have heard that it was said, `Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

Pornography and all such material that has the potential of leading us astray from the path of God and making us unmindful of our real goal in life should be avoided to the ultimate. We must always remember that one of the most effective among the weapons of Satan to lead us astray is to guide us to the path of lewdness (Al-Baqarah 2: 267) and we must always be on our guard against Satan's attacks.

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