Some girls committing suicide because of stalking

25-7-2010 | IslamWeb

Question:

Assalamualaikum, I am from Bangladesh. The number of suicide of girls (victims of stalking) has been increasing in my country.Young boys find it very amusing to tease girls and it has become their habit. They use unseemly and vulgar words towards girls whoever want. I know islam has certain rulings concerning the modest dress of a woman and also the control of gaze of men and women but in a situation like this, what should be the punishment of the stalker according to shariah and what Quran and Hadith say about this and what we (muslims) should do ?

Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

 

Molesting girls and teasing them in the streets is an act of dissolute and wicked people, and such people must be deterred and punished for such an act. In the past, this act was an act of hypocrites; Allaah Says (what means): {O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused.}[Quran 33:59]. Qataadah  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him said (about the cause of the descent of this verse): “When slave girls (who did not use to cover their faces) used to pass by, the hypocrites would pester them and annoy them, so Allaah forbade the free women from resembling the slave girls so that they would not be molested like them.

Therefore, whoever is able to prevent those people from continuing their injustice and he does not do so, then he is sinful and vulnerable to danger. Abu Bakr  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him said: “I heard the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) saying: “If people saw an unjust man and did not try to stop his injustice, they would be soon gripped by Allaah’s punishment.” [Abu Daawood and At-Tirmithi]

On the other hand, the girls should be advised to do what would make them avoid any harm from the ignorant people, among which is to observe the Hijab and stay away from the places of temptation and they should not go out except for a necessity and the like. For more benefit on Hijab, please refer to Fatwa 83033.

Finally, we warn the Muslims from escaping problems by resorting to suicide, which is a grave major sin, because if one commits suicide, he/she would suffer misery in this life and the Hereafter. For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 84296.

Allaah Knows best.

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