Allah The Almighty praises those who preserve their chastity and make this a means of success in the Hereafter; He Almighty Says (what means): {Certainly will the believers have succeeded: They who are during their prayer humbly submissive. And they who turn away from ill speech. And they who are observant of Zakah [obligatory charity]. And they who guard their private parts except from their wives or those their right hands possess, for indeed, they will not be blamed - But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors.}[Quran 23:1-7]
Allah The Almighty promises such successful believers Paradise, as He Says (what means): {Those are the inheritors. Who will inherit Al-Firdaws. They will abide therein eternally.} [Quran 23:10-11]
This meaning was further confirmed by the Prophet, , in many Hadeeths. He, , said: “If a woman prays the five obligatory prayers, fasts the month of Ramadan, preserves her chastity and obeys her husband, she will be told: ‘Enter Paradise from whichever door you wish.’” [Ahmad, Al-Albaani - Saheeh]
The Prophet, , said: “Guarantee six things for me and I will guarantee Paradise for you: tell the truth when you speak, keep your promises, discharge your trusts, preserve your chastity, lower your gaze, and restrain your hands.” [Ahmad, Ibn Hibbaan, and Al-Haakim, Al-Haakim - Saheeh]
In a Hadeeth on the authority of ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, the Prophet, , said:“O youth of the Quraysh! Do not commit adultery. Whoever preserves his chastity will enter Paradise.” [Al-Haakim, Al-Haakim - Saheeh]
On the other hand, the one who does not preserve his chastity will enter Hell. The Prophet, , was asked about the most common causes that lead people to Hell and he answered: “The mouth and the private parts.” [Ibn Hibbaan]
The effect of preserving one’s chastity on the individual and on society is immense as it is a means of avoiding the miseries associated with adultery. Ibn Al-Qayyim referred to some of these woes when he said, “Adultery combines all evils: it weakens faith, uproots religious prudence, corrupts nobility and wipes out jealousy. One would never find an adulterer who is religiously prudent, keeps his promises, tells the truth or retains a friend. This is because treachery, lying, lack of bashfulness and jealousy and not disdaining from committing what is prohibited are all required of the person who commits this awful sin.” He who preserves his chastity protects himself from all these evil qualities.
Means of preserving chastity
The noble Islamic Sharee‘ah commands us to preserve our chastity. It points out clear ways to protect the individual and the society in this regard. It encourages us to preserve our chastity and purity and raises us on the desire to protect our womenfolk. It orders us to lower our gaze, ordains Hijab for women and forbids them from exposing their beauty. Moreover, it sets a severe punishment for adultery and encourages the youth to get married at an early age if they can afford to do so, while those who cannot afford marriage are encouraged to fast. All this was legislated in order to protect the Muslims from having uncontrollable desires and overwhelming instincts and in order to preserve lineage.
When the Islamic Sharee‘ah calls for marriage and encourages people to do so, it thereby makes the preservation of chastity as one of its most important goals. The Prophet, , said: “O Youth! Whoever of you can afford marriage then let him get married as it lowers gaze and [protects] the private parts…” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
One of the benefits of a Muslim preserving his chastity through marriage is that whenever he sees something and his inner self whispers evil to him, he would find that he has something lawful that could replace what is prohibited. Hence, the Prophet, , said: “If any of you likes a woman and this feeling reaches his heart, he should go and have sexual intercourse with his wife as this would remove what is in his heart.” [Muslim]
Preserving chastity is a cause of supplications being answered
In a Hadeeth on the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, the Prophet, , said: Ibraaheem [Abraham], may Allah exalt his mention, emigrated with Sarah and went to a town that had a tyrannical king. He was told that Ibraaheem had arrived with an extremely beautiful woman. Thus, the tyrant sent for him and asked, ‘Who is that woman with you?’ Ibraaheem, may Allah exalt his mention, said, ‘She is my sister.’ Then he went back to her and said, ‘Do not say something different from what I have said as I have told them that you are my sister. By Allah, there are no believers on earth except you and I [explaining that he had meant that she was his sister in Islam].’
She was sent to the king and he got up. So, she performed ablution and prayed. She supplicated to Allah The Almighty saying, ‘O Allah, if I have believed in You and in Your Messenger, and have guarded my private parts except for my husband, then do not give this disbeliever power over me.’ The man [king] fell as if he was suffocating and fled. This happened three times and every time she supplicated to Allah The Almighty to drive the tyrant away.
Finally, the king said, ‘By Allah, you have brought me a devil. Send her back to Ibraaheem and give her a servant.’ When she went back to Ibraaheem, may Allah exalt his mention, she said, ‘Look how Allah suppressed the disbeliever and blessed me with a servant!’
Therefore, Allah The Almighty answered her supplication when she asked Him by virtue of her faith and chastity.
Preserving chastity is a cause for attaining forgiveness and a great reward
Because man is born with an innate desire, Allah The Almighty orders mankind to preserve their chastity and promises them a great reward in return. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Tell the believing men to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what they do. And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts}. [Quran 24:30-31]
Allah The Almighty promises those who guard their private parts a great reward and forgiveness. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {The men who guard their private parts and the women who do so, and the men who remember Allah often and the women who do so - for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward.} [Quran 33:35]
We ask Allah The Almighty to avert from us all evil and immorality, for He is the Almighty and is capable of doing so.