Islam maintains a balance between the human soul and body, the spiritual and physiological aspect of human beings and their natural inclination towards sexual satisfaction within the legal boundaries that Allah The Almighty has set.
With this balance, Islam was able to form a unique new generation that was distinguishably chaste, pure, ambitious and exalted above its desires; it was a generation which sacrificed its wealth and souls for the sake of Allah The Almighty, seeking His pleasure, believing in His promised rewards and protecting the sacred places and the honour of Muslims.
Islam encourages marriage as a means to achieve and maintain chastity and made it a sign of the perfect wisdom of Allah The Almighty as well as a great mercy upon His slaves. Allah The Almighty has facilitated marriage as a means to satisfy sexual desires, protect the lineage, and fulfil the natural instincts between the two sexes so that they may enjoy themselves in a dignified manner. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {"And among His Signs is this, that He created for you wives from among yourselves, that you may find repose in them, and He has put between you affection and mercy. Verily, in that are indeed signs for a people who reflect."} [Quran, 30: 21].
He encourages getting married by saying (what means): {"And marry those among you who are single and (also marry) the pious of your (male) slaves and maid-servants (female slaves). If they be poor, Allah will enrich them out of His Bounty."} [Quran, 24: 32]
On the other hand, Islam forbids following one's base desires and aggressively seeking their satisfaction; it has ordained and encouraged chastity and sealed all ways that lead to the spread of immorality, the corruption of hearts and the ruin of the Muslim Nation.
Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {"Successful indeed are the believers, who offer their prayers with all solemnity and full submissiveness. And those who turn away from Al-Laghw (dirty, false, evil vain talk). And those who pay the Zakat. And those who guard their chastity. Except from their wives or (the slaves) that their right hands possess, for then, they are free from blame; But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors"} [Quran, 23: 1-7] and: {"And let those who find not the financial means for marriage keep themselves chaste, until Allah enriches them of His Bounty."} [Quran, 24: 33]
Chastity is an exalted value that helps one attain self-control; it purifies the heart and leads the limbs to the obedience of Allah The Almighty as well as keeping one away from His prohibitions. If a person loses his chastity, he becomes just like an animal; having no concern except to follow his base desires and satisfy them in any way and for any price – even if this entails the loss of religion, wealth and family – everything in this life and the Hereafter.
The following are some words of advice to Muslim men and women on achieving and maintaining chastity in their interactions:
Shaykh Muhammad As-Sabbaagh said, "When a woman talks to you, let your conversation be limited within Islamic guidelines; therefore you should not joke or talk too much; you should say what you have to, in brief. Likewise, when a man talks to a woman she must answer with dignity and should not beatify her voice, because by doing so she is committing a sin, causing evil and moving the desires and lusts in the man’s heart. This is generally true, but especially so for teenagers."
Shaykh Bakr Abu Zayd, may Allah preserve him, said, "Women should beware from softening their tones whilst speaking on the telephone, because Allah forbade the wives of the Prophet sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam from doing this so as not to move those with diseases in their hearts. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {"Do not be soft in speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease (of hypocrisy, or evil desire for adultery) should be moved with desire, but speak in an honourable manner."} [Quran, 33: 32] Therefore, what do you think is the case for women other than the wives of the Prophet, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam?"
Other means of achieving chastity are:
• Being conscious of Allah The Almighty.
• Establishing prayers with humbleness and tranquillity. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {"Verily, prayer prevents from Al-Fahshaa' (i.e. great sins of every kind, unlawful sexual intercourse) and Al-Munkar (i.e. disbelief, polytheism, and every kind of evil wicked deed)."} [Quran, 29: 45).
• Marriage and fasting. The Prophet, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “O youths! Whoever among you has the ability to get married should do so; as it is effective in lowering the gaze and curbing lust.”
• Staying away from immorality and the places in which it is usually found.
• Lowering one's gaze.
• Thinking about the evil consequences of immorality.
• Self-reproach, as this makes one aware of his faults.
• Maintaining bashfulness.
• Refraining from intermixing or being alone with the opposite sex.
• Shunning music because it leads to fornication and adultery.
• Being cautious of the poisonous and corrupting influence of satellite television channels, magazines and the internet.
• Occupying one's time with attaining useful knowledge, beneficial trips or trade.
• Befriending righteous and chaste people.
• Adhering to the full Hijab (Islamic attire for women).
• Men having protective zeal for their wives and preventing them from neglecting Hijab or mixing with men.
• Having sexual intercourse with one's spouse as soon as one sees something which moves him sexually.
• Practicing sports.
• Knowing the harm resulting from fornication and adultery in this life and the Hereafter, and the diseases which they cause.
• Remembering the joy of the dwellers of Paradise and the punishment of the people of Hell.
• Remembering death and the termination of the acceptance of deeds which accompanies it.
• Being ambitious and knowing the reason for one's creation.
• Shunning evil thoughts and keeping oneself busy with obedience to Allah instead.
• Remembering Allah The Almighty, reciting the Quran and supplicating frequently.