Assalaamualaikum
When the Qur’an mentions that Salaah is a deterrent from “Faahishah”, what would be the explanation/deduction if a person takes such pains and concentration in his Salaah, yet engages in zinah (albeit only in so far as chatting to strange women via the cellfone/chat rooms etc). Note: this has been carrying on intermittently for the past 6 years or so.
Shukran
Answer
Assalaamu alaykum
The words of Allah Ta'ala are true.
A proper Salaah will always eventually reform a person to the degree that he/she abstains from lewd behaviour. And if the Salaah is not proper, then such an effect will not be obtained.
Part of the proper Salaah will be to have the consciousess and presence of mind of the Grandeur, Majesty and Greatness of Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'ala before one. If that fear and awe is truly there, then after Salaah that state of mind will prevent the person from lewd acts.
You mention that the person takes pains and concentrates in Salaah. It is one thing to try, and it is another to achieve the correct result.
A person may be taking loads of the wrong medicine, for example, and not seeing the right results. The fault is not in that there is no effort, but
that the effort is not properly guided. The person concerned therefore needs to be guided how to bring about a truly spiritual state in his/her Salaah.
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to strange women via the cellfone/chat rooms etc). Note: this has been carrying on intermittently for the past 6 years or so.