Respect for Privacy

Taking time for oneself remains one of the hardest things in life to do for many people. Especially in a society that is full of busy-ness, responsibilities, obligations, stress, hustle and bustle and non-stop activity of some sort “24/7.” It may be a surprise to many that the Qur’an, the book of scripture for Muslims, appears to advocate what many followers and practitioners of “new age” and “self improvement” ideologies have promoted for years: setting aside time for your own personal benefit, relaxation, meditation or, just to take a break from it all.

Surah/Chapter 24, “The Light,” verse 58, in the section called “Respect for Privacy,” reads:

O you who believe, let those whom your right hands possess and those of you who have not attained to puberty ask permission of you three times: Before the morning prayer, and when you put off your clothes for the heat of noon, and after the prayer of night. Those are three times of privacy for you; besides these, it is no sin for you nor for them – some of you go round about (waiting) upon others. Thus does Allah make clear to you the messages. And Allah is Knowing, Wise.

It is admonished that individuals set aside at least 3 times every day (morning, noon, night) for some much needed private time for prayer, rest or other things to relieve one’s mind of dis-ease or the normal pressures of life. Lest any get carried away, the verse indicates the expectation that – apart from the three times of privacy – a person will be busy with their normal activities in life to include, “waiting upon” or being of service to others, whether through one’s work, home life responsibilities, or duties performed in the society.

What about you? Could you benefit from setting aside time each day to “refresh your page,” just like computer users have to do from time to time to break up some stagnation or a glitch in your system? Is it strange that people would have to be encouraged to give themselves short breaks in the day – for their own benefit? Or does it fall in line with how society is today where we often feel guilty over telling someone, “I won’t be available from such-n-such time until such-n-such time but after that I’ll be able to get back to you.” Some may feel guilty for letting the phone ring or not answering the doorbell or not trying to be at every event others tell them, or expect that, they should be at.

Yes, it appears that there is little “respect for privacy” in the world we live in but you can be the change, at least in your own life by taking time for yourself to “get away” and (hopefully) get more in tune with that still, small inner voice (of God) that speaks to us all but most loudly in those quiet places, when we’ve stepped away from the hustle and bustle and given ourselves permission to have some privacy.

- Adeeba -

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