Why Do Men Have Weakness Towards Women?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel

Question

There is no greater temptation for the men of this ummah than the women.
There is scientific evidence supporting this as well. In Sura Ali ‘Imran verse 14, we also learn that men desire women more than anything else. Women have been mentioned first in the list of things mankind desires. According to Tafsir Ibn Abbas, “Man was created weak for he is unable to stay away from women.” It saddens me that Allah created this weakness within us. We are weak in relation to women, and they have a strength we don’t have. Women are a threat to our faith, and it makes me scared that any woman can take advantage of us. In my mind, it seems unfair, Why did Allah create us men with this weakness?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate

I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question.

As humans, many things we might observe to be unfair. This is our human perspective. Allah Most High is our Creator and Maker. He alone knows the wisdom, and our limited intellect cannot grasp its wisdom and reason.

Who is to Blame?

No gender is to blame. We, humans, are tested for others. Allah Most High has created human beings for a trial and test for others.

Allah Most High tells us, “We have made some of you a trial for others. Will you not then be patient? And your Lord is All-Seeing.” [Quran, 2:20]

Corruption, and from it is temptation and weakness. This is caused by both and can be remedied by both. Men and women alike need to restrain their gazes and protect their private parts, as Allah Most High tells us in the Qur’an:

Allah Most High tells us, “˹O Prophet!˺ Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their chastity. That is purer for them. Surely Allah is All-Aware of what they do. And tell the believing women to lower their gaze, guard their chastity, and not reveal their adornments except what normally appears.” [Quran, 24:30]

We Need to Strive and Rise Above

Man has been created weak, and so he inclines toward temptations and is prone to fall into them. How we deal with and overcome the tests of life is the very battlefield of our soul, the process of struggling and striving to rise above and beyond our base selves and transform into pure and Godly beings. Like any battle, we need tools and training.

Every Believer is Tested with a Sinful Inclination

Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “There is no believing servant but that he has a sin he habitually commits from time to time, or a sin abiding over him that he does not abandon until he departs the world. Verily, the believer was created to be tested, repenting, and forgetful. If he is reminded, he will remember.”

[Tabarani, Al-Mujam al-Kabir]

Be in Good Company, Always

I would advise you to continue working on increasing your acts of worship, always repenting if you fall into sin, attending the daily prayers as much as you can, performing them in the congregation, reciting a daily portion of the Quran and Salawat on the Prophet, seeking religious knowledge, and attend circles of remembrance of Allah.

Go through the valuable links and watch the Path to Muhammad (Birgivi’s Manual of Taqwa Explained) series. See the link below.

May Allah give you every success and put ease in your life and increase you in guidance, faith, and good works, main

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I pray this helps with your question.

Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied in the UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, and Turkey. He started his early education in the UK. He went on to complete the hifz of the Quran in India, then enrolled in an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied the secular and ‘Aalimiyya sciences. He then traveled to Karachi, Pakistan. He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for several years. He has taught hifz of the Quran, Tajwid, Fiqh, and many other Islamic sciences to children and adults onsite and online extensively in the UK and Ireland. He taught at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK, where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences. He currently resides in the UK with his wife. His interest is a love of books and gardening.