Allah Almighty says: {Tell the believing men to lower their gazes} [Surat al-Nūr: 30] And He says: {Indeed, the hearing, the sight, and the heart, all of them will be called to account.} [Surat al-Isrā’: 36] He also says: {He knows the sneaky glances of the eyes and what the hearts conceal.} [Surat Ghāfir: 19] He also says: {Indeed, your Lord is ever vigilant.} [Surat al-Fajr: 14]
1) Lowering one’s gaze from what Allah, the Exalted, has prohibited him to look at is a characteristic of sincere believers; meanwhile, giving free rein to one’s gaze is a sign of weak faith and a sick heart.
2) Awareness that Allah Almighty is ever Watchful obligates one to guard his senses and body parts from committing what displeases Allah Almighty.
1622/1- Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The son of Adam has been destined his share of Zina, which he will inevitably commit. The eyes commit Zina by unlawful looking, the ears commit Zina by unlawful listening, the tongue commits Zina by speaking, the hand commits Zina by grabbing, the foot commits Zina by stepping. The heart loves and wishes. The genitals put or do not put all this to action.”
[Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim] This is the wording of Muslim, The wording of Al-Bukhāri is brief.
1) One should guard his senses and body parts from doing what Allah, the Exalted, has prohibited, and use them only in doing what pleases Him.
2) One has to keep away from places of temptation and corruption, because whoever roams around a sanctuary is bound to transgress it.
1623/2- Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Beware of sitting on roads (pathways).” The people said: “We have but them as sitting places where we talk.” The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “If you have to sit there, then give the road its rights.” They asked: “What are the rights of the road, O Messenger of Allah?” He said: “Lowering the gaze, removing harm, returning greetings, enjoining good, and forbidding evil.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
1624/3- Abu Talhah Zayd ibn Sahl (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: “We were sitting in the yards and talking when the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) came. He stopped by us and said: ‘Why do you sit in pathways? Avoid sitting in pathways!’ We said: ‘We sit for no harm whatsoever. We sit to discuss and talk.’ He said: ‘If you have to, then fulfill their rights: lowering the gaze, returning the greeting, and speaking good words.’” [Narrated by Muslim]
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1) People are warned against being present in places of temptation like markets and pathways unless there is a need or interest.
2) It is permissible to sit on pathways provided that the rights mentioned in the Hadīths are fulfilled, but, who would be able to fulfill them?!
1625/4- Jarīr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I asked the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) about the sudden glance, so he said: “Turn your gaze.” [Narrated by Muslim]
The sudden glance: the unintentional look at someone.
1) The Hadīth urges lowering the gaze and the obligation of turning one’s gaze from the things that he happens to see unintentionally and which are unlawful for him to see.
2) The Shariah assigns good care to maintaining the soundness of the heart; therefore, it prohibits unlawful gazing in order to safeguard one’s faith.
1626/5- Um Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that she was with the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and Maymoonah was also there, when Ibn Umm aktūm came to him. This was after they were commanded to observe Hijāb. So, the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said to us: “Put on your Hijāb in his presence.” We said: “O Messenger of Allah, is he not blind? He can neither see us nor recognize us!” Thereupon, the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Are the two of you blind? Do you not see him?” [Narrated by Abu Dāwūd and Al-Tirmidhi, who classified it as Hasan Sahīh (sound and authentic)] [11]
1) The command to lower the gaze applies to men in general, and to women when there is potential evil resulting from them looking at men.
2) The Hadīth highlights the guidance of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) in his teaching of the nation and instructing those who erred in the question he asked.
It is invalid to use this Hadīth as evidence to argue that it is absolutely prohibited for a woman to look at men given its weak Isnād, and because it contradicts many other authentic Hadīths whose apparent indication is that it is permissible for a woman to look at a man if it it is only temporary and without lust. Examples of this is the Hadīth of ‘Āishah (may Allah be pleased with her) looking at the Abyssinian men (playing with their shields and spears), and the Hadīth on women going out to the mosque at the time of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him). Moreover, men are not ordered to observe Hijāb as is the case with women.
Hence, the apparent indication is that women are permitted to look at men in an ordinary manner, not intentionally or lustfully. However, men are forbidden from looking intentionally at non-mahram women, given the difference between the nature of a man’s gaze at a woman and a woman’s gaze at a man.
1627/6- Abu Sa‘īd (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “A man must not look at another man’s ‘Awrah (must-cover body parts), nor must a woman look at another woman’s ‘Awrah; and a man must not lie undressed under one cover with another man, nor must a woman lie undressed under one cover with another woman.” [Narrated bt Muslim]
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1) It is impermissible for a man to look at the ‘Awrah of another man, and it is impermissible for a woman to look at the ‘Awrah of another woman.
2) Islam is keen on preserving the chastity of the community and on blocking all the ways of Satan that lead to the widespread of immorality. This is one of the merits of this great legislation.