Fwd'ing
The Muslim Creed - Vol. 9, No. 2.
Among the evil calamities that are widespread amongst Muslims nowadays, especially young men, is looking at the various types of ‘Haram. The Muslim encounters these prohibitions in newspapers, magazines, television, in the street, etc. This is a major problem in Muslim countries, and it is even worse in the lands of the Kuffar, who have no moral code to govern their conduct or religion to regulate their lives. Allah has prohibited us from looking at what is impermissible, such as naked women and women dressed indecently, and has commanded us to lower our gaze. These are the means with which the Muslim can protect his honor from what might harm it and protect the eyes from breaching what will bring about destruction. Allah has said, what translated means,
Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.). That is purer for them. Verily, Allah is All-Aware of what they do. And tell the believing women to lower their gaze, and protect their private parts. [24:39-31].
Since lowering the gaze is the basis for protecting the private parts, Allah has mentioned it first and emphasized its significance. The Messenger of Allah Salla Allahu Alayhi Wasallam said, what translated means, "It has been decreed that the son of Adam will indeed fall into Zina (fornication). The Zina of the eyes is looking, the Zina of the ears is hearing, the Zina of the tongue is talking, the Zina of the hand is aggression, the Zina of the leg is walking (to do what is impermissible), and the heart desires and fantasizes. The private part will either oblige or reject all that." [Muslim]. Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim said, "Allah started with the Zina of the eye because it is the basis of the Zina of the hand, the leg, the heart and the private part. He also emphasized the Zina of the tongue, which is done by talking, instead of mentioning the Zina of the mouth, which is kissing. As for the private part, it will either accept all the above and fall into Zina, or reject it all by staying away from sin. This Hadith is one of the most clear proofs that the eye falls into disobedience by looking at the impermissible, and this is its Zina."
Also, Imam Muslim reported that Jabir, may Allah be please with him, narrated that Al-Fadhl, the Prophet’s cousin, was accompanying the Prophet on his camel on their way from Muzdalifah to Mina. Some women riding on camels passed by and Al-Fadhl started to stare at them. The Prophet saw him doing this, so he put his hand on Al-Fadhl’s face blocking his view so he would not look at them. Al-Fadhl moved his head away and continued to stare at the women, so the Prophet moved his hand again blocking his view. This Hadith indicates that looking at women is impermissible, since the Prophet stopped Al-Fadhl from doing so. Had this been a permissible act, the Prophet would not have stopped him but he would have not objected to his action.
Furthermore, it was reported by Imams Ahmad, Abu Dawood and At-Tirmithi that the Prophet Salla Allahu Alayhi Wasallam said to his cousin, Ali bin Abi Taleb, "O Ali! Do not follow the first look with a second look. The first is allowed for you but not the latter." Imam Al-Khattabi said regarding this Hadith, "The first look is not counted against the person if it was done coincidentally or accidentally. It is not permissible to take the second look, nor is it permissible to take the first or latter looks intentionally." In addition, Jarir, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "I asked the Messenger of Allah about the first accidental look, and he ordered me to turn my face away." As for the person who is tested and inflicted with this first permissible look, the cure is for him is to go to his wife and fulfill his need with her. Imam Muslim reported that the Prophet once saw a woman, so he went to his wife, Zaynab, and he fulfilled his desire with her. He then came out of his house and said to his companions, "The woman comes in the shape of a devil and departs in the shape of the devil. So if any of you looked at a woman, then let him go to his wife and fulfill his desire with her, for this will repel the evil thoughts in his heart."
(contd...)
The Muslim Creed - Vol. 9, No. 2.
Among the evil calamities that are widespread amongst Muslims nowadays, especially young men, is looking at the various types of ‘Haram. The Muslim encounters these prohibitions in newspapers, magazines, television, in the street, etc. This is a major problem in Muslim countries, and it is even worse in the lands of the Kuffar, who have no moral code to govern their conduct or religion to regulate their lives. Allah has prohibited us from looking at what is impermissible, such as naked women and women dressed indecently, and has commanded us to lower our gaze. These are the means with which the Muslim can protect his honor from what might harm it and protect the eyes from breaching what will bring about destruction. Allah has said, what translated means,
Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.). That is purer for them. Verily, Allah is All-Aware of what they do. And tell the believing women to lower their gaze, and protect their private parts. [24:39-31].
Since lowering the gaze is the basis for protecting the private parts, Allah has mentioned it first and emphasized its significance. The Messenger of Allah Salla Allahu Alayhi Wasallam said, what translated means, "It has been decreed that the son of Adam will indeed fall into Zina (fornication). The Zina of the eyes is looking, the Zina of the ears is hearing, the Zina of the tongue is talking, the Zina of the hand is aggression, the Zina of the leg is walking (to do what is impermissible), and the heart desires and fantasizes. The private part will either oblige or reject all that." [Muslim]. Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim said, "Allah started with the Zina of the eye because it is the basis of the Zina of the hand, the leg, the heart and the private part. He also emphasized the Zina of the tongue, which is done by talking, instead of mentioning the Zina of the mouth, which is kissing. As for the private part, it will either accept all the above and fall into Zina, or reject it all by staying away from sin. This Hadith is one of the most clear proofs that the eye falls into disobedience by looking at the impermissible, and this is its Zina."
Also, Imam Muslim reported that Jabir, may Allah be please with him, narrated that Al-Fadhl, the Prophet’s cousin, was accompanying the Prophet on his camel on their way from Muzdalifah to Mina. Some women riding on camels passed by and Al-Fadhl started to stare at them. The Prophet saw him doing this, so he put his hand on Al-Fadhl’s face blocking his view so he would not look at them. Al-Fadhl moved his head away and continued to stare at the women, so the Prophet moved his hand again blocking his view. This Hadith indicates that looking at women is impermissible, since the Prophet stopped Al-Fadhl from doing so. Had this been a permissible act, the Prophet would not have stopped him but he would have not objected to his action.
Furthermore, it was reported by Imams Ahmad, Abu Dawood and At-Tirmithi that the Prophet Salla Allahu Alayhi Wasallam said to his cousin, Ali bin Abi Taleb, "O Ali! Do not follow the first look with a second look. The first is allowed for you but not the latter." Imam Al-Khattabi said regarding this Hadith, "The first look is not counted against the person if it was done coincidentally or accidentally. It is not permissible to take the second look, nor is it permissible to take the first or latter looks intentionally." In addition, Jarir, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "I asked the Messenger of Allah about the first accidental look, and he ordered me to turn my face away." As for the person who is tested and inflicted with this first permissible look, the cure is for him is to go to his wife and fulfill his need with her. Imam Muslim reported that the Prophet once saw a woman, so he went to his wife, Zaynab, and he fulfilled his desire with her. He then came out of his house and said to his companions, "The woman comes in the shape of a devil and departs in the shape of the devil. So if any of you looked at a woman, then let him go to his wife and fulfill his desire with her, for this will repel the evil thoughts in his heart."
(contd...)
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