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The Significance of Lowering the Gaze
Lowering the gaze in Islam is a vital concept that addresses the issue of looking at women who are not close family members. When we examine the religious texts, we find clear instructions forbidding such actions. Understanding this is crucial.
Such actions, addressed by the concept of lowering the gaze in Islam, are not required, recommended, or allowed. They fall into the category of things that are either disliked or forbidden. This is a basic but important point.
In the Quran and in the Prophet’s teachings, we find clear instructions about lowering the gaze in Islam. The Prophet, peace be upon Him, explained that while the first accidental look is okay, deliberately looking again is wrong.
Disliked vs. Forbidden Actions
There’s a story about a young woman who came to ask the Prophet a question. The Prophet’s cousin kept looking at her because she was beautiful. The Prophet gently turned his cousin’s face away three times. This shows that while looking was wrong, it wasn’t considered a major sin. If it was a major sin, the Prophet would have reacted more strongly.
When we say something is “disliked” in Islam, it doesn’t mean it’s okay to do. It’s still bad, but the punishment for it might be less severe than for things that are completely forbidden. If someone keeps doing a disliked action until it becomes a habit, then it becomes forbidden.
For example, if someone makes a habit of always looking at women who aren’t close family members, that becomes forbidden. It’s not just about avoiding major sins like adultery – even repeatedly looking can become a sin if it’s done intentionally and habitually.
This view might be hard for some people to accept because they misunderstand what “disliked” means in Islamic terms. They think it means you can do it whenever you want, but that’s not correct. You shouldn’t do disliked actions on purpose, and if you keep repeating them, they become forbidden.
Some people think disliked actions only become forbidden if they lead to major sins like adultery. While they can lead to bigger sins, the repeated disliked action itself becomes forbidden before that point, simply because it’s become a habit.
Source:
- Sheikh Dr. Farid El Ansari. حكم المصافحة و النظر إلى المرأة الأجنبية، فتوى مهمة للشيخ فريد الأنصاري رحمه الله. YouTube Video.
