Benefits of lowering one's gaze

Lowering one's gaze from things which Allah (may He be Glorified and Exalted) prohibited has many benefits, of which are the purification of oneself and the soundness of the heart from forbidden insinuations. When oneself is purified, the bodily parts shall be free of sins, the percentage of crimes in society is reduced, and people became safe by the favor of Allah and His Mercy.

As for the atmosphere of mixture, lowering one's gaze is difficult for many people, especially those who do not have the high Islamic manners. In such atmosphere, we would have prepared the suitable environment for stirring sedition between both sexes and left Satan in his best condition while he is breathing evil, lewdness, and crime among people.

The people of knowledge mentioned various benefits to lowering the gaze. Ibn Taymiyah said: "It was reported in the Hadith of Musnad Ahmad and others: (looking is a poisonous arrow of Satan). The Hadith also contains: (Whoever looks by mistake at the beauties of a woman then lowers his gaze, Allah shall place a sweetness in his heart with every act of worship until the Day of Recompense) or as he said. Therefore, it is said: Lowering one's gaze from the things which Allah prohibited such as women and beautiful boys causes three venerable benefits:

1- The sweetness of faith which is more delicious than the things which Allah prohibited, for whoever leaves something for the sake of Allah, Allah will make it up for him with a better one. Oneself loves to look at the images of sportsmen and celebrities because it is fascinated with it, therefore, one of the Successors said: Fear Allah and do not look at the children of kings, for they fascinate people as virgins fascinate them.

2- It generates a light in the heart as well as palmistry. Allah (Glory be to Him) said about the people of Lut: "Verily, by your life (O Muhammad peace be upon him), in their wild intoxication, they were wandering blindly." [Surat Al Hijr: 72]. The heart's attachment with images generates corruption of the mind, blindness of the insight, and madness of the heart.

Allah (Glory be to Him) mentioned after the Ayahs speaking about lowering one's gaze: "Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth." [Surat An-Nur: 35]. Shah, the son of Shuja` Al Karmany, used not to miss a judgment. He used to say: Whoever secures his outward by following the Sunnah and secures his inward by fearing Allah, lowering the gaze, and stopping himself from desires, and persistance on pursuiting lawful means, shall never miss a judgment. Allah (Glory be to Him) holds a person accountable for his actions with the same retribution. So, whoever lowers his gaze from the things which Allah prohibited, Allah shall make it up for him from the same kind, release his insight, and open the door of knowledge before him.

The third benefit is the power, steadiness, and courage of the heart, so Allah provides him with the power of aid along with the power of proof.

It was reported in the narration: (Whoever disagrees with his whim Satan leaves his shadow). Therefore, the one who follows his whims is always humiliated and weak because of his disobedience to Allah, on the other hand Allah has given glory for those who obey Him. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "They (hyprocrites) say: If we return to Al-Madinah, indeed the more honourable ('Abdullah bin Ubai bin Salul, the chief of hyprocrites at Al-Madinah) will expel therefrom the meaner (i.e. Allah's Messenger peace be upon him). But honour, power and glory belong to Allah, His Messenger (Muhammad peace be upon him), and to the believers, but the hypocrites know not." [Surat Al Munafiqun: 8]. Allah (Exalted be He) says: "So do not become weak (against your enemy), nor be sad, and you will be superior (in victory) if you are indeed (true) believers." [Surat Al `Imran: 139].