Lower Your Gaze And Be Modest

People need to be reminded about the "Male Hijab".

Image, Picture, lower your gaze

Allah (God) created us with desires and urges, He also revealed to us sufficient and complete guidance to properly channel these desires. 

A Story Of A Muslim Brother and A Hospital Nurse

There was a companion of ours in Glasgow who became ill and was hospitalised. He was admitted for three days and on the fourth day the attendant nurse said, “Marry me”. 

He [the brother in Glasgow] asked, “Why? I am a Muslim, you and I cannot become companions.” 

She said, “I’ll become Muslim”. 

“What’s the reason?” it was asked. 

She said, “In all my time that I have served in hospitals, except you, I have never seen a man lower his gaze in front of a woman. In my life you are the first person who lowers his gaze when seeing a woman. I come, and you close your eyes. Such great modesty can be taught by none other than a true religion.” 

The protection of one’s gaze entered Islam in her. She testified to the Oneness of Allah and became a Muslim. They both got married. By now, the same woman was and is the means of bringing so many other girls / women into Islam.

Image, Picture, lower your gaze

To beautify your eyes, lower your gaze towards strange men/women; this will make your eyes pure 

and shiny. Abstain from looking at what is haram (forbidden), looking at what only is halal.

An Other Beautiful Story

Young man came to a Maulana (Scholar) and said:

"I am a young man with strong desires. I cannot help looking at women when I am in the bazaar (market). What do I do?"

The Maulana handed him a cup of milk that was full to the brim, and told him to deliver it to an address that would take the young man directly through the market.

He then instructed the young man that the milk should not spill, and the man said that it would not. 

The Maulana then summoned one of his students and told him to accompany the man through the market to the destination and to severely beat him if any milk were to spill.

This man successfully took the milk to the destination and returned to give the good news to the Maulana. 

The Maulana asked: "Tell me, how many sights and faces did you see in the market?"

The man replied incredulously:

"Maulana, I didn’t even realise what was going on around me. I was only fearful of the beating and disgrace that I would have to endure in public if a drop of milk were to spill." 

The Maulana smiled and said: 

"It is the same with a believer. The believer fears that Allah (God) may disgrace him in front of the entire creation on the Day of Judgement if his faith were to spill over from his heart by not lowering his gaze and  not guarding his modesty and chastity. "

Allah commands:

"Order the Muslim men to lower down their sights a little and to guard their private parts. This is cleaner for them, undoubtedly, Allah is Aware of their deeds."

"And order the Muslim women to lower down their sights a little and guard their chastity;" Surah An-Nur: Ayat 30-31

Allah connects the issue of lowering the gaze with the issue of protecting the private parts (guarding one's chastity) in above verses, and lowering the gaze is mentioned first, before protecting the private parts, because the eye influences the heart. 

The Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) further explained to us Allah’s command:

 Abu Hurayrah (May Allah Be Pleased With Him)) narrated that the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) said,

"(the adultery of the eyes is looking (at [that] which is not allowed). Bukhari, Muslim

On the authority of Jurayr (May Allah Be Pleased With Him) who said, "I asked the Messenger of Allah (Peace Be Upon Him) about accidentally looking at something that is not allowed and he said, "Turn your eyes away." Muslim

Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings Be Upon Him) commanded Hazrat Ali (May Allah Be Pleased With Him) "O Ali, do not give a second look, (because) while you are not to blame for the first, you have no right to the second." Reported by At-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawûd, and made good by At-Tirmidhi and Al-Albâni.

Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings Be Upon Him) said; "The glance is a poisoned arrow of Satan. Whoever lowers his gaze for Allah, He will bestow upon him a refreshing sweetness, which he will find in his heart on the day he meets Him." [Mishkat]

Image, Picture, lower your gaze

Guard your eyes. They are the direct pathway to the sacred land of the heart. 
O'Muslim Remember that the sweetness of Jannah is far sweeter than the sweetness of a lustful gaze. 

When we are passing by a non-mahram on the street, office or school, Satan is constantly tempting us to glare at her/him with evil thoughts. Looking at another man or woman in an indecent manner is following in Satan’s footsteps. It all begins with a lustful glance. Such a glance leads to lustful talk and flirting, then meeting and we are all aware of what comes next.

Lowering gaze has wide meaning as moving your gaze, controlling gaze, moving your head, turn away to other place or completely turn your body, relocating gaze to less concentrated ares of fitna (the trials and temptations). With practise, following these precautions and the remembrance of Allah during tempting situations; will prevent us from getting stuck by devilish arrows.