Casting lustful glances
QUESTION:-
1. Please can you help us understand why some of the earlier Ulamā deemed it permissible to look at the opposite gender, provided there was no desire?
2. How is the above position reconciled with Aḥādīth such as the Messenger ﷺ commanding his wives to lower their gaze, and telling Hadrat Ali Radiallahu Anhu not to look a second time?
3. As a result of this, is it considered a sin for a man to look at a woman (without desire) and a woman to look at a man (without desire)?
ANSWER:-
1. We are not aware of any of the Ulama-e-Haqq and Mashaa’ikh in our era who permit glancing at strange women. Instead, all of them strongly prohibit casting lustful glances. If any of the past scholars permitted it, then we are not aware of their reasoning, nor do we agree with their viewpoint on the matter.
2. There is no question of reconciliation since it is totally forbidden to cast lustful glances at strange women.
3. The Hadith states that the gaze is a poisonous arrow from the arrows of Shaytaan. It is recorded in Mirqaat (under the explanation of the above narration) that the gaze drives one towards Zinah, hence it is a poisonous arrow from the arrows of Shaytaan. When the Hadith states that evil glances are poisonous as it pulls one towards Zinah, how can one claim that casting lustful glances bear no consequences whatsoever? And if one really had no inclination initially, what guarantee is there that he will not be trapped by Shaytaan at a later stage? After all, Shaytaan even deceived our great grandfather Adam Alaihis Salaam and had him removed from Jannah. When desire will be created within a person, then he will not be spared. The Quraan Sharif states, “Verily Shaytaan is an enemy unto you, therefore take him as an enemy.” There were great worshippers of the Bani Israael who in spite of having no inclination for women were destroyed when desire (for women) was created within them. In conclusion, a foreword to a sin will also be considered as a sin.
وقد ورد النظر سهم مسموم من سهام إبليس ؛ لأن النظر قد يجر إلى الزنا (مرقاة المفاتيح ص158 ج1)
ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:-
Mufti Mohammed Desai
Date:- 25 Dhul Hijjah 1444 / 15 July 2023