{قُلْ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ ذَلِكَ أَزْكَى لَهُمْ إِنَّ اللهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ}
[النور: 30]
{Tell the believing men to lower their gaze, and protect their private parts. That is purer for them. Verily, Allah is All-Aware of what they do..}
[Surah an Noor (24): 30]
In these days and times, the whole idea of one lowering his gaze unfortunately has become an strange one to many. You find that years ago, people were not lowering their gaze, and when you said something to them, they admitted that they were doing wrong. Then we came to a time where people tried to water down things and began justifying their evil deeds by telling others that what they are doing is an exception to the rule. They tell people that this is not what was being referred to in the command about lowing ones gaze. Through all of this, the lines became blurry for many. Therefore, it’s necessary to lay out for anyone interested in knowing, what was being discussed, and what is really not included.
Generally there are about seven different times or types of looks that a man will take at a woman. Not all of them carry the same ruling, so we will do our best to discuss the way Islam looks at these various types of looks when they are mentioned in sha Allah.
The Seven Types of Looks;
The First – A man continuously looking at a woman that he can marry for no valid reason. This type of look as we know, is not permissible.
The Second – The look of a man at his wife or his unmarried slave woman (when this was applicable). This type of look is permissible for him to do as long as it is not at their private parts. (The issue of the private parts is an issue of differing among the various scholars.)
The Third – The look of a man at the woman that he can not marry or at his married slave woman (when this was applicable). This type of look is permissible, except at that which is between their navel and their knees.
The Fourth – The look of a man at the woman for the reasons of marriage. In this case it is permissible for him to look at her face and hands.
The Fifth – The look of a man doctor or physician for the purpose of an examination or a cure. In this case it is permissible for him to look at only the area that needs to be examined.
The Sixth – The look that a man takes at a woman for the purpose of making sure of who she really is when necessary, if there is no other immediate way of knowing. In this situation it is permissible for him to look at her face specifically.
The Seventh – The look of a man at a slave woman (when this was applicable) for the purpose of buying her. Then, it is permissible for him to look at the areas that are of concern, for which he is considering purchasing her.
These are the general types of looks that we will find that a man will take at a woman of various types and relations, as well as in different situations. Now that we understand this, we can begin putting what we have learned into action. As well, we need to be teaching this to our loved ones, so as to keep them from falling into things which may earn the displeasure of Allah. In this particular topic this can happen either by looking at that which Allah has commanded us not to look at, or by saying that which Allah has made impermissible is permissible or vice versa.
May Allah aide us all and keep our feet planted firmly upon His religion until we meet Him. Allahuma Ameen.
