of Gazing

As we progress in #myidjourney, we lower our gaze, and help others to do the same by choosing the right outfits for ourselves.

Proof from Ahadeeth

Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas (radi Allahu anhu): "Al-Fadl bin Abbas rode behind Allah's Messenger (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) as his companion rider on the back portion of his she-camel on the day of Nahr (slaughtering of sacrifice, 10th Dhul-Hijja) and Al-Fadl was a handsome man. The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) stopped to give the people verdicts (regarding their matters). In the meantime, a beautiful woman from the tribe of Khatham came, asking the verdict of Allah's Messenger. Al-Fadl started looking at her as her beauty attracted him. The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) looked behind while Al-Fadl was looking at her; so the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) held out his hand backwards and caught the chin of Al-Fadl and turned his face (to the other side) in order that he should not gaze at her. She said, 'O Allah's Messenger! The obligation of performing Hajj enjoined by Allah on his worshippers has become due (compulsory) on my father who is an old man and who cannot sit firmly on the riding animal. Will it be sufficient that I perform Hajj on his behalf?' He said, 'Yes.'" [Sahih Bukhari]

This hadith gives several important rulings. 1) The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) acted himself, and made other men act, on Allah's orders to lower their gazes. We see in this hadith, that the Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) listened to the woman's question and answered it while not looking at her. He also turned the face of his cousin to the side who had been staring at the woman's beautiful face. 2) The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) did not ask the woman to cover her face. This incident took place during Hajj, when even those women who normally cover their faces are required to leave their faces uncovered. Other ahadith show that the Sahabiyat would go for Fajr and Isha prayers in the Prophet’s masjid with their faces uncovered and not be recognized on account of the darkness, and not because their faces were covered. 3) From this hadith we learn that when a woman does not hide her being more than what is mandatory, the duty then lies on the men to lower their gaze, and it becomes sinful for him to continue looking at her. However, if the woman is capable of hiding her beauty, then the duty lies on her, and it is thus becomes sinful for her too for letting her beauty be exposed or purposefully beautifying herself (eg. with makeup) for it would only provoke the men to look at her. Putting this together with the Quranic verse 24:30-31, this applies vice versa; the men too becomes sinful by letting their private body parts be exposed either by color or shape for it would only provoke the women to look at him. However, if the men have covered sufficiently, the shape and/or color of his private parts, the duty then lies on the women to lower their gaze, and it becomes sinful for her to continue looking at him. Wallahua’lam. 4) From this hadith we also learn that it is permissible to perform Hajj on behalf of those who are too old or sick to undertake the journey themselves. Side note: Also worth reflecting is whether the custom of displaying pictures of self and/or others aligns with Allah’s commandment to help each other lower their gaze as displaying pictures attract unnecessary attention to oneself.

The believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and establish prayer and give zakah and obey Allah and His Messenger. Those - Allah will have mercy upon them. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise. [9:71]

[They will be asked], "What is [wrong] with you? Why do you not help each other?” [37:25]