If there is one thing that Quran and Hadith are strongly prohibited but Muslims do it many times is lowering the gaze. It may seems simple but many people still failed to do it. The importance of lowering your gaze in Islam shown through many verses in the Quran and Hadith by the Prophet (peace be upon him).
“Whosoever desires honour, power and glory then to Allaah belong all honour, power and glory [and one can get honour, power and glory only by obeying and worshipping Allaah (Alone)]. To Him ascend (all) the goodly words, and the righteous deeds exalt it (i.e. the goodly words are not accepted by Allaah unless and until they are followed by good deeds).” (35:10)
Here are some of the importance of lowering your gaze in Islam:
1. Showing Obedience
Lowering the gaze for man and woman had made obligatory in Islam. Which means doing so if a form of obedience from a slave to his Creator.
“Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts…” (24:30)
Also read: How to Increase Iman in Islam
2. Avoiding Dangerous Poison
Looking at something prohibited serves as the arrows of the Shaytaan to poisoned human’s heart. Once we are infected, it will be hard to recover from. Prevent the poisoning by lowering the gaze from something we shouldn’t be looking at.
3. To be Devoted to Allah
Showing devotion to Allah is a must for every Muslims. Be a devoted servant by lowering your gaze as always mentioned many times in the Quran. Letting your gaze wonder would distract your heart from Allah SWT and you end up focusing on something else.
“But honour, power and glory belong to Allaah, and to His Messenger (Muhammad (peace be upon him), and to the believers ” (63:8)
Also read: Importance of Reflection of Islam
4. Bring Peace to Life
Letting your gaze to wander look at things you shouldn’t could weakened your heart and make it sad. If you want to live in peace, then follow what Allah has commanded for you. Lower your gaze from opposite sex or anything you should not.
5. Brings Light to the Heart
Let your heart be enlightened by Allah because you have lowered your gaze. Truthfully, it’s an act that Allah SWT highly praised on human.
“Allaah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The parable of His Light is as (if there were) a niche and within it a lamp.” (24:35)
Also read: Ways of Acquiring Knowledge in Islam
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6. Distinguish the Bad and Good
Allah SWT never asks human to do something unless it’s beneficial for them nor He forbid something unless it’s bad for them
“Verily, by your life (O Muhammad (peace be upon him), in their wild intoxication, they were wandering blindly.” (15:72)
7. Strengthen the Heart
A Muslim should possess a strong heart so that his faith to Allah SWT won’t be shaken easily. Start it with lowering your gaze as a form of obedience to Allah.
“So do not become weak (against your enemy), nor be sad, and you will be superior (in victory) if you are indeed (true) believers.” (3:139)
Also read: Importance of Tafsir in islam
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How to Lower the Gaze in Islam
As the importance of lowering your gaze in Islam is very high, lowering the gaze is obligatory for both man woman. Here are some tips on lowering the gaze Muslims could follow.
1. Surround Yourself with Good Companion
A friend influence us, both in a good and bad way. If we are close with friends who lower their gaze, we would be influenced to do so. As the Prophet (peace be upon him) said,
“The example of a good companion in comparison with a bad one, is like that of the musk seller and the blacksmith’s furnace; from the first you would either buy mush or enjoy its good smell while the furnace would either burn your clothes or your house, or you get a bad nasty smell thereof.” (Bukhari)
2. Focus on Something Else
If we happen to be alone somewhere , use a trick to protect our gaze from prohibited sight. Brings along a book to be read so that our eyes are automatically lowing the gaze. Or you can read the book from your phone.
3. Don’t Look at the Second Time
Sometimes we accidentally look at something we shouldn’t. If it’s really unintentional, it’s not a sin but second gaze is. Fight to look at the second time.
4. Getting Married
The best way to protect ourselves from gazing onto something forbidden is by getting married. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said,
“O young men, whoever among you can afford it, let him get married, for it is more effective in lowering the gaze and guarding one’s chastity. And whoever cannot afford it should fast, for it will be a shield for him.” (An-Nasai)
5. Remembering Allah SWT All the Time
Keep Allah in mind so that you will always be remembered about things He hates and what makes you commit sins.
“But as for he who feared the position of his Lord and prevented the soul from [unlawful] inclination, Then indeed, Paradise will be [his] refuge.” (79:40-41)
6. Seek Help from Allah SWT
If after everything you do you still find that lowering the gaze is hard, ask help from Allah SWT. He won’t be staying still and gives you the best help you could ever have.
So those are all the importance of lowering your gaze in Islam. Let’s do our best to be the best Muslims who obliged Allah’s command.