Lowering the Gaze by Imam Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah | Islamic Modesty & Purification of the Heart

Lowering the Gaze by Imam Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah | Islamic Modesty & Purification of the Heart

Lowering the Gaze by the renowned Islamic scholar Imam Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah explores the importance of guarding one's eyes and protecting the heart. Drawing upon Quranic verses, Prophetic narrations, and scholarly explanations, this book highlights the connection between a person's gaze, desires, modesty, and spiritual well-being.

Understanding the Importance of Lowering the Gaze

The book discusses Islamic teachings on looking, personal responsibility, and avoiding what is prohibited. It explains the difference between an unintended glance and deliberately continuing to look, while reflecting on how controlling one's gaze can help protect the heart and character.

Islamic Guidance for Self-Discipline

This 68-page English paperback includes Arabic Quranic passages with English translations, Hadith references, explanatory notes, and an appendix featuring Ibn Taymiyyah's discussion of the Quranic command to lower the gaze.

From Author:

Lowering the Gaze by Imam Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah explores the relationship between the eyes, the heart, and personal conduct. Drawing on Quranic verses, prophetic narrations, and scholarly discussion, this English-language Islamic book examines how guarding the gaze relates to modesty, chastity, and spiritual well-being.

The book discusses the rulings of looking, the distinction between an unintentional glance and deliberately continuing to look, and the benefits of turning away from what is prohibited. It encourages readers to reflect on how their outward actions influence their desires and the condition of their hearts.

Readers will explore:

• The rulings of the gaze: Islamic teachings on looking, personal responsibility, and the consequences of an unrestrained gaze.

• Preventing paths to wrongdoing: An explanation of avoiding actions that lead toward what is impermissible, with discussion of circumstances involving legitimate need.

• Benefits of lowering the gaze: Reflections on the spiritual value of restraint and its relationship to protecting the heart.

• The connection between the heart and the eyes: A reflective dialogue in which the heart and the eye question one another’s responsibility for desire and its consequences.

• Additional scholarly explanation: An appendix featuring Ibn Taymiyyah’s discussion of the Quranic command to lower the gaze.

The text includes Arabic Quranic passages with English translations, hadith references, and explanatory notes to support further study.

For readers seeking to understand lowering the gaze in Islam, this treatise offers a focused study of self-discipline and the protection of the heart. It is a thoughtful addition to a collection on Islamic character, modesty, and spiritual development.

Page:01
LOWERING.
THE GAZE
Imam Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah
Page:02
A Treatise on Lowering the Gaze
SECTION ONE
Concerning the Rulings of the Gaze, Its Calamity, and the Crime It Commits Upon the Looker the Most High, said:
قُل لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ ذَلِكَ أَزْكَىٰ لَهُمْ
إنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ ﴾ [سورة النور: 30]
"Say to the believing men to lower their gaze and to pre- serve their private parts. That is purer for them. Indeed, Allah is All-Aware of what they do. And say to the believ- ing women to lower their gaze and preserve their pri- vate parts." [Surah an-Nür, 24:30-31]
So, as lowering the gaze is a principle in preserving the private parts,
the legally imperative, it is the declaration (from the Lord) making the means (to what is imperative) imperative - so it is corruption to extend from it, and to benefit which is stronger than it in (the worldly) power and lastingness. The command to lower the gaze is undoubtedly one of the most emphasized commands, evidently more so than the command that is restricted (merely) from the fornication of others. It is not made permissible (i.e. the private part) except with diligence (in lowering the gaze) and in preserving it was made general.
If we reflect upon the wisdom behind it, we will see the intent behind it: the fortification of the heart from the desires, so when the heart is fortified, it is not made permissible (i.e. the private part) was made general.
It also came in the Ṣaḥīḥ on his authority () that he said: Indeed, Allah the Mighty and Majestic has decreed the children of Adam his share of fornication which upon will inevitably befall him. The fornication of the eye is looking, the fornication of the tongue is speaking, the fornication of the ear is listening, the fornication of the hand is touching, the fornication of the foot is stepping, and the heart desires and longs, and the private parts confirm that or deny it.
[Reported by Muslim 1728 in the integrity of the ḥadīth, of Jäbir about the fall of the people of previous nations
Page:03
A Treatise on Lowering the Gaze
It will absolutely commit. The Eye fornicates, and its fornication is stronger than the fornication of the private part. It is stronger, because the fornication of the private part results in the seed, whereas the fornication of the eye results in taking delight. The eye's fornication, and its for- nication is stronger, and it is more serious than the forni- cation of the private part, due to the harm it causes in the heart, with the private part causing harm to the heart's tissues and hopes, while the private part damages the heart's lusts and desires.
So, he prohibits the disobedience connected to gazing at the objects of the fornication of the hand, foot, the private part, and the foundation of the fornication of the heart, due to their power and might in the fornication of the mouth by way of speech over the foundation of the matter. The action was actualized, or denying it if it was not Online actualized Book
fornication
This ḥadīth is from the clearest things that the eye sins by way of the gaze, and that it is from the foundations of the fornication of the one who declares the gaze to be permissible unrestrictedly.
It has been authentically reported from him
;) that he said:
"O 'Ali! Do not follow up a look with a look, for you are only allowed the first, while you are not allowed the second."
A questioner then said: "O Messenger of Allah! What about a man who looked once at a woman, so the love of her clung to his heart, and the matter became severe for him, so he is afflicted to him in 1 of and the matter became severe for him, so he is said to him: all of
[1] Reported by al-Bukhari 6298 and Muslim 2657
[2] Reported by Ahmad (5/351,353,357), Abu Dawud 2149, and at-Tirmidhi 2777
this occurred due to the first glance, for if you looked at her again you will be relieved of her. So, is it permissible for him to intentionally look a second time for this reason?"
So, the slave said: "Thanks be to Allah. This is not permissible from ten angles:
ONE OF THEM: that Allah, the Exalted, commanded with lowering the gaze upon the adulterer and did not make the cure of the heart in what he prohibited upon the servant.
TWO: that the Prophet () was asked about the unintentional look, and he knew that it affects the heart, so he commanded with reverting it by averting the gaze, not repeating the look.
epeating the
Online Islamic Book
THIRD: that he explicitly said that the first one is allowed, while the second one is not allowed. Hence, he affirmed the prohibition of the second look, and he did not increase it. That indicates that if the cure be from what is allowed for him, while his cure is from what is not allowed for him.
FOURTH: that what is apparent is that the matter will be stronger with the second look, not that it will decrease it. Trial becomes stronger with the second look, not weaker the first time. That is because so it is not good that he risks repeating it.
FIFTH: that perhaps he will see more than what is in himself,
Page:04
A Treatise on Lowering the Gaze
SECTION THREE
Benefits of Lowering the Gaze
There are several benefits in lowering the gaze:
One of the most obvious and apparent benefits is the immediate Online grief of the one who unleashes his gaze remaining. The most fruitful
thing that can be said is that having patience upon it, while there is what is difficult to see, the man performs upon it, or perhaps what results from the ease with it, is that it becomes an expiation for the sins that are made as a result of looking at what is prohibited. Lowering the gaze also has a strengthening effect upon the heart, as it erects a dam and a strong wall between you and what you're repelled and that which opposes you. By that, when you lower your gaze, you find that bothifies you that it gazes? So the beget to say:
"And you, when you sent your vision as a scout... for your heart one day the sights exhausted you."
You saw that which you are not capable of attaining entirely.
nor are you patient upon part of it.
And it may be that the heart, when the arrow does to game die, remains alone thereafter with the remainder of its destructive impact in a manner which is thrown into dry grass; or if it doesn't burn all of it, then it will burn some of it.
There are ample other benefits from the gaze... and most fires are from sparks which are deemed small.
As for you, then you have been granted a true protective fortress: the arrow kills first with its bow not bowstring.
If you see an unattached woman, then lower the gaze... the eyes of his pupils are pleased with what harms his soul... no welcome
is given them, he is standing before danger.
The baiter shoots arrows as the one who he looks at (but) fis tafgbemic Book
is the woman. And the certainty is that the arrow is shooting
at his heart. I have written about this from lines of poetry saying:
"O shooter with the arrows of glances striking- what desire is there between you and the destruction?"
And the one who sends out his vision to seek a cure for him... beware of it, for it comes to you with destruction.
The practitioner of the gaze is like one who places his hand in a nest and is stung.
The poisoned thinking which a look from her which didn't leave for it repented him.

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Page:01
LOWERING.
THE GAZE
Imam Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah
Page:02
A Treatise on Lowering the Gaze
SECTION ONE
Concerning the Rulings of the Gaze, Its Calamity, and the Crime It Commits Upon the Looker the Most High, said:
قُل لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ ذَلِكَ أَزْكَىٰ لَهُمْ
إنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ ﴾ [سورة النور: 30]
"Say to the believing men to lower their gaze and to pre- serve their private parts. That is purer for them. Indeed, Allah is All-Aware of what they do. And say to the believ- ing women to lower their gaze and preserve their pri- vate parts." [Surah an-Nür, 24:30-31]
So, as lowering the gaze is a principle in preserving the private parts,
the legally imperative, it is the declaration (from the Lord) making the means (to what is imperative) imperative - so it is corruption to extend from it, and to benefit which is stronger than it in (the worldly) power and lastingness. The command to lower the gaze is undoubtedly one of the most emphasized commands, evidently more so than the command that is restricted (merely) from the fornication of others. It is not made permissible (i.e. the private part) except with diligence (in lowering the gaze) and in preserving it was made general.
If we reflect upon the wisdom behind it, we will see the intent behind it: the fortification of the heart from the desires, so when the heart is fortified, it is not made permissible (i.e. the private part) was made general.
It also came in the Ṣaḥīḥ on his authority () that he said: Indeed, Allah the Mighty and Majestic has decreed the children of Adam his share of fornication which upon will inevitably befall him. The fornication of the eye is looking, the fornication of the tongue is speaking, the fornication of the ear is listening, the fornication of the hand is touching, the fornication of the foot is stepping, and the heart desires and longs, and the private parts confirm that or deny it.
[Reported by Muslim 1728 in the integrity of the ḥadīth, of Jäbir about the fall of the people of previous nations
Page:03
A Treatise on Lowering the Gaze
It will absolutely commit. The Eye fornicates, and its fornication is stronger than the fornication of the private part. It is stronger, because the fornication of the private part results in the seed, whereas the fornication of the eye results in taking delight. The eye's fornication, and its for- nication is stronger, and it is more serious than the forni- cation of the private part, due to the harm it causes in the heart, with the private part causing harm to the heart's tissues and hopes, while the private part damages the heart's lusts and desires.
So, he prohibits the disobedience connected to gazing at the objects of the fornication of the hand, foot, the private part, and the foundation of the fornication of the heart, due to their power and might in the fornication of the mouth by way of speech over the foundation of the matter. The action was actualized, or denying it if it was not Online actualized Book
fornication
This ḥadīth is from the clearest things that the eye sins by way of the gaze, and that it is from the foundations of the fornication of the one who declares the gaze to be permissible unrestrictedly.
It has been authentically reported from him
;) that he said:
"O 'Ali! Do not follow up a look with a look, for you are only allowed the first, while you are not allowed the second."
A questioner then said: "O Messenger of Allah! What about a man who looked once at a woman, so the love of her clung to his heart, and the matter became severe for him, so he is afflicted to him in 1 of and the matter became severe for him, so he is said to him: all of
[1] Reported by al-Bukhari 6298 and Muslim 2657
[2] Reported by Ahmad (5/351,353,357), Abu Dawud 2149, and at-Tirmidhi 2777
this occurred due to the first glance, for if you looked at her again you will be relieved of her. So, is it permissible for him to intentionally look a second time for this reason?"
So, the slave said: "Thanks be to Allah. This is not permissible from ten angles:
ONE OF THEM: that Allah, the Exalted, commanded with lowering the gaze upon the adulterer and did not make the cure of the heart in what he prohibited upon the servant.
TWO: that the Prophet () was asked about the unintentional look, and he knew that it affects the heart, so he commanded with reverting it by averting the gaze, not repeating the look.
epeating the
Online Islamic Book
THIRD: that he explicitly said that the first one is allowed, while the second one is not allowed. Hence, he affirmed the prohibition of the second look, and he did not increase it. That indicates that if the cure be from what is allowed for him, while his cure is from what is not allowed for him.
FOURTH: that what is apparent is that the matter will be stronger with the second look, not that it will decrease it. Trial becomes stronger with the second look, not weaker the first time. That is because so it is not good that he risks repeating it.
FIFTH: that perhaps he will see more than what is in himself,
Page:04
A Treatise on Lowering the Gaze
SECTION THREE
Benefits of Lowering the Gaze
There are several benefits in lowering the gaze:
One of the most obvious and apparent benefits is the immediate Online grief of the one who unleashes his gaze remaining. The most fruitful
thing that can be said is that having patience upon it, while there is what is difficult to see, the man performs upon it, or perhaps what results from the ease with it, is that it becomes an expiation for the sins that are made as a result of looking at what is prohibited. Lowering the gaze also has a strengthening effect upon the heart, as it erects a dam and a strong wall between you and what you're repelled and that which opposes you. By that, when you lower your gaze, you find that bothifies you that it gazes? So the beget to say:
"And you, when you sent your vision as a scout... for your heart one day the sights exhausted you."
You saw that which you are not capable of attaining entirely.
nor are you patient upon part of it.
And it may be that the heart, when the arrow does to game die, remains alone thereafter with the remainder of its destructive impact in a manner which is thrown into dry grass; or if it doesn't burn all of it, then it will burn some of it.
There are ample other benefits from the gaze... and most fires are from sparks which are deemed small.
As for you, then you have been granted a true protective fortress: the arrow kills first with its bow not bowstring.
If you see an unattached woman, then lower the gaze... the eyes of his pupils are pleased with what harms his soul... no welcome
is given them, he is standing before danger.
The baiter shoots arrows as the one who he looks at (but) fis tafgbemic Book
is the woman. And the certainty is that the arrow is shooting
at his heart. I have written about this from lines of poetry saying:
"O shooter with the arrows of glances striking- what desire is there between you and the destruction?"
And the one who sends out his vision to seek a cure for him... beware of it, for it comes to you with destruction.
The practitioner of the gaze is like one who places his hand in a nest and is stung.
The poisoned thinking which a look from her which didn't leave for it repented him.