12/09/2023
Don’t taste the sweetness of Imān anymore? Have a cloudy heart that blocks you from feeling Islam’s radiant beams of light?
Allah said,
قُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ أَزْكَىٰ لَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ
“(O Prophet!) Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their chastity. That is purer for them. Surely Allah is All-Aware of what they do.” (Nur: 30)
Shaykh al-Islām ibn Taymīyyah was asked about this verse among other questions. In a long response he mentioned this benefit:
“It is said that lowering the gaze from looking at forbidden images, like (non-mahram) women, etc. inherits three benefits of lofty value:
1. Sweetness & delight of imān, which is sweeter and more pleasant than what was vacated for Allah’s sake. Surely one who abandons something for Allah, He will replace it with something better…
2. Light in the heart and clear insight. Allah said about the nation of Lut:
لَعَمْرُكَ إِنَّهُمْ لَفِي سَكْرَتِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ
‘By your life ˹O Prophet˺, they certainly wandered blindly, intoxicated ˹by lust˺.’ (al-Hijr: 72)
Attachment to (forbidden) images entails pollution of the mind, blinding of the insight, closing/intoxication of the heart - rather its (the heart’s) insanity…
3. Strength of the heart, firmness, and courage. Allah will grant him mastery of both understanding with evidence. The result of one who opposes his (impermissible) desires is that Shaytān vanishes from his shadow.
It is for this reason that vileness, weakness, and humiliation is found in the soul of those who adhere to their desires; this is what Allah places for those who disobey Him.
Allah gives power and honor to those who obey Him and humiliates whoever disobeys Him. He, the Most High, said:
يَقُولُونَ لَئِن رَّجَعْنَا إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ لَيُخْرِجَنَّ الْأَعَزُّ مِنْهَا الْأَذَلَّ ۚ وَلِلَّهِ الْعِزَّةُ وَلِرَسُولِهِ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
‘They say, “If we return to Medina, the honorable will definitely expel the inferior.” But all honor and power belongs to Allah, His Messenger, and the believers…’ (Munāfiqūn: 8)
He, the Most High, said:
وَلَا تَهِنُوا وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا وَأَنتُمُ الْأَعْلَوْنَ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ
‘So do not become weak (against your enemy), nor be sad, and you will be superior (in victory) if you are indeed (true) believers.’ (Aali Imran: 139)
It is found in the speech of the scholars that they say, ‘The people seek honor and power at the doors of kings, yet they’ll never find it except in Allah’s obedience.’”
Source: Summarized from Majmoo’ al-Fataawaa 15/420-426.
O Allah, cleanse our hearts and grant us success to restrain our gaze from that which you have made Haram!
