Among the countless blessings God has given people, the eyes are one of the most precious and irreplaceable. But misusing them, and letting one’s gaze go unchecked, draws a person into the dark lanes of sin. Guarding and restraining one’s gaze is an essential moral duty for every believer who seeks to purify the self and keep their faith alive.
The Quran gives a clear command on lowering the gaze: “Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their private parts. That is purer for them.” (Surah An-Nur, 24:30). The very next verse gives believing women the same command to lower their gaze and guard their chastity.
The warning in the hadith
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) called looking with desire at someone one may not marry the “zina of the eyes”, saying: “The zina of the eyes is the (lustful) look.” (Sahih al-Bukhari and Muslim). Temptation first comes through the eyes, and it then leads a person toward greater sins.
The challenge of the digital age
Today, with unrestricted use of the internet, smartphones and social media, guarding the eyes has become much harder. Obscene images, nudity or unwanted content that suddenly appears on a screen pushes many people toward sin. Some also deliberately watch forbidden pictures or videos in private. Such habits stir up base desires in the heart and take away the light of faith and inner peace.
Ways to protect yourself
To guard against the zina of the eyes and the harmful look, a few things matter:
1. Keep alive in your heart the awareness and fear that God is watching you, whether you are alone or in public.
2. If a forbidden sight falls before your eyes by accident or without warning, look away at once.
3. Avoid pages, channels and indecent content on social media and the internet that stir up desire.
Restraining the gaze is the main tool for personal purification, good character and peace in the family. Let us strive to earn God’s pleasure by putting the blessing of sight to its right use.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report