Sunday, October 7, 2012

HOW TOUGH IS IT TO LOWER OUR GAZES?




Lowering the gaze. Well, it's easier said than done. But Alhamdulillah, there are many people I know who have successfully managed to lower their gazes with the continous Help of Allah (SWT). As for me, I'm trying very hard to lower my gaze as I should, so whatever I'm writing right now is first, a reminder to myself.

I've heard a Hadith that says that Prophet Muhammad (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) once asked the Sahabi what the most precious thing for a woman was. None of the Sahaba replied, but Ali (ral) went home and repeated to the question to Fatimah (ral) to which she replied that the best thing for a woman is that she is neither seen by any non-mahram men nor does she see any non-mahrams. Ali (ral) repeated this answer to Prophet Muhammad (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) and when asked who told Ali (ral) the answer, he replied it was Fatimah (ral). Prophet Muhammad (sallalu alaihi wasallam) then said, "Fatimah bint Muhammad, Fatimah bint Muhammad, Fatimah bint Muhammad. Fathima is really the son of Muhammad".

I know it's tough to lower our gazes, particularly when a good looking man or a pretty girl is right in front of your eyes. But that's what we have to do. And it's not impossible. I've really thought that lowering the gaze, particularly for teenagers is tough, but Masha Allah, my younger sister proved me wrong! I'm extremely proud that she is very, very strict with herself when it comes to lowering her gaze and I pray that Allah gives us the strength to do so.

Now, how to lower our gazes? First, we have to have the firm intention and pray to Allah that He strengthens us. It's a battle against our desires and we're striving against our ownselves solely for the Pleasure of Allah. This, my brothers and sisters, is the greater form of Jihad because this is a battle against yourself, against your desires and against the whispers of Shaytan. It takes huge, huge, courage, but it's possible, provided you have firm Imaan and Taqwa.

Prophet (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) said: “You will never give up something for the sake of Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, but Allah will replace it with something that is better for you than it.” [Narrated by Ahmad]

When you give up doing something that Allah doesn't like solely for His sake, Allah WILL replace it with something much, much better. So just imagine that a really good-looking man/girl walks past you, and you lower your gaze, don't you think Allah will replace your sacrifice for something much better? Who knows, you might end up getting married to someone a hundred times more beautiful than the one you thought was beautiful! Subhanallah! No sacrifice of ours goes wasted. Allah will give us a better compensation.

So next time your tempted to look at a non-mahram, however lovely they may be, lower your gaze. This sacrifice of yours would undoubtedly, give you something much better. Something a lot more worth. Just keep this Hadith Qudsi in your mind when your tempted to see a non-mahram:

"The gaze is a poisonous arrow from among the arrows of Iblis (satan). Whoever protected his heart and gaze from this arrow due to My fear, I will grant him the sweetness of Iman that he will perceive in his heart."

Only you know how tough it is to lower your gaze, but your doing it for Allah right? So take that moment to make Dua to Allah. Put forward that sacrifice you did only for His sake and ask Him for whatever you want. Allah will answer it, no doubts about that!

I'm still striving to lower my gaze and although I may not be as successful in doing this as I wanted to be, I'm trying. And I know that when I try for the sake of Allah, Allah will guide me all along the way, In Sha Allah!








10 comments:

  1. assalamualaikum warahmatulahi wa barakatu!
    great post masha'Allah! and definitely something the Ummah needs to check themselves with daily ! it is such a trialing time in the world today where immodesty is the new modesty...even though we lower our gaze..by accident our eyes lands upon some nasty things we just dont want to see !!!
    I wanted to know which saheeh is the hadith about Ali ...i would love to post this on my blog in my next series insha'Allah! please let me know!!

    xo
    Khadijah @ www.onechinesemuslimah.blogspot.com

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    1. Wa'alykum salaam warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu sis!

      I'm postive that is a Saheeh Hadith sis but I could find it nowhere online, although I've heard it plenty of times in lectures. I was a bit wary of putting it up on my own words, but I just had to! It may not be the exact wording, but that's how the Hadith goes. It's a great Hadith and I'm still hunting for the exact authenticity and wording of it. Once I do find it, I'll let you know In sha Allah :)

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    2. assalamualaikum wa rahmatulahi wa barakatu sis!!
      yes please let me know when you find it!!! i will hunt for it too insha'Allah!!! its just SO LOVELY masha'ALLAH!!
      xo
      thanks for sharing!!!!!!!! xooxo

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  2. Asalamu alaikum,

    You have a fantastic blog masha'Allah, may I request you share a link to my blog and get friends and family to visit as I am covering Hajj in a few posts and those intending to go Haj will find beneficial insha'Allah.

    Take Care.

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    1. Wa'alykum salaam. Jazakallah Khair. Of course, I'll put up a link to your blog very soon In sha Allah.

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  3. Great reminder! May Allah guide you and me. This is something i have been trying and struggling with. Not because i have a roaming eye and Alhamdolillah im happily married but because we are so used to looking at everything - its a difficult habit to curb. Here is something that may encourage us to try harder - After i donned the niqab, i faced a few prejudiced and harsh looks and it was disturbing to the point i just preferred to stay at home. Then i thought what if i dont look at them; then i will never find out what looks they are giving me or if they are even looking! SubhanAllah! lowering our gaze has other advantages which maybe Allah meant for us.

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    1. Ameen sis! May Allah guide us all. I'm still struggling with this sis, but Alhamdulillah, I've managed to lower my gaze to an extent and I do hope Allah gives me more strength to lower my gaze altogether! Perfectly agree with you sis, the Niqab helps us to lower our gazes in so many ways, Alhamdulillah! Looking at a non-mahram from behind my veil would be so hypocritical, so I avoid it as much as possible.

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  4. Mashallah great post. I would also like to add that lowering ones Gaze is also commanded when looking at the same sex. A woman should not look at the awrah of another woman.

    Unfortunately, people do not realise this. Just because you are at a women only party doesn't mean you can wear a boob tube, mini skirts and show the awrah. We are commanded to cover our awrah in front of everyone apart from our husbands.

    In front of women, the only areas permitted to be expossed are as follows:
    -the arms
    -the neck
    - hair and head
    -and from the shin down

    Thats it. Nothing in the middle, no cleavage, no thighs no stomach.

    I agree that looking at the opposite sex is hard. But what about lowering the gaze with the same sex?

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  5. Heyyy there sister!! I can relate to the problems of lowering the gaze. Sometimes i find it a little troubling when we come across someone attractive. Even my mom gets a bit wary with me when we're in a public place with lots of guys around lol.... Sometimes its sort of annoying tht my mom keeps an eye on me, like shes gna give me stares to see if im "behaving". Sheesh T_T

    Anyways i like ur take on how Allah will compensate for the sacrifices you make. He'll definitely reward u with smth better!!! Thats a good way to see it alhamdulillah. Take care dear and have a good day:-)

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