Assalamo alaykum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
LEVELS OF ZINA
Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) describes many introductory acts of zina and considers them forms of zina committed by the body-parts that perform them. Abu Hurayah (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said: “A son of Adam’s share of zina has been predestined for him, and he will inevitably fulfill that. Thus the eyes commit zina by looking, the ears commit zina by listening, the tongue commits zina by speaking, the mouth commits zina by kissing, the hands commits zina by acting (or touching) the foot commits zina by walking (toward the sin) the soul (or heart) wishes and desires (the sin) and the private part confirms all of that or desires it”. (Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim).
Of course, the acts mentioned in this hadith are not equivalent to the full act of zina but they ultimately lead to it, if things are allowed to take their normal course. Thus, the physical punishments (established by the Muslim authorities) for the full acts of zina is not applicable to them.
UNLAWFUL LOOKING
Zina Of The eye
We saw above that the eye commits zina by looking. to the same effect, Abu Musa al-Ash’ari (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said: “Every eye commits zina. And when a woman wears perfume and then passes by a gathering of men (so they smell her perfume) she is an adulteress (by that)” (Reported by at-Tirmithi, verified to be hasan by al-Albani (Sahih ut-Tirmithi)). This shows that anyone who cooperates in evil or helps in seducing a believer will have a share of sin. Thus making exposed 'awrahs available for the eye constitutes a clear invitation to some degree of zina. Because of this, exposing the 'awrah is a highly sinful and punishable act.
Among those who fall under this threat is anyone who helps produce or propagate nakedness and indecency in any form or by any means. This includes newspapers, magazines, television, films, theaters, nightclubs, swimming clubs, health spas, fashion shows, internet sites, advertisements, computer games, etc.
THE OBLIGATION OF LOWERING THE GAZE
The eyes commit zina by looking at the prohibited 'awrahs. Because of this Allah commands the believing men to restrict their look. He says: “Tell the believing men to lower of their gaze and guard their private parts (i.e. chastity) that is purer for them. Verily, Allah is Aware of what they do”. (An-Nur 24-30).
Allah directs the same command to the believing woman, “Lowering the gaze” means to look only in the amount necessary for one to see his (or her) way or recognize who is before him.
Prohibition of Staring
Staring is prohibited even if it is only directed toward a permissible part of the anatomy, such as a woman’s hands or a man’s chest. With staring come Satan’s whispers, painting a lustful image, and bringing to one’s imagination what possibly lies behind the veils and garments. Because of this, one is only entitled to the first look, any subsequent looks are sinful because they signify staring.
Buraydah (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said to Ali (RA) “O 'Ali, Do not follow one look with another, because for you is the first one, one (i.e it is forgiven) but not the next one”. (Reported by Ahmad, An-Nasai and others, verified to be authentic by al-Albani).
Note that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said this to his cousin, 'Ali (RA) who is one of the Four rightly Guided Khalifahs and the Ten companions who were given the tidings of Jannah. Anyone after him claiming immunity from the lustful effects of staring would be lying to himself before anyone else.
Taken from the Book: Closer Than A Garment
by: Muhammad al-Jilbaly
