"lower their gaze" in the Qur'an
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Salaam,
Just wanted to share this with everyone. I wrote it targeting Sunnis and Shias as usual so it sounds the way it does but I think the content is useful for all. Any interesting Quranic points are appreciated. Thanks!
"Lower their Gaze" does not Mean to Avoid Eye-contact or to not Interact
Many so-called practicing Muslims are un-cooperative and unhelpful to members of the opposite gender. They keep away from each other as much a possible. In some cases, if two such people are put in a situation where they have to communicate, one looks into the sky, while the other looks into the ground in order to avoid eye contact. A person of this breed can even appear impolite and rude to a person who does not carry this mentality. They back their behaviour using what they have been told about Verse 2429-30 of the Qur'an. This is a misconception that arises purely out of a lack of wisdom and understanding.
The Verses they quote are the following
2430
"Tell the believing men that they should reduce/lower (ا their gaze/vision and guard their private parts"2431
"Tell the believing women that they should reduce/lower (ن their gaze/vision and guard their private parts"Taking a literal understanding of Verses can often lead to erroneous understanding of a Verse. The meaning that should be derived from the above Verses is that men and women who believe in Allah and the Last Day, must behave modestly and carry themselves humbly between one another. Not only is this an interpretation based on reason, it is also supported by the other occasions the root word " (to lower/reduce)" has been used in the Qur'an.
"It is those who lower (ن their voices in the presence of Allah's messenger and whose hearts Allah has proved to be aware - they will have forgiveness and a great reward" (Qur'an 493)
We cannot say, by looking at the above expression, the verse means to not speak to the messenger just because it says "lower the voice". Rather what is expressed in the is that the believers should not have arrogance or haughtiness in their voice and attitude when interacting with the messenger. Likewise, to "reduce/lower their gaze/vision" does not mean to avoid looking at opposite gender, rather to carry a modesty, humbleness when dealing with one another.
Another example is when the Allah describes the time when Luqman advised his son on how he should behave with people
"Go at a moderate pace and lower (ض your voice, for the ugliest of all voices is the braying of donkeys" (Qur'an 3119)
The advise in the Verse is not to sound arrogant and inconsiderate in dealing with people. To "lower the voice" does not mean to literally lower the voice! For example, to become so quiet so as people cannot hear one speak. Just like "lower their gaze" does not mean to not look at the opposite gender, but to do so with modesty.
A point which adds weight to this argument is that the term (absaar)" translated as gaze/vision, has also been used in the Qur'an to metaphorically refer to a person's inner character and capabilities to grasp and respond to the outside world correctly, rather than literally one's vision through the eyes.
Furthermore, lessons from the Qur'an show us that all believers must look after one another out of love for Allah and must not cut interaction, even between genders. For example
?The believing men and the believing women, they are the friends of one another. They command what is right and forbid what is wrong? (Qur?an 971)
Allah further elaborates in another Verse
"Those who were already firmly established in their homes and firmly rooted in faith, show love for those who migrated to them for refuge and harbor no desire in their hearts for what has been given to them. They give them preference over themselves, even if they too are poor. It is those who are saved from the greed of their own souls who are successful." (Qur'an 599)
The verse teaches us the strength of unity between true believers. This originates from their love for Allah and desire for the Hereafter. One cannot say the above Verse carries double standard for the two genders. Rather the believers of the time referred to in the verse, gave refuge to in their very own homes, all believers who migrated regardless of their gender. What matters is one's faith in Allah, believers are united by this.
The following incident in the story of Prophet Musa has lessons for the believers
"As he made his way towards Midian, he was saying, 'May my Lord guide me to the right way.' When he arrived at Midian's waters, he found a group of men , and beside them two women keeping their flocks back, so he said, 'what is the matter with you two?' They said, 'We cannot water until the shepherds take their sheep away our father is a very old man.' He watered their flocks for them, withdrew into the shade, and prayed, 'My Lord, I am in dire need of whatever good thing you may send me" (Qur'an 2822-24)
Prophet Musa's watering the flocks of the two women is a deed of a believer. However, such behaviour is unlikely among the majority group of so-called practicing Muslims of today. In conclusion, the expression "lower their gaze" used in Verses 2430-31 does not mean to not look at the opposite gender or to not interact with them. The correct understanding is 'to interact modestly' between one another.
Verses 2430-31 are not reasons in themselves for their mentality and behaviour. They simply 'use' the verses to keep up a nostalgic form of religion, derived not from the Qur'an. Part of this nostalgia is to cut connections from the opposite gender. This is common with their application of the Qur'an in all other areas, where the Qur'an is simply 'used' to to give evidence in a religion where the Qur'an is 'muddled', and its true interpretations are never reached.
The Qur'an should be understood using Quranic context, as we have done here. One cannot arrive at the correct understanding of verses, if one's intention while approaching the Qur'an is to find evidence to prove a preconceived mentality.
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Peace
I consider it an exercise of restraint. Looking at people of the opposite gender is not the issue. Being overwhelmed sexually is how I take it since I personally tend to get very much intrigued by a woman I find attractive.
Joe
Peace
What do you mean by overwhelmed sexually?
Peace
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A point which adds weight to this argument is that the term (absaar)" translated as gaze/vision, has also been used in the Qur'an to metaphorically refer to a person's inner character and capabilities to grasp and respond to the outside world correctly, rather than literally one's vision through the eyes.
For initiation of built-in sex mechanizm/process, a stimuli is needed for excitement. The strongest stimuli is focusing of eye (absaar), on certain areas of a women. A scattered look on the face seldom excites, but peeping into the eyes may, what Nabi calls "intrigues". Sex mechanizm is built in, it can get excited/effected even without conscious effort, therefore, people are advised to avoid certain things, like placing focusing, penetrating eye, and women are additionally advised to make the elevated part, an area of utmost attraction for the opposite gender, as hidden as possible. This is for mutual assistance and help not to excite the other party.
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Salaamun Alaikum.
This article and its vivid reflections on the real life situations is a very wide subject in the view of God as is revealed and ordained in the Quran. In the beginning of the chapter 24 of Quran, God has already informed in advance that this chapter is full of admonishments to be implemented in our actual lives.
The Chapter, we have descended it and have decreed it and We have descended in it, clear commandments so that you may take heed.
Without touching the verses 2 to 26, please allow me to to illustrate of how God commences the subject of setting up of families by the first basic step of entering homes and the methods commanded by Him. Although many may find it negligible and think that there are no stringent rulings to this, but God has commanded it clearly and in details.
Hence, God says that within the house, the compound, when a function is held at the house or at a hall and thus up to the open and general public places, it must be reminded that gazes of believing men and women must be controlled and subdued at moderate levels.
But it all starts at home. In contrary to the common belief that there is not the necessity for women of the house to shoal down their veil to cover their breasts in their own homes, God instructs that you must do it in the presence of visitors and guests to your house. This is with the exception in regards to others in the house like husbands and etc... as in 2431.
"...except to their husbands, or their fathers, or fathers of their husbands, or their sons, or the sons of their husbands, or their brothers, or the sons of their brothers, or the sons of their sisters, or their children that come after them, or those who are still their dependants, or the male servants who are without need, or the child who has not yet understood the composition of women..."
All this is to be done for the sake of the purity, modesty and chastisement of members of the families against lewdness. This is because as the house is the station of all human's basic needs and the family as the foundation and bindings of the strong social investments and developments of nations. All the good and the evil root from here. First from entering the house without heeding the sanctions of God then will make advances to its members and consequently, will indulge in fornications or adultery without limits.
If charity does not begin at homes then obscenity and lewdness rush in and take charge of the residents. This can be seen today in the form of indecent and repulsive literature at homes, in television, diskettes, computers and films. While outside, we can see nude and obscenities flagarantly rehearsed and unchallenged.
However, the believers shall control what they have to view inside and outside of home and guard their modesty. They should inculcate to their children to control, subdue their gazes towards opposite genders and to protect their chastisements and purity.
As in 2431, we shall not give up hope to what are happening in today's society but to accept God's invittation to all believers to turn in repentance unto Him in multitudes so that we will become victorious. May God forgive and bless and guide us all to the straight path.
Peace be to All
Salaamun Alaikum. -
Hey, I heard recently from rami that gazing at married women is what is forbidden and not unmarried. Yay or nay?
Actually, that's something I've been looking into for a while. The aim is to avoid sexual crimes, but it depends on if this is set to avoid fornication or adultery...
According to the Torah, "adultery" always involves a married woman; if a married man has sex with someone else's wife, they are both guilty of adultery, and the same is the case with a single man who has sex with someone else's wife. However, a married man who has sex with a single woman is NOT guilty of adultery... I searched for refutations of this in the Qur'aan, but surprisingly I couldn't find any. The Qur'aan seems to support the concept of adultery in the Bible, which could explain why men are allowed to marry more than one woman (under certain conditions). This is even identified in certain US states (i.e. The state of Minesota says concerning adultery "when a married woman has sexual intercourse with a man other than her husband, whether married or not, both are guilty of adultery." This does not apply to a married man having sex with an unmarried woman.), and adultery is illegal in nearly all American states, including in the US military.
Now, based on both scriptures, a married man having sex with an unmarried woman is considered to be fornication, just like two unmarried people, because it is outside of the marriage arrangement. However, fornication, although a crime, is not nearly as bad a committing adultery, which is considered a capital offense in the Torah and is punishable by lashes in the Qur'aan... If you take the Qur'aan as telling people to avoid all kinds of sexual activity outside of marriage, then the "lower their gaze" factor is in effect to everybody, including single people. However, if it's has the aim of preventing adultery, then it applies to married people only, especially when it comes to married women (men can't gaze at another man's wife, and a man's wife can't gaze at other men, whether single or married). It all depends on your interpretation.
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Actually, that's something I've been looking into for a while. The aim is to avoid sexual crimes, but it depends on if this is set to avoid fornication or adultery...
According to the Torah, "adultery" always involves a married woman; if a married man has sex with someone else's wife, they are both guilty of adultery, and the same is the case with a single man who has sex with someone else's wife. However, a married man who has sex with a single woman is NOT guilty of adultery... I searched for refutations of this in the Qur'aan, but surprisingly I couldn't find any. The Qur'aan seems to support the concept of adultery in the Bible, which could explain why men are allowed to marry more than one woman (under certain conditions). This is even identified in certain US states (i.e. The state of Minesota says concerning adultery "when a married woman has sexual intercourse with a man other than her husband, whether married or not, both are guilty of adultery." This does not apply to a married man having sex with an unmarried woman.), and adultery is illegal in nearly all American states, including in the US military.
Now, based on both scriptures, a married man having sex with an unmarried woman is considered to be fornication, just like two unmarried people, because it is outside of the marriage arrangement. However, fornication, although a crime, is not nearly as bad a committing adultery, which is considered a capital offense in the Torah and is punishable by lashes in the Qur'aan... If you take the Qur'aan as telling people to avoid all kinds of sexual activity outside of marriage, then the "lower their gaze" factor is in effect to everybody, including single people. However, if it's has the aim of preventing adultery, then it applies to married people only, especially when it comes to married women (men can't gaze at another man's wife, and a man's wife can't gaze at other men, whether single or married). It all depends on your interpretation.
Interesting and well thought our research. bravo
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If lashes is for adultery, what is for fornication?
IMO Quran does not differentiate between the two, but does not say they're the same either (they're obviously not) and I think zina just means prostitution. You do not have to be married or single to be part of prostitution.
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If lashes is for adultery, what is for fornication?
I don't think there is a punishment for fornication. Rather, the person who commited fornication, in ancient Semitic culture, was expected to marry the person he committed the act with. That's why forms of polygamy were accepted in ancient Judaism; if a married Jewish man married a single Jewish woman, the two were expected to marry, and the woman would become another wife (or concubine, in cases of royalty) for the man. In the Torah, there's no prescribed marriage ceremony, and one was considered the spouse of whoever they sex with, at least in ancient times. Since the Qur'aan also has no prescribed marriage ceremony, the concept was probably the same. And this ties into the fact that men can, according to the Qur'aan, marry more than one woman. This wouldn't, of course, apply to the female, since she can only have one husband, and having sex with anyone other than her husband (after marriage) is adultery.
I think zina just means prostitution. You do not have to be married or single to be part of prostitution.
What leads you to believe that "zina" means prostitution?
A prostitute in Arabic is "aahira", and I believe that the Shi'ite practice of "muta" marriage is a form of prostitution. The word "zina" refers to illegal sexual intercourse, which could, depending on the circumstances, apply to fornication or adultery. However, I believe that, in the Qur'aan, it's referring to acts of adultery. But I guess that depends on interpretation... What makes you say that "zina" is prostitution?