Lowering the Gaze and Protecting Marriage Life

"lowering the gaze" is a divine order for both sexes, contemplate the following verse in Surat Al Noor:

"‏‏قُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ ذَلِكَ أَزْكَى لَهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ*وَقُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا" (النور: 30)

Interpretation: "Tell the believing men to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what they do." (24:30)

Did you notice that Allah ordered men to lower their gaze on seeing what is illegal to look at and save their private parts, and He ordered women as well to do the same thing?

Did you notice that order of lowering the gaze was mentioned before the order of protecting the private parts; eyes are a gate of the heart, and a window of the soul. It was narrated that the Prophet, peace is upon him, said: "...The Zina of the eye is the (lustful) look ... the heart yearns and desires and the private parts approve all that or disapprove it." [Sahih Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Lowering the gaze is a blessing

Some people regard this command as a difficult task, especially in a world dominated by images as our world today, but the truth is that it is a great blessing.

It's a great blessing to live life with all ambition, work, and transactions, without absorbing these scenes around you or allowing them to invade your heart and soul, or manipulate your desire and feelings.

It's a great blessing to have an internal safety valve that prevents you from indulging your heart in illegal scenes.

It's a great blessing to have a life partner that fills your eyes and pleases your heart.

All these blessings are received when you lower your gaze. No one stares at prohibited things and can feel such happiness.

Lowering the gaze protect you from being insatiable. It does not mean to live isolated and does not look at the way, as portrayed by some, rather it is just as our Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "Do not give a second look" (Hasan according to Al-Albani)

The sinful action intended here is starting to prohibited images, releasing of imagination, and allowing what you saw to manipulate your mind and heart.

Comparison issue

When such images gather in your imagination and mind, you unconsciously begin to compare your spouse too many images stuck in your imagination that formed what looks like the ideal model! Indeed, it's an injustice to compare your spouse to a world of misleading images, which are often fabricated, or subject to the direction, modification, and editing. Even if they are real, your brain captures them, therefore, your heart begins to weave imaginary feelings that drive you to blind love.

source: islamicstudies.islammessage.com