Question

Is the following Hadith authentic?

“When anyone’s eyes fall on the beauty of a woman and he immediately casts his gaze away from her, Allah grants him Divine guidance towards such ‘ibadah, the ecstasy of which he feels in himself”

Can you also provide other Hadiths on lowering and protecting the gaze.

Answer

This narration has been recorded on the authority of Sayyiduna Abu Umamah and Sayyidatuna ‘Aishah (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) with various chains, all of which have been declared extremely weak by the Muhaddithun.

These narrations can be found in the following Hadith collections:

1) Al Kamil of Ibn ‘Adiy, vol. 8, pg. 11 and vol. 8, pg. 259

2) Musnad Ahmad, vol. 5, pg. 264

3) Al Mu’jamul Kabir, Hadith: 7842

Also see Targhib, vol. 3, pg. 34, Majma’uz Zawaid, vol. 8, pg. 63 and Lisanul Mizan, vol. 5, pg. 438 -5215-.

However, the command of lowering the gaze is sufficiently proven from the Quran. Allah Ta’ala says:

“Say to the believers that they should lower their gazes and (thereby) protect their chastity. That is better for them. Allah is well aware of what they do”

(Surah Nur, Ayah: 30)

The following Hadiths should be quoted instead:

1) Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

“O ‘Ali, Don’t follow up your first [unintentional glance at a woman] with a second glance, for you will not be sinful for the first [unintentional] glance but you will be sinful for the next”

(Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 2777, declared sound –hasan– by Imam Tirmidhi)

2) Sayyiduna ‘Ubadah ibn Samit (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

“Guarantee me six things, I will guarantee Jannah for you, always speak the truth, fulfill your promises, honour/fulfill what you are entrusted with, protect your private parts, lower your gaze and hold back your hands [from stealing and harming others]”

(Sahih Ibn Hibban; Al Ihsan, Hadith: 271 and Mustadrak Hakim, vol. 4, pg. 359)

3) Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

“Three types of eyes [people] will not see Jahannam, the eye that guarded in the path of Allah, the eye that cried out of the fear of Allah and the eye that abstained from looking at those things which Allah has made impermissible to look at”

(Al Mu’jamul Kabir, Hadith: 1003 -vol. 19. Refer: Majma’uz Zawaid, vol. 5, pg. 288)

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar