The misuse of the gaze is the spiritual pandemic of the era. Unfortunately, in this time and age there is great negligence in this regard. Many people do not even regard the casting of lustful glances as a sin whereas Allah Ta’ala has given the command of protecting the gaze in the in the Qur’aan Shareef

قُلْ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ

"Say (O Nabi) to the believers that they should lower their gazes."

This refers to not looking at Non-Mahram women. Likewise, they should not gaze at beardless youth. In fact, even if a youngster's beard has grown to some extent but one still finds the heart somewhat inclined towards him, then to look at him is haraam. The crux of the matter is that any such face which one derives haraam pleasure from, it is haraam to look at such a face. The protection of the gaze is such an important aspect that Allah Ta'ala has separately commanded the women to also guard their gazes. Allah Ta'ala says: يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ

"And say to the believing women that they should lower their gazes"

 In other words, he will physically acquire the sweetness of sweetness of Imaan which will be present in his heart. This is not some world of fantasy or imagination. It is the revelation of Allah Ta’ala. Allah Ta’ala has not instructed us to merely imagine that the sweetness Imaan has entered the heart. Rather he has declared the word (يجد ) which means that you will physically experience the taste of of Imaan and find it present in your heart.

Allama Abul Qasim Qushairi writes in Risala Qushairiya that by the injuction of guarding the gaze Allah Ta’ala has taken away the pleasure of the eyes but in return He has granted the non-perishable sweetness of Imaan.

Mulla Ali Qari Rahimahullah writes:

وَقَدْ وَرَدَ أَنْ حَلَاوَةَ الْإِيْمَانِ إِذَا دَخَلَتْ قَلْبًا لَا تَخْرُجُ مِنْهُ أَبَدًا

"It has been narrated that once the sweetness of Imaan enters the heart, it never leaves it."(Mishkaat; Vol. 1, pg. 74)

Mulla Ali Qari Rahimahullah comments upon this statement and declares:

فَفِيهِ إِشَارَة إِلَى بَشَارَةِ حُسْنِ الْخَالِمَةِ

"In this is the indication towards the glad-tidings of death upon Imaan." (Mirqaat)

Whenever one is tempted to look at haram, be it in the market place or whilst scrolling through the phone, the demands of Istiqaamat at that time is to crush one’s desires and protect one’s gaze keeping the commands of Allah Ta’ala in mind.

One who casts lustful glances is indulging in fornication, and such a person cannot even dream of becoming a Wali of Allah Ta'ala unless he sincerely repents from this evil.

In another narration Rasulullah(SallAllahu alayhi wasallam) is reported to have said:

لَعَنَ اللَّهُ النَّاظِرَ وَالْمَنْظُورَ إِلَيْهِ

"May the curse of Allah Ta'ala be upon the one who casts lustful glances as well as the one who emerges in such a manner that lustful glances are cast at one."

(Miskaat Shareef pg. 270, the book of Nikah)

In this Hadith, Rasulullah (SallAllahu alayhi wasallam) has cursed both the person who casts lustful gazes as well as the one who is gazed at (due to not adopting the Hijaab). Those who fear the curse of the Auliya and pious people should fear the curse of Rasulullah (SallAllahu alayhi wasallam), since piety is acquired in becoming true slaves of Rasulullah (SallAllahu alayhi wasallam). Therefore, if an accidental gaze falls upon a beautiful face, turn the gaze away immediately. Do not allow the gaze to remain on the face even for one moment.

It is clearly understood from the verses of Qur'aan Shareef and the Ahadith that the one who casts lustful glances has been given the following three evil "titles".

1. Disobedient to Allah Ta'ala and His Rasul (SallAllahu alayhi wasallam)

2. Fornicator of the eyes

3. Accursed

If one is addressed with any of these titles, one will be extremely hurt and displeased. Thus, if one wishes to remain safe from these titles, it is necessary to guard the gaze.

The heart that was directed towards Allah Ta'ala turns 180 degrees away towards the person one had glanced at. It is as if the heart has turned around completely to face the object of the lustful glance and has tumed its back to Allah Ta'ala. Hence, whether the person is performing Salaah, reciting the Qur'aan Shareef or anything else, that beautiful face is in front of him. When in solitude, also the mind is still engrossed in the same beauty.

Now, instead of the remembrance of Allah Ta'ala, the remembrance of that beautiful person is in the heart. The heart is not subjected to such destruction by means of any other sin. For instance, a person has missed his Salaah, or he has spoken a lie, or he has harmed somebody, his heart will turn away from Allah Ta'ala by 45 degrees. However, he will repent and seek the forgiveness of those he has harmed and his heart will once again be directed towards Allah Ta'ala. On the contrary, the sin of casting glances is such that a person becomes completely unmindful of Allah Ta'ala and the love of the person he has gazed at settles in his heart. As a result, some people even lost their Imaan at the time of death