Question:
[This question is from a set of questions asked from india].
A man that cannot avoid looking at women (he encounters) such as the women in government offices and elsewhere. Is there any sin upon him or is he excused?
Answer:
The sin (of looking) is upon him unless it is unintended and brief. (In this case) there is no sin upon him.
If he deliberately looks at the women in government offices or elsewhere, or works in a mixed-gender environment that facilitates looking, sitting and speaking to women; it is only appropriate that this is abandoned.
He must look for an alternative workplace that does not contain the ‘fitnah’ (trial) of the nation of Mohammed ﷺ and the previous nations.
(The Prophet ﷺ said:)
{ مَا تَرَكْتُ بَعْدِي فِتْنَةً أَضَرَّ عَلَى الرِّجَالِ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ }
I will not leave after me a more dangerous trial for men than women
[ Narrated by Osama ibn Zaid in Bukhari: hadith number 2740 and Muslim: hadith number 5096 ]
{ فَاتَّقُوا الدُّنْيَا وَاتَّقُوا النِّسَاءَ، فَإِنَّ أَوَّلَ فِتْنَةِ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ كَانَتْ فِي النِّسَاءِ }
Protect yourself from the the life of this world and protect yourself from women. For indeed, the first trial of The Children of Israel was concerning women
[ Narrated by Abou Saeed Al-Khudri in Muslim: Hadith number 2747 ]
This is an eloquent warning. Protect yourself from the life of this world; (meaning) avoid (its haraam) completely and be on your guard against it and protect yourself from women. Then he mentioned the reason for this order:
{ فَإِنَّ أَوَّلَ فِتْنَةِ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ كَانَتْ فِي النِّسَاءِ }
For indeed, the first trial of The Children of Israel was concerning women
Therefore it is upon us all to beware of this trial by not interacting with and looking at women (unlawfully) and causing the heart to become sick.
‘The look’ as they say, is an arrow from the arrows of Iblees. Especially if you look at a beautiful woman – there is no doubt about this. If you looked at a woman of the utmost beauty. It is a trial, I swear by Allah it is a trial.
Some people have left the religion of Islam and become Christian due to a glance at a beautiful woman, as you are aware from what ibn al Qayum has mentioned:
A man went up to make the call to prayer where he saw a beautiful christian woman. He abandoned the call to prayer and went to the house to inquire about her, she said ‘No, this is only allowed by means of my father and by you becoming a christian’. He pursued her through her father and disbelieved in Allah, left the religion of Islam and become a Christian. He did spend one night with her. He went up upon the roof, fell and died before achieving his desire
Laa ilaaha ila Allah. The woman is a trial.
In addition to this, is the story of Imraan ibn Hataan that is no secret. He became a ‘khaariji’ (extremist) due to a woman he married that influenced him. All due to this beauty that has trialled the people.
We ask Allah to protect us from this trial.
Answered by: Abu Bilaal Al-Hadhramy – may Allah preserve him
Source: https://t.me/abubilalhami/2719
Answered on: 21, Safar 1441 (19th October 2019)
Translated by: Abu Sufian Saami ibn Daniel Al-Ghaani