Is the Zina of the Eyes the Same as the Zina of the Body

Question: Is the zina of the eyes on the same level as the zina of the body? And is it considered a major sin as well? And how is repentance from it to be made"

Summary:

• The zina of the eyes is a great sin and a major transgression if deliberate and with desire, but it is not on the same level as actual zina. It is among the major sins if a servant persists in it or continues with it. • Repentance from it is obligatory immediately, and its conditions are: stopping, regretting, resolving not to return, and increasing in acts of obedience. The Salaf also gave many practical examples of lowering the gaze and staying away from the zina of the eyes, such as Abu Bakr, Ibn Umar, Imam Ahmad, Ibn Sirin, and Al-Fudayl ibn Iyad, who all trained themselves to lower the gaze, considering it the key to protecting the heart and faith. They would repent even for a passing glance, teaching us that lowering the gaze is an act of worship that preserves iman, and that looking at the forbidden is a serious sin requiring immediate repentance.

Answer:

In the name of Allah, all praise is due to Allah, and may Peace and Blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)

The zina of the eyes, which is the forbidden gaze at what is not permissible, is not on the same level as the zina of the body (the actual zina), but it is a major and dangerous sin. It is from the preliminaries of the unlawful zina. The Prophet ﷺ called it "zina" by way of likeness and metaphor, because it leads to actual zina or brings one closer to it, and because it contains a forbidden pleasure similar to the pleasure of physical zina.

First: Evidences from the Sunnah

From the Sunnah:

  • Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 6243, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2657Narrated by ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbbās (may Allah be pleased with them both):
    "I have not seen a thing resembling 'lamam' (minor sins) than what Abu Huraira 'narrated from the Prophet who said "Allah has written for Adam's son his share of adultery which he commits inevitably. The adultery of the eyes is the sight (to gaze at a forbidden thing), the adultery of the tongue is the talk, and the inner self wishes and desires and the private parts testify all this or deny it."

    This hadith clarifies that the forbidden gaze is a type of zina, but it is not like the actual zina, as the actual zina is greater and more sinful. However, it remains a major sin because of its violation of the limits of Allah and the corruption of the heart.

From the Salaf:

  • Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both, said:
    “The gaze at what is not permissible is the zina of the eyes.”
  • Al-Hasan Al-Basri, may Allah have mercy on him, said:
    “The zina of the eyes is looking, and it is the path to zina. Whoever lets his eyes roam has led himself to destruction.”

From the Scholars:

  • Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, said in Al-Jawab Al-Kafi:
    “The gaze is the origin of most of the calamities that afflict a person. For the gaze generates thoughts, then thoughts generate ideas, then ideas generate desire, then desire generates will, then it strengthens and becomes determination, and the action occurs. There is no doubt that the gaze is a poisoned arrow from the arrows of Iblis.”

Is it among the major sins? • Many scholars have held that the forbidden gaze if deliberate and continuous with desire, is among the major sins: 1. because there is a severe warning against it 2. because it is a direct path to actual zina 3. because it corrupts the heart. • As for the sudden, unintended gaze, there is no sin in it if the Muslim turns his eyes away immediately.

From the Sunnah:

  • Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2159aNarrated by Jārīr ibn ʿAbdullāh (may Allah be pleased with him):
    I asked Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) about the sudden glance (that is cast) on the face (of a non-Mahram). He commanded me that I should turn away my eyes.

Repentance from the zina of the eyes is by: 1. Stopping immediately from the forbidden gaze. 2. Regretting what has passed of negligence. 3. Having a firm resolve not to return. 4. Rectifying what was corrupted by occupying the eyes with the obedience of Allah, such as looking into the Mushaf, or reflecting on creation, or looking at the parents with dutifulness. 5. Increasing in fasting, the remembrance of Allah, and lowering the gaze, as Allah Almighty said:

From the Qur'an:

  • An-Nur: 30
    "˹O Prophet!˺ Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their chastity. That is purer for them. Surely Allah is All-Aware of what they do."

Practical examples from the Salaf in guarding the eyes: 1. Abu Bakr as-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, would immediately avert his gaze from anything suspicious, saying: "Modesty is from faith," considering control of the eyes the first step to controlling the heart. 2. Abdullah ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, would lower his gaze in the market, saying: "The gaze is a poisoned arrow from Satan, whoever leaves it for Allah, Allah will replace it with sweetness in the heart until the Day of Meeting." 3. Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, may Allah have mercy on him, would keep his head lowered while waiting in the street so his eyes would not see what is forbidden, saying: "How can I seek knowledge and disobey Allah with my eyes?" 4. Ibn Sirin, may Allah have mercy on him, once found his eyes shedding tears because he had looked at something forbidden and said: "I have been seeking forgiveness from Allah for days." 5. Al-Fudayl ibn ‘Iyad, may Allah have mercy on him, said: "Whoever releases his gaze suffers long sorrow, and whoever lowers his gaze finds his eyes comforted," never turning right or left when leaving his house. These examples show that the Salaf considered lowering the gaze an act of the heart that preserves faith and prevents sin, and they regarded forbidden gazes as major sins requiring immediate repentance even if momentary. Seven Practical Steps to Guard the Eyes and Repent from Adultery of the Eyes according to the Salaf: 1. Immediately stop the forbidden gaze. 2. Regret past negligence. 3. Resolve sincerely not to return. 4. Increase remembrance of Allah and seeking forgiveness. 5. Occupy the gaze with obedience: reading Qur’an, looking at the Mushaf, contemplating creation. 6. Avoid places and situations of temptation. 7. Fast to strengthen willpower and curb desire.

And Allah knows best.

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