A message to my eye

A message to my eye

In the name of Allah the Most Gracious the Most Merciful Man is conceited with his strength although it is Allah Who bestowed it upon him. Allah granted to this creature senses enabling him to go in the world of reality. Among the greatest of these sense organs is the eye with its delicate structure, perfect shape, beautiful appearance, and the ability of eyesight. This eye sees the signs of ability in the pages of this universe and reasons of belief exposed in the pages of the world and its corners. (In the shade of the Quran – In short) Eye’s job: There is a job for each limb in the human body. Allah Almighty created the eye for sublime job; it is created for seeing the path with its evils, the universe with its marvels, the family and beloved people, and the children and friends. It is created for seeing sun’s rise and setting and seeing the night followed by day and the day followed by night; it is created for scrutinizing the valleys and rivers. And all of that is just for reaching to one fact; knowing the One the Irresistible. (Minbaryyat, by Ahmed As-Sudais – in short) Eye’s shyness: Eye’s shyness, in the Islamic Shar’iah, is to guard itself from looking at what is made inviolable by Allah. When the eye is perfectly ashamed, it protects its owner, buries his bad qualities and propagates his good qualities. Ibn Hibban said: “And whoever loses his shyness loses his happiness, and whoever loses his happiness becomes contemptible in the eyes of people.” (Shyness is life – in short) Lustful look is the prelude to adultery: Eyesight is the root of all evils that man faces. The eyesight produces notion, then the notion produces idea, then the idea produces desire, then the desire produces a volition that gets stronger and becomes a determination, then the act would surly occur as long as there is nothing to prevent it. (Ad-Daa’ wa Ad-Dawaa’) It is narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Allah Has written upon the son of Adam his share from Zina (adultery/fornication), he will inevitably experience it, thus the Zina of the eyes is looking (at what is forbidden), the Zina of the tongue is speaking (with what is forbidden), the self-wishes and desires, and the private parts accepts all that or refuses it. ” [Reported by Al-Bukhari] «إن الله كتب على ابن آدم حظه من الزنا، أدرك ذلك لا محالة، فزنا العين النظر، وزنا اللسان المنطق، والنفس تتمنى وتشتهي، والفرج يصدق ذلك كله أو يكذبه» رواه البخاري And Al-Qasimy says in his comment on the saying of Allah almighty: {Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts)} [Surat An-Nur 24:30] {قُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ} سورة النور: 30 Transliteration: Qul lilmumineena yaghuddoo min absarihum wayahfathoo furoojahum “Lowering the gaze is mentioned before protecting the private parts because gaze is the prelude to adultery and reconnoiterer to profligacy.” Do not follow one look by another: Gaze is one of the poisoned arrows of Satan and it is the reconnoiterer to lust. The prohibited look produces evil and bad notions in the heart, and Allah Almighty ordered His servants to lower their gaze {Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts). That is purer for them. Verily, Allâh is All-Aware of what they do} [Surat An-Nur 24:30] {قُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ أَزْكَىٰ لَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ} سورة النور: 30 Transliteration: Qul lilmumineena yaghuddoo min absarihum wayahfathoo furoojahumthalika azka lahum inna Allaha khabeerun bima yasnaAAoona Sheikh Sayed Qutb says: “Islam aims to building pure community where lusts are not excited in every moment and the desires of flesh and blood are not agitated all the time, because the continuous excitation turns to be lustful frenzy that does not end or be satisfied. Actually, the lustful look, the seductive movement, putting on make up to display the charms of the body, and the semi-naked bodies make nothing but irrigating this mad bestial frenzy. Therefore, lowering the gaze is self’s good manner and effort for getting raised above the desire of looking at the charms and qualities of beauty in the faces and bodies. Moreover, it is locking for the first window of the windows of seduction and temptations; also, it is practical try for preventing the arrival of the poisoned arrow. It is obligatory for the Muslim, if he saw what is made inviolable by Allah, to lower his gaze and not to follow the look with another one. Because of what was narrated by Jarir ibn Abdullah: “I asked the Messenger of Allah about the unexpected look, thereupon he ordered me to turn my gaze away.” [Reported by Muslim] «سألت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم عن نظر الفجاءة، فأمرني أن أصرف بصري» رواه مسلم The evil of looking at what is inviolable: The lustful look is intoxicant cup and its drunkenness is ardent love. Actually, the intoxication of ardent love is more dangerous than the intoxication of wine, because who is drunk because of drinking wine could sober up while who is drunk because of ardent love would not sober up! (Struggle with the desires) Therefore, looking at the inviolable is reason for the loss of the worshipper and deteriorating the determination of the ascetic. The sane person should beware of looking at what is inviolable because it is the reason of the evils, the key of the lusts, and the vehicle of destruction and struggles; however, curing it at its beginning is possible and easy. But if it is repeated, the evil would take control and it would be hard to cure. (From the sayings of Ibn Al-Jawzy – in short) Among the evils of looking at the inviolable: It produces sorrows, sighs and anguishes; the servant sees what he is neither able to do nor able to forebear neglecting. Among the greatest kinds of torments is to see what you neither forbear neglecting it (totally or partially) nor have the ability to have it. Whoever looks at the inviolable is like the person who drinks from the salty water of sea; could his thirst be quenched?! No, actually his drinking produces nothing but more thirst; by this look he does nothing but increasing the excitation of his desire. (Struggle with the desires) Benefits of not looking at the inviolable: Ibn Al-Qayim mentioned benefits for not looking at the inviolable; they include the following: • Obedience to the order of the Lord (the Exalted and Glorious), which is the supreme happiness in this worldly life and hereafter too. • It is prevention from the arrival of the effect of the poisoned arrow to your heart and causing its destruction. • It produces, in the heart, feeling at ease with Allah and enjoyment is not experienced by whoever looks at the inviolable. • It strengthens the heart and makes it joyful, while looking at the inviolable weakens it and makes it sad. • It produces light in the heart, while looking at the inviolable produces darkness in it. • It grants the servant with the truthful acumen that enables him to distinguish between the true and untrue, and between the veracity and lie. • It produces courage and persistence in the heart. Moreover, Allah grants to such person the power of acumen and logic in addition to the power of ability. • It plugs up one of Satan’s entrances to the heart. Actually, look is the great gate to the heart. • It makes the heart devoted to the good ideas. • There is a vent and path between the eye and heart makes each one of them has an influence upon the other; it may make it righteous or depraved. If the looks of the servant were good, his heart would be good. On the other hand; if they were evil, his heart would be evil. It is said about look: In the Holy Quran: {Allâh knows the fraud of the eyes, and all that the breasts conceal} [Surat Ghâfir 40:19] {يَعْلَمُ خَائِنَةَ الْأَعْيُنِ وَمَا تُخْفِي الصُّدُورُ} سورة غافر: 19 Transliteration: YaAAlamu khainata alaAAyuni wamatukhfee alssudooru {And follow not (O man i.e., say not, or do not or witness not) that of which you have no knowledge. Verily! The hearing, and the sight, and the heart, of each of those one will be questioned (by Allâh)} [Surat Al-Isrâ` 17:36] {وَلَا تَقْفُ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ ۚ إِنَّ السَّمْعَ وَالْبَصَرَ وَالْفُؤَادَ كُلُّ أُولَـٰئِكَ كَانَ عَنْهُ مَسْئُولًا} الإسراء: 36 Transliteration: Wala taqfu ma laysa laka bihi AAilmun inna alssamAAa waalbasara waalfuada kullu olaika kana AAanhu masoolan {Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts). That is purer for them. Verily, Allâh is All-Aware of what they do} [Surat An-Nûr 24:30] {قُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ أَزْكَىٰ لَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ} النور: 30 Transliteration: Qul lilmumineena yaghuddoo min absarihum wayahfathoo furoojahumthalika azka lahum inna Allaha khabeerun bima yasnaAAoona In the Sunnah: “Allah Has written upon the son of Adam his share from Zina (adultery/fornication), he will inevitably experience it, thus the Zina of the eyes is looking (at what is forbidden)…” [Reported by Al-Bukhari] «إن الله كتب على ابن آدم حظه من الزنا، أدرك ذلك لا محالة، فزنا العين النظر...» رواه البخاري It is narrated that Jarir ibn Abdullah said: “I asked the Messenger of Allah about the unexpected look, thereupon he ordered me to turn my gaze away.” [Reported by Muslim] «سألت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم عن نظر الفجاءة، فأمرني أن أصرف بصري» رواه مسلم And among the sayings of the wise people: • Look is one of the poisoned arrows of Satan. • Look is the leader of lust. • Forbearing lowering the gaze is easier than forbearing the pain of its consequences. • Combating the moments (of evil) is better than the eternity of sorrows.
Source:Reference Link

JIHAD OF THE EYES:

It is in this instance, surrounded by half-naked people, that we must have the courage to follow the command of Allah and His Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and lower our gazes.
Allah says:
"Do not go near fornication and adultery, it is an abomination and an evil way." (Quran 17:32).
This sin is so hateful in the sight of Our Lord, that He commanded us to not even go near it.
Despite what anyone may say, looking upon that which one is not supposed to is going near adultery. For an illicit affair begins with a lustful glance.
Allah wishes for us not to commit this ugly sin, and thus He commands us to lower our gazes:
"Tell the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that will make for greater purity for them; And Allah is well acquainted with all that they do.
And tell the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty…" (Quran 24:30-31).
Lowering the gaze does not mean keeping our eyes constantly on the ground and not looking up at all.
It is turning our faces away when we see a less-than-decently-dressed woman or man walking on the street in the middle of July.
⦁ The adultery of the eyes
The Prophet further explained to us Allah's command. Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet said, "…the adultery of the eyes is looking (at [that] which is not allowed)…" (Bukhari, Muslim).
Also, on the authority of Jurayr who said, "I asked the Messenger of Allah about accidentally looking at something that is not allowed and he said, ‘Turn your eyes away.'" (Muslim).
In another Hadith on the authority of Abu Sa'eed, the Prophet said, "A man should not look at the Awrah of another man, and the woman should not look at the Awrah of another woman…" (Muslim).
Thus, our Prophet even instructed us to lower our gaze when looking at members of the same gender in some cases.
⦁ Lowering for the "other" nakedness
One common mistake is to think that lowering your gaze is only required upon encountering nakedness and indecency "in the flesh" or in person.
Lowering our gaze must also be practiced when watching a film or television program replete with nakedness and intimate scenes of couples (actually, we should try to avoid watching such types of programs, period).
Lowering our gaze includes changing the channel when "Baywatch" comes on.
It also means changing the channel when watching the news if we feel attracted to the anchorperson or reporter reading or presenting the news.
And anyway, television isn't that great of a way to spend time. See why in Sound Vision's un TV guide.
⦁ Don't go to the beach
Or anywhere else you'll find a plethora of bikini- and swimming-trunk clad men and women.
Lowering your gaze there is virtually impossible. You may turn in one direction, thinking you're home-free, but soon enough you can't even look there.
The same holds true for parks. While this doesn't mean never taking the kids out to enjoy the slides and see-saws or having barbecues there, it does mean perhaps having activities on days that are cooler, or at times when the sun is not as hot and intense (i.e. some time in the earlier morning or before Maghrib).
This way, the prime time for sunbathing has passed, and most people either leave or feel cool enough to put some more clothes on.
⦁ Make Dua (supplication)
"Never underestimate the power of Dua," Imam Siraj Wahhaj of Brooklyn, New York once said. This holds true in all trying situations.
Sometimes, despite avoiding certain places where you are more likely to encounter an improperly dressed person, you may find someone walking on the street going to the beach or the park who decided to get ready for suntanning or swimming beforehand.
In these cases, lowering the gaze may be even harder. You weren't expecting it, so you didn't mentally prepare yourself.
If you feel overwhelmed, one suggested Dua to read is: "Aoutho billahi Sami' il Aleem minash Shaytan ir Rajeem" (see Quran 41:36 for more information). A translation of this is "I seek the refuge of Allah who is the Hearer and Who is the Knower from the Shaytan the accursed."
In general, seek refuge in Allah. It has also been suggested to say "La hawla wa la Quwwata illa billah" (there is no power except with Allah). If we sincerely make Dua, Insha Allah, we can succeed in turning our eyes away.
⦁ Lowering the gaze doesn't mean being anti-social
But lowering our gaze does not mean being rude or anti-social. Summer is definitely a time to go out, have fun, and even make Dawa (inviting others to Islam).
You can, for example, hand out brochures at public places and parks.
The Prophet used to present the message of Islam to people that had come for the yearly "Ukaz" festival, which did include unIslamic activities like drinking and gambling.
However, this requires faith, self-control and discipline. This must never be used as an opportunity to indulge in these sins.
⦁ The gaze is part of a Muslim's character
A Muslim is decent and pure. This means all of his or her body must be decent and pure. A natural consequence of this is lowering the gaze.
Allah tells us:
"O you who believe! Do not follow Satan's footsteps: if any will follow the footsteps of Satan, he will command what is shameful and wrong..." (Quran24:21).
Looking at another man or woman in an indecent manner is following in Satan's footsteps.
It all begins with a lustful glance. Such a glance leads to lustful talk and flirting, then meeting…and we are all aware of what comes next.
Let us stop Satan in his tracks and lower our gaze.
Let us start today, during these hot summer months. Yes, it is very difficult and it takes discipline and faith.
Yet, whenever we struggle to please Allah, He will reward us several times over in this life and the next.
It is truly a Jihad. But, it is a Jihad worth undertaking, and we will be all the better for it.
SOURCE:Reference Link

⦁ Why Vision Is the Most Important Sense Organ

 

Out of all the five senses, your vision seems the most important. Humans are fairly unique in their reliance on sight as the dominant sense and this is reflected in how complicated our eyes are relative to other creatures.
Many animals gain most of their information about the environment through their sense of smell. Your dog’s nose tells him much more about his world and who is in it than his eyes (which can actually see some color). In contrast, you can’t smell all the wildlife that visited your yard but you could see them in vivid color.
How the Eye ‘Sees’
Why are human eyes so much more capable? Basically, it is because they have more components which collect information.
When you see something, like your pet dog, your eyes don’t actually see him, your brain does. At the start of what will become your vision, light enters your eyes. Your pupil, the black center of your eye, and the iris, the colored ring around it, work together to widen or constrict the pupils so the appropriate amount of light enters the eye.
The incoming light travels through two layers: the cornea and the lens. The cornea at the front of your eye, and the lens, located right behind your pupil, work in tandem to focus the light ray onto a specific spot at the back of your eye, on the retina.
At the retina is where the raw sight data your eyes collected from light begins to be translated into useful visual information. The light focused on the retina triggers photoreceptors which are used to create visual cues. The retina contains two types of photoreceptors: rods and cones. There are about 120 million rods and up to 7 million cones. Rods are more sensitive than cones but cannot detect color, which the cones can.
Humans have 3 types of cones which perceive the presence of red, green, and blue. These combine in different levels to create the full range of color we see. In case you’re wondering, your dog only has 2 of these, yellow and blue, which means his vision is closer to a human with red-green colorblindness than just black and white.
Now that information about the item and its color are collected, the rest of the work is left to the brain. This new data is sent along the optic nerve to the brain, which is what tells us what we are looking at. Along with what we are seeing, the brain sends information about the context: what does looking at this mean, is it dangerous, or other related memories.
Also your eyes and brain are constantly doing all of this. All in a tiny fraction of a second.
The Eye as a Sense Organ
The way sight works is why it is one of the five senses. The eyes are the physical portal through which data from your environment is collected and sent to your brain for processing. The brain plays its part by converting the light that went into your eyes into usable information — how far away, how bright, what color.
So if you were to look at your dog, you would see that, yes, it is a dog but also what breed he is and that he is your pet and would probably like his ears scratched.
Humans are built to collect information with their eyes and even reduced vision quality creates a negative effect. A regular vision test is a small investment for something that has such a huge impact on our lives.
Our eyes aren’t just performing a task, they are the portal through which our brain can tell us about our world, learn new things, and make wonderful memories. All of which are reasons why vision is such an important thing to take care of.

Source:Reference Link