Protecting Our Eyes: Understanding Their Rights and Responsibilities in Islam
Social Media and Sinful Eyes
Allah has provided mankind with countless types of blessings in this world, which are impossible to fully enumerate. The very existence of humans is a great masterpiece and an invaluable blessing. Within the human body, He has placed numerous blessings, some of which we can sense, but counting them is as difficult as comprehending or perceiving all His blessings. In a single statement, Allah has informed mankind about His blessings, saying that if you try to count His blessings, you will not be able to.
A unique realization of blessings occurred in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, which may happen in various parts of the world. The incident involved a 78-year-old Arab man who received a bill of 600 riyals for 24 hours of oxygen use from a hospital. Upon seeing the bill, the elderly man began to cry. When asked why he was crying, he explained, “I have to pay 600 riyals for just 24 hours of oxygen, while I have been breathing Allah’s fresh air for 78 years without paying anything. Do you know how much I owe Allah?” SubhanAllah.
Allah has shaped us beautifully and adorned this form with various blessings. Among these, the blessing of eyes is one of the most significant. Through these eyes, we see the colors of the world, its delicacy, and the beauty of everything. For those deprived of sight, the entire world becomes dark, including their own homes, bodies, and possessions. Reflecting on this, there is a profound lesson and admonition for those who have sight, but few are those who ponder over Allah’s signs and seek lessons.
“And of His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth and the diversity of your languages and your colors. Indeed, these are signs for those of knowledge.” (Surah Ar-Rum, 30:22)
Allah speaks about the blessing of the eyes: “Have We not made for him a pair of eyes?” (Surah Al-Balad, 90:8)
And elsewhere: Verily, We have created man from Nutfah drops of mixed semen (discharge of man and woman), in order to try him, so We made him heater, seer. (Surah Al-Insan, 76:2)
When Allah has bestowed such a great blessing as the eyes, they also have rights. The Prophet ﷺ said: “And your eyes have a right over you.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari: 1874, Sahih Muslim: 1159) Meaning, your eyes have rights upon you.
The right of the eyes is to let them rest, use them to observe the signs of Allah’s creation and come to believe in His Oneness, and to worship Him sincerely. Protect your eyes from harmful things, keep them away from lusts and indecent acts, and only look at permissible things. While walking, the right of the eyes is to lower the gaze, but it is unfortunate that in the age of social media, more sins are committed with the eyes than with the rest of the body. This realization compelled me to write this, hoping that someone will take heed, appreciate the blessing of eyes, and use them correctly.
Many may not know that just as adultery occurs through the private parts, it also occurs through the eyes. The adultery of the eyes is looking at forbidden or indecent things. The Prophet ﷺ said: “The zina (adultery) of the eyes is the gaze, the zina of the tongue is speech, the heart desires and wishes, and the private parts confirm or deny that.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari: 6612)
In light of this hadith, if we examine today’s society, we find that many internet users are involved in the zina of the eyes. The indecent scenes in society, revealing clothing, and the mixing of men and women in schools, markets, and crowded places, are all contributing factors. The Prophet ﷺ said to Ali رضي الله عنه: “Do not give a second look, Ali, (because) while you are not to blame for the first, you have no right to the second.” (Sahih Abu Dawood: 2149)
This means that if you unintentionally glance at a non-mahram woman, the first glance is forgiven, but deliberately gazing a second or third time is not. The glance lasts only a moment, and the Prophet forbade even this momentary glance. Now think about those who intentionally spend hours watching indecent images and videos on their phones—how sinful and adulterous their eyes must be! Are people aware of the severe consequences of this sin of the eyes? Absolutely not.
Young women, even more so than men, are involved in these indecent acts. They wear false eyelashes, beautify their eyebrows, and use decorative lenses to seduce others, inviting sin with their eyes. These girls can be seen from schools to markets and across all social media platforms, especially on TikTok, which has become a tool for spreading indecency.
My young brothers and sisters, do you know that the eyes that give you a fleeting moment of lustful pleasure may be the very reason that drags your beautiful body, including those eyes, into the blazing hellfire? So, appreciate the blessing of your eyes, thank Allah who has granted them to you, and use them to seek lessons and admonition.
Let’s consider what kind of eyes Allah loves. Allah loves the eyes that are filled with modesty and lower their gaze. These modest eyes are beloved to the Lord of Glory, which is why believers are commanded to lower their gaze. Allah says:
Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.). That is purer for them. Verily, Allah is All-Aware of what they do. (Surah An-Nur, 24:30)
It is noteworthy that Allah first commands men to lower their gaze before instructing women in the next verse. The command to lower the gaze before the command to protect one’s chastity points to a great wisdom. The root of all sins lies in the eyes. It is through the eyes that a plan is conceived in the heart, and then the private parts become involved in sinful acts. Lowering the gaze leads to purity, and those who keep their gaze down will find their hearts, minds, and souls safeguarded from evil and remain pure.
Allah loves eyes that fear Him and shed tears out of that fear. Allah says:
When the Verses of the Most Beneficent (Allah) were recited unto them, they fell down prostrating and weeping. (Surah Maryam, 19:58)
The Prophet ﷺ said: “There is nothing more beloved to Allah than two drops and two traces: A teardrop shed out of fear of Allah, and a drop of blood shed in Allah’s cause. As for the two traces: A trace resulting in Allah’s cause, and and a trace resulting from one of the duties that Allah made obligatory.” (Sahih At-Tirmidhi: 1669)
Eyes that fear Allah and cry out of His fear are promised great rewards. The Prophet ﷺ listed among the seven fortunate people who will be granted the shade of Allah’s Throne one who remembers Allah in seclusion and his eyes overflow with tears. Similarly, the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Two eyes will not be touched by the fire of Hell: An eye that weeps out of fear of Allah, and an eye that stays awake guarding in the cause of Allah.” (Sahih At-Tirmidhi: 1639)
The Prophet ﷺ also said: “A man who weeps out of fear of Allah will not enter Hell until the milk returns to the udder (which is impossible). Dust raised in the path of Allah and the smoke of Hell will never combine.” (Sahih At-Tirmidhi: 1633)
Now that we know the eyes are an invaluable blessing from Allah, and we have misused this blessing knowingly or unknowingly, what should we do?
First and foremost, we should sincerely repent for all past sins. The Prophet ﷺ said that the one who repents is like someone who has never sinned. After repentance, the most important thing is to remain aware that Allah will question us on the Day of Judgment about every blessing we used, whether it was related to this world or our bodies. The Qur’an explicitly mentions being questioned about the use of our eyes:
Verily! The hearing, and the sight, and the heart, of each of those you will be questioned (by Allah). (Surah Al-Isra, 17:36)
Thirdly, we must avoid approaching indecent things, that is, refraining from actions that lead to immorality. Allah says:
come not near to Al-Fawahish (shameful sins, illegal sexual intercourse, etc.) whether committed openly or secretly, (Surah Al-An'am, 6:151)
Lower your gaze while walking, and when using your mobile phone, avoid places where indecent things are present, such as obscene websites, making friendships with unknown girls, engaging in video calls, or lustful chats in private messages.
Those who sin with their eyes through their mobile phones in solitude forget that their Creator and Master is watching them. In fact, He has appointed angels to record all their actions, whether done in darkness or light.
Lastly, we should develop a desire for good deeds, be consistent in performing righteous actions, and never neglect our duties, especially the five daily prayers. Let me remind you of the beautiful hadith where the Prophet ﷺ said that while washing your face during ablution, the sins of your face are washed away. Since the eyes are part of the face, the sins of the eyes, and indeed the entire body, are forgiven through the blessings of ablution, leaving one pure from sin.
O Allah! Protect our eyes, instill modesty and fear in them so that they remain lowered, and let them shed tears out of Your fear. Ameen.
Written by: Sheikh Maqbool Ahmed Salafi (Hafizahullah) / Jeddah Dawah Center
Interpreter: Hasan Fuzail