We learned this week the principle of الجزا من جنس العمل (Al-jazaa’u min jins al-`amal) and the example of which can be seen in the action and reward for lowering the gaze. Ibn al-Qayyim mentioned when a person lowers his gaze, he is obeying Allah, by doing so Allah will reward him with a reward similar in nature. Indeed RasulAllah salAllahu `alayhi wa sallam, “whosoever leaves something for the sake of Allaah, then Allaah will replace it with something better than it.” [1]( من ترك شيئاً لله عوضه الله خيراً منه)
So among the rewards for lowering the gaze are: Allah will illuminate his heart, give him clear perception and penetrating insight. This means the person will have an increased vision of the heart, and he will have a greater البصيرة baseerah or الفراسة firasah.
I wanted to read more on what Ibn al-Qayyim rahimahullah had to say about lowering the gaze. Ibn al-Qayyim was gifted with his nice and concise explanations that not only make sense but also reach the heart. In al-Muntaqaa min Ighaathatul Lufhaan fee Masaayid ash-Shaytaan‘[2] he explains the principle of Al-jazaa’u min jins al-`amal when applied to the act and reward for lowering the gaze as follows:
The reason behind this is that the reward is of the same type as the action. So whosoever lowers his gaze from the unlawful for the sake of Allaah, the Mighty and Magnificent, He will replace it with something better than it of the same type. So just as the servant restrained the light of his eye from falling upon the unlawful, Allaah blesses the light of his sight and heart thereby making him perceive what he would not have seen and understood had he not lowered his gaze.
And he, rahimahullah, also said: “…when the sight is prevented from looking and investigating the heart finds relief from having to go through the arduous task of (vainly) seeking and desiring…”
To put this into practice and gain the amazing reward for it, one can remind themselves to lower their gaze from the haram. In addition to lowering the gaze from the opposite gender, one should try to apply it in more circumstances. Such as, when entering someone else’s house, when seeing the glitter and glamour of this world, also when seeing someone of the same gender dressed revealingly, etc. Insha’Allah.
May Allah assist us all in purification and spiritual growth. May we be included amongst the believing men and woman who obey the command of Allah to lower the gaze as occurs in Surat an-Nur (ayahs 30 and 31). (قُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ ) and (وَقُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ)
A.S Muharram 8, 1428
From: He Who Forgets Will Be Destined to Remember
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