Source: Excerpt from the book "Ahkām wa Masā’il Kitāb-o-Sunnat ki Roshni Main" by Shaykh Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani
If a man’s gaze accidentally falls on a woman while walking on the street, should he immediately look away?
Also, what does the ḥadīth mean when it says: “The first glance is forgiven”?
The gaze is considered one of the arrows of Shayṭān, and an unlawful glance can drive a person toward misguidance and temptation. For this reason, it is described in the Sunnah as a form of "zina (fornication) of the eyes."
Therefore, one must exercise extreme caution in how the eyes are used.
The Noble Qur’an commands both believing men and women to lower their gaze. This command indicates that one must guard and control the eyes, especially from gazing at non-maḥram (unlawful) individuals.
If, while walking on the road, a man's gaze accidentally falls on a woman, he must immediately turn his gaze away.
He should not stare, nor should he continue looking on the pretext that the first glance is excused.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Do not follow a glance with another glance."
Sayyidunā Jarīr bin ʿAbdullāh رضي الله عنه said:
"I asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about an accidental glance, and he said: Turn your gaze away."
This ḥadīth is a clear and explicit instruction:
Even if the first glance occurs unintentionally, it should not be prolonged or repeated. Instead, the gaze must be immediately averted.
✔ It means an unintentional or sudden glance is not sinful in and of itself.
✘ However, continuing to look intentionally after that or taking a second look is haram and incurs sin.
If every person were to imagine someone staring at his own mother, sister, wife, or daughter, would he accept it?
Of course not.
Then how can he justify doing the same to another man's mother, sister, or daughter?
✔ The believer must lower his gaze at once if his eyes fall on a non-maḥram woman.
✘ Staring, following with a second glance, or justifying it as “only looking” is a sin and leads to spiritual and moral corruption.
May Allah bless us all with modesty, chastity, and the ability to guard our gaze, and protect us from the diseases of the eyes and heart.
Āmīn.
❖ Question:
If a man’s gaze accidentally falls on a woman while walking on the street, should he immediately look away?
Also, what does the ḥadīth mean when it says: “The first glance is forgiven”?
❖ Answer:
The gaze is considered one of the arrows of Shayṭān, and an unlawful glance can drive a person toward misguidance and temptation. For this reason, it is described in the Sunnah as a form of "zina (fornication) of the eyes."
Therefore, one must exercise extreme caution in how the eyes are used.
❖ The Command in the Qur’an:
The Noble Qur’an commands both believing men and women to lower their gaze. This command indicates that one must guard and control the eyes, especially from gazing at non-maḥram (unlawful) individuals.
❖ Ruling on an Accidental Glance:
If, while walking on the road, a man's gaze accidentally falls on a woman, he must immediately turn his gaze away.
He should not stare, nor should he continue looking on the pretext that the first glance is excused.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Do not follow a glance with another glance."
Reference: Sunan Abū Dāwūd, Kitāb al-Nikāḥ, Bāb fī mā yuʾmaru bihi min ghaḍḍ al-baṣar: Ḥadīth 2148
❖ Ḥadīth on Accidental Glance:
Sayyidunā Jarīr bin ʿAbdullāh رضي الله عنه said:
"I asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about an accidental glance, and he said: Turn your gaze away."
Reference: Musnad Aḥmad: 4/361, Ḥadīth 19411
This ḥadīth is a clear and explicit instruction:
Even if the first glance occurs unintentionally, it should not be prolonged or repeated. Instead, the gaze must be immediately averted.
❖ Meaning of "The First Glance is Forgiven":
✔ It means an unintentional or sudden glance is not sinful in and of itself.
✘ However, continuing to look intentionally after that or taking a second look is haram and incurs sin.
❖ Reflect on This:
If every person were to imagine someone staring at his own mother, sister, wife, or daughter, would he accept it?
Of course not.
Then how can he justify doing the same to another man's mother, sister, or daughter?
Conclusion:
✔ The believer must lower his gaze at once if his eyes fall on a non-maḥram woman.
✘ Staring, following with a second glance, or justifying it as “only looking” is a sin and leads to spiritual and moral corruption.
May Allah bless us all with modesty, chastity, and the ability to guard our gaze, and protect us from the diseases of the eyes and heart.
Āmīn.
