Harms of Casting Evil Glances

Harm No. 1: Disobedience of Allah

Casting evil glances is clearly forbidden by the clear and explicit text of the Qur'aan. Allah Ta'ala says:
“O Nabi  Tell the believing men to lower some of their gazes." (Sura Nur ; Ayat 30, Juz 18)

(Meaning, do not look at ghair mahram women and handsome boys). Therefore, he who casts evil glances is opposing the clear and explicit command of Qur'aan, and one who opposes the clear and explicit command of Qur'aan is guilty of committing a HARAAM act. Thus, to save oneself from this sin, it is sufficient to meditate upon the fact that the one who casts evil glances is opposing a commandment of the Qur’aan. In other words, he is disobeying Allah Ta'ala.

Harm No. 2: Breach of Trust

The one who casts evil glances is breaching the trust of Allah Ta'ala. Allah Ta'ala says:

“He knows the mistrust of the eyes and that which the hearts conceal." (Sura Mumin; Ayat 18, Juz 24)

Allah Ta'ala uses the word khalifh ,which means to commit mistrust. This indicates that we are not the owners of our eyes rather we have been entrusted with them. This is the reason why suicide is forbidden, because we are not owners of our bodies. Allah Ta'ala has entrusted us with our bodies. Since they are a trust from Allah Ta'ala, to use it against His pleasure, to harm it or to put an end to it is forbidden. If we were owners of our bodies then perhaps we would have the right to use them the way we desire. By not giving us the choice and freedom to utilize our bodies, the way we desire is the proof that this is a trust from Allah Ta'ala. To embezzle this trust of Allah Ta'ala is a great crime. The one who casts evil glances is breaching and embezzling the trust of sight which Allah Ta'ala has granted him. The breacher of this trust cannot become the friend of Allah Ta'ala. How beautifully a poet has said:

The "thief of sight" can never have the crown of friendship

placed upon his head

He who is not a Muttaqi, is not a Wali

Harm No 3: Curses From Nabi

The one who casts evil glances is cursed by Nabi. Nabi  says in a Hadith mentioned in Mishkaat Shareef:

“May the curse of Allah be upon the one who casts evil glances and upon the one who presents him/herself to be looked at”

if casting evil glances was a minor sin, then Nabi , being a mercy to mankind would not have cursed its perpetrator. The curse of Nabi  is clear proof that this is a very despicable crime. The meaning of curse is to become distant from the mercy of Allah. Imam Raghib Isfahani mentions in Mufradaatul Qur'aan that the definition curse is:

Thus, he who has become distant from the mercy of Allah Ta'ala, cannot gain salvation from the evils of his Nafs. Only he who is under the shade of Allah's mercy can attain salvation from the evils of the Nafs. Allah Ta’ala says:

So how is it possible to be saved from the evils of Nafs? Allah Ta’ala further says:

From this,we understand that the only way to be saved from the evils of the Nafs is to come under the shade of Allah’s mercy. Allah Ta’ala who is the Creator of this Nafs Himself has proclaimed that those who are in His mercy will be saved. Therefore, the one who has come under the shade of his Nafs did not remain (excessively commanding evil) rather it became(abundantly commanding good). This is why after the command of guarding the eyes, Allah Ta’ala mentions,” Guard the private parts.” Because through the blessings of fulfilling the divine command of Allah Ta’ala and saving oneself from the curse of Nabi  one comes under the shade of Allah’s mercy. Now his private parts will also be safeguarded. Form this we conclude that the reward of guarding the eyes is that the private parts become safeguarded. On the contrary, if a person does not guard his eyes then he cannot guard his private parts either and curses which descends upon him is a separate punishment on its own.

Harm No. 4: Premature Ejaculation

By casting evil glances the sexual desires increase due which the heat and temperature of the body rises. This in turn, makes the semen thin and watery by which a person gets the sickness of premature ejaculation. Such a person is unable to property fulfil the rights of his wife due to which their marital relations and eventually their family life is destroyed.

Harm No. 5: Distance from Allah Ta’ala

The greatest reward one attains by guarding the eyes is the special closeness of Allah Ta’ala. Guarding the eyes from Layla is a means of attaining Maula. This is because guarding the eyes makes the evil desires of the heart to bleed and when all four corners of the heart become red by shedding the blood of regret, then from every horizon of the heart the sun of the closeness of Allah will rise. I have a couplet concerning this:

The redness of the blood of unlawful desires,

Becomes a horizon from which the sun of closeness to

Allah Ta'ala rises.

Through the wound of regret have I adorned the heart,

Only after this have I attained Him.

By guarding my heart from these beauties,

I have gone through much pain and grief.

The station of closeness to Allah cannot be attained so easily,

Only after a thousand wounds of regret is it attained.

May Allah Ta'ala grant us the ability to practice upon
what has been mentioned.
Ameen