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Ensuring timely justice July 6, 2008

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AN honest and law-abiding citizen serves the people diligently. He endures severe hardships to save some money in the hope of providing post-retirement security to his family.

For instance, a poor person purchases a small residential flat, gives it on rent to someone so that he could repay his loan and also use it after retirement. But the tenant occupies the flat and refuses to pay rent. The owner is advised by his friends to hire a gangster to deal with the tenant but he chooses to go to the court to seek justice.

He keeps attending the court for, say, two years but fails to get relief. He gets no rent; the loan keeps piling up; he retires and is forced to vacate his official accommodation. Now he thinks he is left with only two options: either to take the law in his own hands and kill the tenant or to put an end to his own life. He is too weak to use the first option so he commits suicide and finishes his own life.

Who is responsible for the loss of this innocent life and irreparable disaster to his family: the person who illegally devoured his property or the system that could not provide timely justice to the victim? The answer is obvious.

Justice or ‘Adl’ as it is called in the Quran is most vital for sustenance of human society. The very basis of creating this universe is the divine plan of trial and justice.

Allah sent the divine code of conduct through His Books and messengers so that human race may enjoy the blessings of nature in this world and also become entitled to the eternal life of peace and tranquillity in the world hereafter. At the same time He granted the request of Iblees (Satan) and gave him respite till the day of judgment to try misguiding man and prove his assertion that human race is ungrateful and unjust and is inferior to Iblees.

According to Ayah 18, Surah Al-Aaraaf, Allah said, “Get out from this, disgraced and expelled. If any of them follow thee’, hell will I fill with you all”. On the other hand, Ayah 25 of Surah Al-Baqra promises due reward for those who follow the code of conduct. Allah expects His servants, the human race, to abide by the same principle of trial and justice in this world, to ensure peaceful sustenance of life on earth.

According to the divine commandments the essentials of justice include:

• Timely justice on merit for all, rich or poor, friend or foe.

• No room for influence of wealth, position or recommendation (safarish).

• No concealment of witness or evidence.

• Enforcement of justice with an iron hand without delay.

Any violation of the above essentials of justice is akin to wilful disobedience of Almighty Allah. No reason whatsoever including strikes, protests, vacations etc. can justify any delay in providing timely justice to the aggrieved party.

Justice is an attribute of Allah and to stand firm for justice is to be a witness to Allah. Very serious responsibility lies on the shoulders of those servants of Allah who have been endowed with the duty of imparting justice. Any delay or partiality in providing justice to the aggrieved party amounts to betrayal of trust that Allah has imposed on the judges.

Ayah 58 of Surah An-Nisa says, “Allah commands you to render back your trusts to those to whom they are due. And when you judge between man and man that you judge with justice: Verily how excellent is the teaching that He gives you! For Allah is He who hears and sees all things”.

Ayah 135 of Surah An-Nisa says, “You who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witness to Allah, even as against yourselves or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for Allah can best protect both. Follow not the lust of (your hearts) lest you swerve, and if you distort (justice), verily Allah is well acquainted with all that you do”.

The Latin principle of justice is, “Let justice be done though heaven should fall”. The Islamic principle of justice is even higher. Dispensation of justice, without fear or favour, is a sacred trust and has been declared by Allah, as an essential part of piety (taqwa).

Surah Al-Maidah, Ayah 1, categorically commands, “You who believe! Fulfil all obligations”. Abdullah Yusuf Ali in his commentary on this Ayah has written that this verse is so comprehensive that it forms a paragraph or a chapter by itself. The Arabic word “Uqud” (translated as obligations) implies so many things that a whole chapter of commentary can be written on it. There are divine obligations that arise from our spiritual nature and our relations to Allah. Then there are worldly obligations that govern the existence of human society. Administering justice in this world is an important obligation for ensuring the very existence of human society and is therefore even more sacred than our spiritual relationship.

Ayah 152 of Surah Al-Anaam reads, “…whenever you speak, speak justly, even if a near relative is concerned; and fulfil the covenant of Allah: Thus does He command you, so that you may remember”. It is obligatory for us to support the truth and provide immediate, unbiased justice to those who deserve.Ayah 119 of Surah At-Tauba commands, “You who believe! Fear Allah and be with those who are true (in word and deed)”. Ayaat 32-35 of Surah Al-Muarij (70) promise rewards and blessings for those who justly fulfil their worldly obligations. “All those who fulfil their trusts and covenants, who uphold their testimonies, and those who are mindful of their devotional obligations, they will live in gardens with honour”.

It is indeed important that justice should not only be theoretically announced but it should be implemented with an iron hand. Timely compliance of justice must be ensured with full force of law. Ayah 25 of Surah Al-Hadeed explains this vital point in the following words: “When We sent Our apostles with clear signs and sent down with them the books (code of conduct) and the balance (of right and wrong) that men may stand forth injustice. And we sent down iron in which is (material for) mighty war as well as many benefits for mankind that Allah may test….. for Allah is full of strength, exalted in might”.

Allah has sent His code of conduct for the human race through his scriptures and messengers. Timely justice in the worldly affairs without fear and favour is in no way less important than the spiritual obligations. Persons entrusted with the responsibility of administering justice among men (judges) have a huge responsibility on their shoulders.

Delay in providing justice to the aggrieved party cannot be justified under any pretext whatsoever and it amounts to betrayal of the sacred trust imposed on judges by the Allah Almighty. Criminals, anti-social elements and violators of law must be handled with a strong arm symbolised by iron in the holy Quran (surah Al-Hadeed).

How A Pearl Develops:Mohammed AlShareef July 6, 2008

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In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
When news of the Christian army that had prepared on the horizons to wipe out Islam reached him, Abu Qudaamah Ash-Shaamee moved quickly to the Mimbar of the Masjid.  In a powerful and emotional speech, Abu Qudaamah ignited the desire of the community to defend their land, Jihad for the sake of Allah.  As he left the Masjid, walking down a dark and secluded alley, a women stopped him and said, “As salamu alaykum wa Rahmatullaah!”  Abu Qudaamah stopped and did not answer. She repeated her salam again, adding “this is not how pious people should act.” She stepped forward from the shadows.  “I heard you in the Masjid encouraging the believers to go for Jihad and all I have is this…” She handed him two long braids. “It can be used for a horse rein.  Perhaps Allah may write me as one of those who went for Jihaad.”
The next day as that Muslim village set out to confront the crusader army, a young boy ran through the gathering and stood at the hooves of Abu Qudaamah’s horse.  “I ask you by Allah to allow me to join the army.” Some of the elder fighters laughed at the boy.  “The horses will trample you,” they said.  But Abu Qudaamah looked down into his eyes as he asked again, “I ask you by Allah, let me join.”  Abu Qudaamah then said, “On one condition, if you are killed you will take me with you to Jannah amongst those you will be allowed to intercede for.”  That young boy smiled.  “It’s a promise.”
When the two armies met and the fighting intensified, the young boy on the back of Abu Qudaamah’s horse asked, “I ask you by Allah to give me 3 arrows.”  “You’ll lose them!”  The boy repeated, “I ask you by Allah to give me them.”  Abu Qudaamah gave him the arrows and the boy took aim. “Bismillaah!” The arrow flew and killed a Roman. “Bismillaah!” The second arrow flew, killing a second Roman. “Bismillaah!” The third arrow flew, killing a third Roman. An arrow then struck the boy in the chest – knocking him off the horse.  Abu Qudaamah jumped down to his side, reminding the boy in his final breaths, “Don’t forget the promise!” The boy reached into his pocket, extracted a pouch and said, “Please return this to my mother.”  “Who’s your mother?” asked Abu Qudaamah. “The women that gave you the braids yesterday.”
Think about this Muslimah.  How did she reach this level of Taqwa where she would sacrifice her hair when today other women do the same to imitate Kafir icons, and her son when other women would die so long as their son stayed home.  Indeed, she spent her life in the obedience of Allah, and when exam time came, she passed. Not only did she pass herself, but her children shone with that same beauty of Iman, children that she herself raised.
Very often – and perhaps in our times when we have forgotten much of the Sunnah – the lectures, khutbahs, and talks are all directed to the Muslim men.  We forget that from the Hady – guidance and way – of Rasul Allah – sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam – was that he would allocate a specific day of the week to teach the women. Women would come up to him in Hajj, in the street, even in his home and ask him questions about the Deen.  At the Eid Salah, after addressing the men, he would take Bilal and go to the women section and address the women.  Allah revealed an entire Surah by the name of Surah An-Nisa – the Women.  And another by the name of – Maryam.  And a third by the name of al Mujaadalah – the women who pleads.  It is in enlivening this Sunnah that today this speech shall be addressed to the believing women, al-Mu’minaat.
Dear Sister, Dear Mother, Dear Daughter.  Everyone is looking for happiness and fun, and I am sure you are not excluded.  Where is that happiness and fun though?  And where and when do you want that happiness?  Do you want happiness, do you want to have `fun’ in this life at the expense of the hereafter?  Or is it in the hereafter, when you meet Allah that you want to be happy?
Every where you go you shall find a swarm of people and media and culture swearing to you that happiness is the happiness of the Dunya. Is it really happiness though?  On the day of Repayment, Allah shall take the most `happiest’ kafir of the Dunya and dip him in Jahannam – Hellfire.  Then he shall ask him, “Have you ever seen any happiness?” The Kafir will say, “Never!”
Nay, the happiness is only the happiness of the hereafter no matter what happens in this Dunya.  Allah shall bring on the Day of Repayment the most tested human and dip him in Jannah – Paradise.  He shall then ask him, “Have you ever seen sadness?”  And that person shall say, “Never!”
And don’t think that this happiness and fun is exclusive to the hereafter.  It is very much tied to this life as well.  Listen and understand the words of Allah:
Whoever works righteousness, whether male or female, while he (or she) is a true believer verily to him We will give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision), and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do (i.e. Paradise in the Hereafter). – Surah AnNahl (16/97)
Dear Sister, you have to understand that you or anyone may enter Hellfire!  By Allah, we are not better than Fatimah, the daughter of Rasul Allah – sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam.  And he said to her, “O Fatimah the daughter of Muhammad, Ask me whatever you wish from my wealth, for I shall avail you nothing to Allah.”  Meaning that it doesn’t matter if you’re my daughter, if you don’t work for Jannah, saying to Allah that my father is so and so will not help you in anyway.
Islam is filled with many Mu’minahs that completed their Taqwa of Allah.  When the other girls put up posters of kafir singers and kafir athletes and kafir actresses, you should put up posters in your heart of Fatimah and many other Mu’minahs.
Aasiyah, the wife of Fir’own. Her Eeman in Allah thrived under the shadow of someone that said, “I am your Lord, Most High!” When news reached Fir’own of his wife’s Eeman he beat her and commanded his guards to beat her. They took her out in the scalding noon heat, tied her hands and feet and beat her perpetually. Who did she turn to? She turned to Allah! She prayed, “My lord, build for me a home with you in Paradise and save me from Fir’own and his deeds and save me from the transgressive people.”
It was narrated that when she said this, the sky opened for her and she saw her home in Paradise. She smiled. The guards watched astonished – she’s being tortured and she smiles? Frustrated, Fir’own commanded a boulder to be brought and dropped on Aasiyah, to crush her to death. But Allah took her soul before the boulder was brought and she became an example for all the believing men and women till the end of time:
[And Allah has set forth an example for those who believe: the wife of Fir'own (Pharaoh) – when she said, "My Lord, Build for me a home with You in Paradise, and save me from Fir'own and his deeds, and save me from the transgressive-disbelieving people.]
-Tahreem 66/11
When we talk about Jihad and Shuhadaa’ – martyrs, do you know who the first Muslim in Islam to be killed in the path of Allah was?  It was Summayah, the mother of Ammar.  When Abu Jahl heard of her Islam and her husband Yaasir and her son Ammar, he whipped them all and beat them. So much so, that Rasul Allah would pass by them as they went through this test of their Iman and would say to them, “Be patient O family of Yaasir, for you have a date set (when you shall enter) Jannah!”
As Abu Jahl beat Sumayyah one day, she refused to recant her Deen, something that enraged Abu Jahl. He took a spear as she lay on the burning sand, looking up to the sky, and he speared her through her midsection.  She was the first of her family and the entire Ummah to meet Allah as a Martyr.
Dear Sister, our role models come from the Qur’an.  You may have heard the story of the boy and the king. When the entire village became Muslim by the death of that young boy, the king ordered that an enormous fire be kindled and that all those who would not recant their religion be burnt alive.  A Mu’minah, stood with her baby over the fire. She looked at her baby, and seeking her child’s weakness and innocence, she considered turning her back.  The baby said to her, “What are you waiting for mother.  Go forward for you are on the truth!”  She nodded.  Then with her baby in hand she was pushed to her death.
[And they ill-treated them for no other reason than that they believed in Allah, Exalted in Power, Worthy of all Praise!- * Him to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth! And Allah is Witness to all things.]. – Surah AlBuruj, 8,9
And dear sister, your role models come to you from today.  As her son tells us, a senior women in a Muslim land decided that all the vanity that normally happens in the gatherings of women was not for her.  She turned to Salah and praying at night, and in her old age, she found herself calling to her so  one night from her prayer room.  Her son says, “I came in and she was in Sajda saying that she was paralysed!” Her son took her to the doctors and she began a cycle of rehabilitation, but there was little hope. She then commanded her son to take her back home, take her back to her prayer room, take her back to that Sajdah.  As she prayed to Allah in her sajdah, the night came when she called to her son.  “Astawdi’ukallaah alladhee laa yadee’u wa daa’i'uh – I leave you in the trust of Allah, and whenever something is left in Allah’s trust it is never lost.”  She passed away in her sajdah.  Her muscles froze in that position and so they had to wash her body as she was in Sajdah. They prayed Janazah for her as her body was in sajdah. They carried her to the grave yard as her body was in Sajdah.
They buried her as she was in Sajdah.  And the Prophet said that we shall all be resurrected on what we died on, she shall be resurrected on the day of judgement in Sajdah to Allah – Jalla Jalaaluhu wa taqaddasat asmaa’uhu – because that it how she lived and died.
There are many other stories that we know about of powerful believing mothers, wives and sisters and many, many that Allah only knows about. Whenever a halaqah is going on, the Muslim women outnumber the men. At the American Open University, (www.open-university.edu) the overwhelming majority of students are Muslim women.  Go to an Islamic teachers/schools conference, attend a lecture and you shall see the mismatch of sisters to brothers.  Sometimes it is sad to see all these brothers lacking the motivation that many Muslimahs have.  But if there is a beautiful sign in all this, it is that – in sha’ Allah ta’ala – those sisters are going to raise an army of believing men and women in the coming generation. Wallahu akbar!
When Imam Ahmad was still young, his father died.  He would tell his students of the work his mother went through in raising him, and he would pray for her.  In the cold Baghdad nights, she would wake long before him to warm the water so that her son Ahmad could make wudu for Fajr.  Then she would wrap him in blankets, herself cloaked in her Jilbaab, and guide him through the dark, cold alleys to reach the main Masjid, long before Fajr so that her son could get a good seat in class.  Her son Ahmad – at that age in grade 2 or 3 – would sit all day long studying Quran and Sunnah, and she would wait for him to finish so that she could drop him home safely.  At the age of 16, she prepared money and food for him and told him, “Travel for your search of knowledge.”  He left for Makkah and Madinah and many other places and met many great scholars.  She raised Ahmad to become one of the greatest Imams in Islam.
Dear sister, after all this, ask a non-Muslim what it is that he wants from you?  Does he want you to be liberated?
Liberated from what?
From Allah and his Messenger?
From the Quran and the Sunnah?
From Jannah?
From this deen that Allah chose for you?
And what is he going to give you in return?  Happinness?  By Allah, he does not own any happiness to give.  Is he going to give you love and protection from punishment in the grave and from the gate keepers of hellfire and from death?  Why is it that they want to liberate young beautiful women?  Why don’t they liberate the seniors?  Why don’t they liberate the indigenous?  Why don’t they liberate the inmates?  Why is their target audience a young and skinny and tall women (their definition of beauty) between the age of 13 – 28?  And why is their first call for you to take off your Hijab?
Remember that friend – if you consider him so – carefully, for – without any doubt, by Allah – he shall be your bitterest enemy on the day of Repayment:
[Friends on that day will be foes, one to another - except the Righteous]
– Surah Zukhruf (43/67)
One Kafirah summed up exactly what they think of women, “It’s not who you are, it’s what you wear and what you look like!”  And listen to Fabian, a French `model’ (of what?), as she spit on the fashion industry. “Fashion houses made me into a mannequin, a wooden idol.  The mission: to manipulate hearts and alter minds.  I learnt how to be worthless, nothing on the inside, cold.  We lived in a world of filth in all that filth means.”
When the Prophet – sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam – stood on the plain of Arafah and gave his farewell speech he said to the Ummah, “Treat the women kindly!”  History records that in Europe in the same year, at the same time that Islam was saying this, the Christian clergy were arguing wether a women was a human or an animal!  Those clergymen are the ancestors of the Kuffar that now want to `liberate’ you.
There is much more than can be said.  I shall conclude with the advice of Rasul Allah – sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam – to every Muslim mother, daughter, and wife: “If the women prays her five (Salah), fasts her month (of Ramadan), protects herself (from committing Zina), and listens to her husband, it will be said to her, `from any door you wish, enter Paradise!”  Sister, is’nt that where you want to be??
[O ye who believe! give your response to Allah and His Messenger, when He calls you to that which shall give you life; and know that Allah cometh between a man and his heart, and that it is He to Whom ye shall (all) be gathered.] – Surah Anfal 8/24
Allah and His Messenger are calling you to life.  Dear sister, reply!

Benifits of Loweing the Gaze July 6, 2008

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Lowering the gaze (ghadd al-basr) means restraining the gaze and not allowing it to wander or dwell upon anything.

In Islamic terminology it refers to a number of things:

1 – Refraining from looking at peoples awrahs,

which includes the beauty of a non-mahram woman.

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in Majmoo’ al-Fataawa (15/414):

Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted, has enjoined us in His Book to lower the gaze, which is of two types: refraining from looking at awrahs and refraining from looking at the site of desire.

The former refers to a man refraining from looking at the awrah of another person.

The second refers to looking at uncovered parts of a non-mahram woman.

This is more serious than the former, just as alcohol is more serious than dead meat and blood and pork, and the hadd punishment should be carried out on the one who drinks it, because these haraam things are not as desirable as alcohol may be. End quote.

2 – Refraining from looking into peoples houses and things that are behind closed doors

Ibn Taymiyah says in Majmoo’ al-Fataawa (15/379):

Just as lowering the gaze includes not looking at the awrahs of other people and other haraam things, it also includes refraining from looking into peoples houses.

A man’s house conceals his body just as his garments conceal him.

Allaah has mentioned lowering the gaze and guarding one’s private parts after the verse about asking for permission to enter, because the house covers a person just as the clothes on his body do. End quote.

Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in Madaarij al-Saalikeen (1/117):

Haraam kinds of looking include looking at awrahs, which is of two types: the awrah behind a garment and the awrah behind doors. End quote.

3 – Refraining from looking at what people have of wealth, wives, children, worldly goods and so on.

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Look not with your eyes ambitiously at what We have bestowed on certain classes of them (the disbelievers), nor grieve over them. And lower your wings for the believers (be courteous to the fellow‑believers)”

[al-Hijr 15:88]

Ibn Sadi said in his Tafseer (434):

i.e., do not admire them in such a way that you will distracted with desire for the worldly pleasures enjoyed by those who live in luxury and by which the ignorant are deceived. You should be content with that which Allaah has given you of the seven oft-repeated verses and the Holy Qur’aan

(cf. al-Hijr 15:87). End quote.

He also said (p. 516):

i.e., do not be impressed and do not look repeatedly admiring worldly pleasures and those who are enjoying them, such as delicious food and drink, fine clothing, beautiful houses and adorned women, for all of that is the adornment of this world in which those who are deceived rejoice. And those who do wrong enjoy it by ignoring the Hereafter. But it will all soon end and cease to be, and those who love it will die, then they will regret when regret will be to no avail, and they will realize the state they are in when the Resurrection begins.

Allaah has made it a test and a trial, so that it may be known who will be deceived by it and who will be better in deeds. End quote.

Thirdly:

The scholars have mentioned many benefits of lowering the gaze, including the following:

Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in al-Jawaab al-Kaafi (125):

There are a number of benefits in lowering the gaze:

1 – It is obedience to the command of Allaah, which brings happiness to man in this world and in the next. There is nothing more beneficial to a person in this world and in the next than obeying the commands of his Lord, may He be blessed and exalted, and those who are happy in this world and the next can only attain that happiness by obeying His commands, and those who are doomed in this world and in the next are only doomed because they ignore His commands.

2 – It prevents the poisoned arrows (of the shaytaan), which may lead to his doom, from reaching his heart.

3 – It creates a heart that is devoted to and focused on Allaah.

Letting the gaze wander distracts the heart and keeps it far from Allaah. There is nothing more harmful to a person than letting his gaze wander, as it creates alienation between a person and his Lord.

4 – It strengthens the heart and brings it peace,

just as letting the gaze wander weakens it and makes it sad.

5 – It brings light to the heart,

just as letting the gaze wander brings darkness to it.

Hence Allaah mentioned the verse of light immediately after the command to lower the gaze, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts…”

[al-Noor 24:30]

Then straight after that He says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Allaah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The parable of His Light is as (if there were) a niche and within it a lamp”

[al-Noor 24:35]

6 – It generates true insight which can distinguish between truth and falsehood, sincerity and lies.

Allaah rewards His slave for his good deeds with something similar and if he gives up something for the sake of Allaah, He will compensate him with something better than it.

So if he lowers his gaze and refrains from looking at things that Allaah has forbidden, Allaah will compensate him with enlightenment; he will compensate him for restraining his gaze for the sake of Allaah, and will open to him the doors of knowledge, faith and true insight which he only attained by means of the light in his heart.

The opposite of that is the blindness which Allaah attributed to the homosexuals, which is the opposite of insight. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Verily, by your life (O Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), in their wild intoxication, they were wandering blindly”

[al-Hijr 15:72]

7 – It creates a heart that is steadfast, brave and strong.

Allaah will give him both insight and power and strength, as it says in the report: “The one who goes against his whims and desires, the shaytaan flees from his shadow.”

On the other hand, the one who follows his whims and desires will feel a sense of humiliation, indignity, worthlessness and insignificance, which is the punishment which Allaah has decreed for those who disobey Him as al-Hasan said: “Even if they ride the finest of mounts, the effect of sin will never depart from them. Allaah insists that the one who disobeys Him will be humiliated.”

Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted, has connected strength to obedience to Him, and humiliation to disobedience to Him.

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“But honour, power and glory belong to Allaah, and to His Messenger (Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and to the believers”

[al-Munaafiqoon 63:8]

“So do not become weak (against your enemy), nor be sad, and you will be superior (in victory) if you are indeed (true) believers”

[Aal Imraan 3:139].

Faith is both words and deeds, inward and outward.

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Whosoever desires honour, power and glory then to Allaah belong all honour, power and glory [and one can get honour, power and glory only by obeying and worshipping Allaah (Alone)]. To Him ascend (all) the goodly words, and the righteous deeds exalt it (i.e. the goodly words are not accepted by Allaah unless and until they are followed by good deeds)”

[Faatir 35:10]

i.e., whoever desires power, let him seek it by means of obedience to Allaah and remembrance of Him, by speaking good words and doing good deeds.

8 – It blocks the shaytaan from a means of entering his heart,

for he may enter with looking, and penetrate the heart faster than the wind blowing through an empty space, and he may present to him the image that he looked at and make it attractive, like an idol to which his heart becomes devoted, then he encourages him and gives him hopes, and fans the flames of desire in his heart, adding the fuel of sin which could not have reached his heart without looking at that image. So his heart becomes inflamed and surrounded with fire on all sides, resulting in infatuation and frustration, and he is in the midst of it like a lamb in the oven. Hence the punishment for those whose desires were fuelled by haraam looking is that in al-Barzakh they are placed in an oven of fire.

9 – It distracts one from thinking of what is in one’s best interests,

so his affairs become neglected and he follows his whims and desires and neglects to remember his Lord.

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“and let not your eyes overlook them, desiring the pomp and glitter of the life of the world; and obey not him whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance, and who follows his own lusts, and whose affair (deeds) has been lost”

[al-Kahf 18:28]

10 – Between the eyes and the heart there is a connection

which means that the one is affected by the other, and if one of them becomes good, the other will also become good, and if one becomes corrupt the other will become corrupt.

If the heart becomes corrupt the gaze will become corrupt, and if the gaze become corrupt the heart will become corrupt, and similarly if one is sound the other will also be sound.

http://www.islam-qa.com/en/ref/85622/

And Allaah knows best.