Those who have a close eye on the Holy Qur’an understand this fact well that among the evils that Allah Almighty has strictly prevented and condemned people from indulging in, adultery and fornication are prominent names. Adultery is such a severe evil in the eyes of Allah Almighty eternal hellfire is promised on it, (Al Quran 25:68) and that is why it is also forbidden to go near it, (Al Quran17:32). However, in order to save the society from fornication and adultery, Allah did not ban the mixing of men and women. Taking such unnatural means is not the way of Allah. On the contrary, Allah SWT has taught us in detail those manners and commands which will create purity in our souls on such occasions and save us from falling into the filth of fornication.
Here these commandments are usually called veil commandments. However, this name is not given by the Holy Quran. It is not the method of the Holy Quran to explain the commandments by establishing a title. Scholars adopt this method for understanding the purpose. However, the description of these rulings under the title of “the ruling of the veil” has resulted in a misunderstanding which is causing great mischief.
The concept that comes to mind from the word veil is that these commandments are only related to women. Undoubtedly, many instructions have been given addressing women in these commands, but the Quran is very clear that these commands are given to men as well as women. Rather, these commandments begin with the mention of men, and the first command given to them is to lower their gaze, (Al Quran 24:30).
Unfortunately, women are always discussed regarding the veil. Men are never addressed and told what Allah wants from them. But this verse brings out the basic demand that is made to men and in today’s objective conditions it is of great importance to bring this demand to men and to act on it.
In the age we live in today, the women leading to adultery are not the Muslim women we find around us. By the grace of God, even in today’s era, when many women do not obey the commandments given by Allah, even then the clothes of ordinary Pakistani women are very decent. The real temptation of today’s age is the appearance of women in the media and on the Internet who do not meet any standards of religion, culture, morals and decency.
It is obvious that it is neither possible to tell these women the rules of religion nor does it have any benefit. In these situations, this habit of men that they do not keep their eyes down, is causing most of the mischief. In such a case, men must be told that the first order of the commandments of the veil has been given to them. That men should keep their eyes down. They should avoid enjoying nude or semi-nude women, indecent scenes, and sexually suggestive scenes. If you get a random look, look away immediately. Once this habit is formed, even the immodest dress or behavior of any woman around cannot affect such a person. The righteous Muslims living in the West avoid evil in this way. This order is so important that it is given to men first by addressing them.
The fact is that the biggest obstacle in the way of fornication is the lower gaze of men. As long as these eyes are raised, any veil of women cannot eradicate fornication from the society.