The Light of the Holy Qur'an — Page 115
T H e J O u r NA l—F AT e H M A S IH T H e J O u r NA l—F AT e H M A S IH 115 Meaning that: ‘This book has been revealed so that the ones who eschew sin, should be informed of the subtlest of sins so that they can eschew even the evil acts that are not visible to everyone. Rather, they can only be seen through the microscope of ma‘rifat [true cognition], and the obtuse eye fails to see them. ’ For example, Matthew records the saying of your Yas u ‘ [ Jesus] that, ‘But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. ’ However, the Holy Qur’an teaches never to cast a glance upon the face of other women—neither with lust nor without lust—and not to hear their conversations, and not to listen to their voices, and not to give ear to the tales of their beauty; for, eschewing all these situations will protect one from stumbling, as Allah the Exalted, says: 1 ْلُق َنْيِنِمْؤُمْلِّل اْوُّضُغَي ْنِم ْمِهِراَصْبَا َو اْوُظَفْحَي ْمُهَجْوُرُف١ؕ َكِلٰذ ىٰكْزَا ْمُهَل Meaning that: ‘Say to the believers that they should restrain their eyes from watching those who are n a me h ram 2 and guard their ears and their private parts. ’ That is to say, they should keep even their ears from listening to their tender voices and the tales of their beauty, for all these things could cause them to stumble. Now, if the poison of dishonesty is not present in your heart, compare this teaching with the teaching of Yas u ‘ and also con- sider the outcomes. By granting the permission of general freedom 1. S u rah an-N u r, 24:31 [Publisher] 2. N a Me h ram is a man or woman with whom marriage is permissible. [Publisher]