Unrestrained Glances (Fudul An-Nazar)

Unrestrained glances are the gateway disease — the first step toward desire, attachment, and ultimately sin. The eyes are the scouts of the heart; whatever they let in, the heart begins to crave.

Definition

Fudul an-nazar is the habit of looking at what Allah has forbidden — whether lustful gazes, coveting others' possessions, or simply letting the eyes roam without restraint. It is not desire itself (that's shahawat); it is what feeds desire and gives it power.

Signs of Unrestrained Glances

• Inability to lower the gaze when seeing something attractive
• Mindlessly scrolling through content that stirs desire
• Staring at what others have — their car, home, lifestyle — with longing
• Finding it difficult to maintain focus during prayer due to visual distractions
• Using "I was just looking" as a justification
• Following social media accounts primarily for visual temptation

Islamic Perspective

Allah says: "Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their private parts. That is purer for them." (An-Nur 24:30)

The Prophet ﷺ said to Ali (RA): "Do not follow a glance with another, for you will be forgiven for the first but not for the second." (Abu Dawud & Tirmidhi)

And he ﷺ said: "The glance is a poisoned arrow from the arrows of Iblis. Whoever lowers his gaze for the sake of Allah, He will grant him a sweetness of faith that he will find in his heart." (Hakim)

Treatment

1. Lower the gaze immediately: The first glance is forgiven; the second is a choice
2. Curate your feeds: Unfollow anything that tempts the eyes — this is modern lowering of the gaze
3. Replace with dhikr: When temptation catches your eye, immediately turn to remembrance of Allah
4. Guard your screen time: Most unrestrained glances today happen on phones, not on streets
5. Remember the sweetness: Allah promises a sweetness of faith for those who lower their gaze — chase that reward
6. Fast: The Prophet ﷺ prescribed fasting to control desires that begin with the eyes