Many people who are used to watching Sinbad or Temptation Island, or
are addicted to Hollywood movies, or enjoy the company of people of
opposite gender, may wonder what's wrong with lustfully staring
at the attractive features of the opposite gender? Perhaps one
saying of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) sums it
all:

"The furtive glance is one of the poisoned arrows of Shaytan, on
him be God's curse. Whoever forsakes it for the fear of Allah, will
receive from Him (Great and Gracious is He) a faith, the sweetness of
which he will find within his heart." (Al-Haakim.)

Therefore, a secret lustful look at a person of opposite gender has
been compared by the Prophet (pbuh) to an arrow from Shaytan that:

1. Poisons our hearts
2. Ruins our intentions
3. Gives rise to false hopes and desires
4. Distorts our perception of 'reality'
5. Deprives us from enjoying and concentrating in Prayers
6. Gives rise to constant feeling of guilt and depression
7. Sometimes leads to sleepless nights
8. Renders our heart weak for continuous Shaytanic attacks
9. Promotes hypocrisy
10. Weakens our memory
11. Eventually leads to Zina (adultery)
12. Above all, diminishes our love for and fear of Allah

Allah commands us: "Say to the believing men that they should lower
their gaze and guard their private parts; that will make for greater
purity for them..." [24:30.] In the verse following this one, Allah
commands "the believing women" in the similar manner.

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