From the scientific and physiological point of view, the act of looking or gazing upon non-Mahram women sets off a complex process of hormonal stimulation and release, and prepares the body and the sex organs for the process of sexual intercourse.
It is well known that the effects of stimulating sexual desire through unnatural or prohibited means has numerous harmful effects on the mind and body.
Islam has warned us against unlawfully stimulating these hormones through the words of the Prophet, .
Harmful effects of unlawful sexual stimulation
The drawbacks mentioned here are based on observation and experience :
Effects on the Skin
• Increased body odor and increased secretion from the sweat glands -- especially from the feet, axilla and palms.
• Increased secretion from the ano-rectal gland where special sweat glands called sudoriferous glands are located. This area is also the site of frequent inflammation and the formation of abscesses, since these glands are active in early puberty. In some animals, these glands secrete odoriferous substances during the mating season.
• Inflammation of the sebaceous glands on the face causes acne which is caused by infection of the skin by bacteria.
• The sweat glands around the anus are also affected resulting in their inflammation and the formation of peri-anal abscesses.
Effect on the Central Nervous System:
• Sex hormones causes lethargy and unexplained heaviness in the head or headaches.
• There may be heaviness or burning sensation in the peripheral nerves especially in the palms and feet and the tongue may feel dry and difficult to move inside the mouth. This condition is called peripheral neuropathy.
Effect on the joints:
Certain hormones affect the synovial fluid in the joints -- especially large joints like the knee and hip joint affecting joint movement. This could result from two factors:
• A change in the viscosity of the synovial fluid in these joints which reduces the articular cartilage nourishment and increases friction.
• The second is the increased tightness of the surrounding ligaments which lead to an increase in joint friction.
If the joints are already affected by mild osteoarthritis the effect on these result in a pseudogout syndrome. In young girls they cause what is called anterior knee pain disease.
Allaah The Almighty Says (what means):
{Tell the believing men to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Indeed, Allaah is Acquainted with what they do. And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests and not expose their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands’ fathers, their sons, their husbands’ sons, their brothers, their brothers’ sons, their sisters’ sons, their women, that which their right hands possess, or those male attendants having no physical desire, or children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of women. And let them not stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment. And turn to Allaah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed.} (Quran 24: 30-31)
In these verses, Allaah The Almighty orders the believing men and women to lower their gaze and guard their modesty for their own benefit and to attain greater purity.
According to the consensus of the scholars, the purity mentioned in these verses is the purity from sins. However, in the modern context, purity may also mean guarding against the harmful diseases which may afflict a person as a result of not following the commands of Allaah The Almighty. Besides, it could also mean both purity from sins and guard against diseases .
The Prophet, , has said that directing a look at non-Mahram (marriageable) women is like a poisoned arrow.
This means that it is very dangerous and could lead to widespread Fitnah (trial).
It is well known that the effects of stimulating sexual desire through unnatural or prohibited means has numerous harmful effects on the mind and body.
Islam has warned us against unlawfully stimulating these hormones through the words of the Prophet, .
Harmful effects of unlawful sexual stimulation
The drawbacks mentioned here are based on observation and experience :
Effects on the Skin
• Increased body odor and increased secretion from the sweat glands -- especially from the feet, axilla and palms.
• Increased secretion from the ano-rectal gland where special sweat glands called sudoriferous glands are located. This area is also the site of frequent inflammation and the formation of abscesses, since these glands are active in early puberty. In some animals, these glands secrete odoriferous substances during the mating season.
• Inflammation of the sebaceous glands on the face causes acne which is caused by infection of the skin by bacteria.
• The sweat glands around the anus are also affected resulting in their inflammation and the formation of peri-anal abscesses.
Effect on the Central Nervous System:
• Sex hormones causes lethargy and unexplained heaviness in the head or headaches.
• There may be heaviness or burning sensation in the peripheral nerves especially in the palms and feet and the tongue may feel dry and difficult to move inside the mouth. This condition is called peripheral neuropathy.
Effect on the joints:
Certain hormones affect the synovial fluid in the joints -- especially large joints like the knee and hip joint affecting joint movement. This could result from two factors:
• A change in the viscosity of the synovial fluid in these joints which reduces the articular cartilage nourishment and increases friction.
• The second is the increased tightness of the surrounding ligaments which lead to an increase in joint friction.
If the joints are already affected by mild osteoarthritis the effect on these result in a pseudogout syndrome. In young girls they cause what is called anterior knee pain disease.
Allaah The Almighty Says (what means):
{Tell the believing men to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Indeed, Allaah is Acquainted with what they do. And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests and not expose their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands’ fathers, their sons, their husbands’ sons, their brothers, their brothers’ sons, their sisters’ sons, their women, that which their right hands possess, or those male attendants having no physical desire, or children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of women. And let them not stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment. And turn to Allaah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed.} (Quran 24: 30-31)
In these verses, Allaah The Almighty orders the believing men and women to lower their gaze and guard their modesty for their own benefit and to attain greater purity.
According to the consensus of the scholars, the purity mentioned in these verses is the purity from sins. However, in the modern context, purity may also mean guarding against the harmful diseases which may afflict a person as a result of not following the commands of Allaah The Almighty. Besides, it could also mean both purity from sins and guard against diseases .
The Prophet, , has said that directing a look at non-Mahram (marriageable) women is like a poisoned arrow.
This means that it is very dangerous and could lead to widespread Fitnah (trial).
