A young believer met with a beautiful young woman in his way. He gazed at her beauties and adornments, and even when she passed by he followed her with his gaze upon her, until he intoxicated, hit his face to a projection of the wall, so that a lot of blood was shed out of his forehead.
The prophet saw him and asked what had happened to him? The young man narrated the event with truth. Then the prophet was inspired with the above revelation:ِ
``Say to the believing men to make short of their looks and guard their sexual organs.... and say to the believing woman to make short of their looks and guard their sexual organs.''
The Arabic, ``YAGHOZZU'' comes from the root word, ``GHAZZ'' which means to reduce or to make something shorter. Therefore the verse does not imply that believers should close their eyes and do not look at a thing at all. It rather wants them to cut their looks short in certain cases.
On the other, hand the verse does not clearly say, what is that on which we have to shorten our looks. If we take it for general; it will be anything unlawful for look, and if we consider it in special sense, it is gloating with lust that is to be made short, as in this occasion of revelation we came to know. Of course, the latter view is more apt here, because the whole passage is about attractions and beauties of the fair sex; and concealing their charms and adornments. So we may take it to say; ``Do not stare earnestly and from lust, upon the beauties and adornments of a women that may bewitch you.''
As to the clause, ``guard your sexual organs'' (FARJ), only in the above verses, (NO.30 and 31) it is commented to mean both sexes should not look at each other's sexual organs, which is cleaner for sex affairs. But in other passages of Qurän, the said phrase is said to mean,
``Do not commit fornication or adultery''
In this passage of Qurän, the rule of piety applies equally to both sexes; but on account of the nature of the opposite sexes, and their social lives, a greater amount of privacy is needed for the fair sex to keep on with her modesty, especially in the matter of covering and clothing:ِ
``And they should cast their tuckers over their bosoms, and do not reveal their adornment except to a certain number of their near relatives.''
By, ``ZINAT'' translated to adornment, may means both, ornaments, as well as natural beauty, which is the place of ornament on her body. On the other hand, that part of their beauty or adornment which is said here to appear unintentionally; is taken to mean the face and wrists of women.
Then those among the close relatives of a woman who are not forbidden to see her in her glory, are mentioned to be as follows:ِ
1ِHer husband. 2ِHer father. 3ِHer husband's father. 4ِHer sons. 5ِHer husband's sons. 6ِHer brothers. 7ِHer brother's sons. 8ِHer sister's sons. 9ِHer related women. 10ِWhat their right hands own (of slaves). 11ِMen who attend her without having sexual desires. 12ِAnd the children who know nothing of sexual affairs.
To the above numbers, Islamic jurists have added two more men, namely; 13ِHer uncle in mother side. 14ِHer uncle in father side. She should not be showy by tinkling her ankle ornaments so as to draw attentions to herself.
