38/10. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2159a — Lowering the Gaze After a Sudden Glance
An Accidental Glance
Hadith About Sudden Glance and Lowering the Gaze
Sahih Muslim : 2159a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2159a
حَدَّثَنِي قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ زُرَيْعٍ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ ابْنُ عُلَيَّةَ، كِلاَهُمَا عَنْ يُونُسَ، ح وَحَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا هُشَيْمٌ، أَخْبَرَنَا يُونُسُ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي زُرْعَةَ، عَنْ جَرِيرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنْ نَظَرِ الْفُجَاءَةِ فَأَمَرَنِي أَنْ أَصْرِفَ بَصَرِي .
Jarir bin 'Abdullah Narrated from:
I asked Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) about the sudden glance (that is cast) on the face (of a non-Mahram). He commanded me that I should turn away my eyes.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2159aIn-book reference : Book 38, Hadith 59USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 25, Hadith 5372
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2159a
This Hadith gives clear guidance about the sudden glance. Jarir b. Abdullah asked the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) about an unexpected look at the face of a non-Mahram. The answer was simple: turn the eyes away. The main lesson is not about blame for an accidental first look. It is about what a person does next. A sudden glance can happen without planning, but the believer is taught not to keep looking. This makes the Hadith about lowering the gaze very practical. It teaches self-control in a short and direct way. The focus is on guarding the eyes, respecting personal limits, and responding quickly when a look happens by surprise.
What we learn from this hadith
- An unexpected glance should not be followed by continued looking.
- Lowering the gaze is a direct way to guard personal conduct.
- A believer should act quickly when faced with a sudden glance.
