When we think of Allah’s blessings, what usually comes to mind? Perhaps health, wealth, family, a roof over our head, a warm meal on the dinner table, the blessings of ease such as transportations and nearby clinics, or that chocolate ice-cream in the fridge that’s waiting for you after a tiring day at work.

There are indeed immeasurable blessings that Allah gives us, but one that we always take for granted is the ability to see. 

Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says in the Qur’an: “And Allah has brought you out from the wombs of your mothers while you know nothing. And He gave you hearing, sight, and hearts that you might give thanks (to Allah).” [Surah An-Nahl 16: 78]

In this ayah, Allah says that He subhanahu wa ta'ala gives us the blessing of sight so that we are grateful to Him. And we often think that showing gratitude to Allah is by saying ‘Alhamdulillah’, but this is actually not enough. The best way to show our gratitude to Allah is by *using* that blessing in the Way of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. 

So if we say “Alhamdulillah for these two eyes” every single day of our lives, day in and day out, but we use them to look at what is haram, then we will still meet Allah as an ungrateful servant on the Day of Judgement.

🌸 Allah knows even the sly glances of the eyes

Among the forms of ungratefulness is using the eyes that Allah ta'ala gives us by disobeying Him. And in this era of technology, it has become so frighteningly easy for us to betray Allah with our sight. Even the most popular TV series these days promotes faahishah (i.e. shamelessness and other evil deeds), without a shed of shyness or modesty, and these things reach our eyes without us even leaving our homes.

But Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says in the Qur’an: “Allah (even) knows the sly glances of the eyes, and whatever the hearts conceal.” [Surah Ghafir 40: 19]

Allah knows the fraud of the eyes — even if the eyes look innocent — and He knows what the hearts conceal. Behind closed doors and in the darkness of our rooms, Allah witnesses the things we do in our privacy. Rasulullah salla Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam (ﷺ) said:

“I certainly know people of my nation who will come on the Day of Resurrection with good deeds like the mountains of Tihamah, but Allah will make them like scattered dust.”

So Thawban radhi Allahu ‘anhu said: “O Rasulullah (ﷺ), describe them to us and tell us more, so that we will not become of them unknowingly.”

Rasulullah ﷺ replied: “They are your brothers, and from your race, worshipping at night as you do, but they will be people who, when they are alone, transgress the sacred limits of Allah.” [Sunan Ibn Majah 4245 | Graded Hasan by Darussalam]

Honestly, this is one of the scariest ahadith I’ve come across. No believer in their right mind would ever want to undo all the ‘amal soleh that he or she did. But look how easy it is for a person’s good deeds to be wiped away — his salaah, Qiyamul-Layl, charity, the kindness he showed to his parents and friends, his fasting and Taraweeh prayers he endured in Ramadhan —  every single one of them will be scattered into insignificant and meaningless dusts. Simply because he had no fear nor remorse in disobeying Allah in secret. 

Subhana Allah. May Allah protect us from this great loss. If there is ever a reminder that we can hold on to so that we don’t disobey Allah when we’re alone, this hadith is it.

🌸 There is nur (light) for the ones who lower their gaze

In another surah, Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says: “Tell the believing men to lower their gaze, and protect their private parts. That is *purer* for them. Verily, Allah is All-Aware of what they do.” [Surah An-Nur 24: 30]

Imam Ibn Al-Jawzi rahimahullah said: “Allah has ordered us to lower the gaze because it is the path to a pure heart.” There is a beautiful observation by the scholars regarding the sequence of this ayah with the ayaat that follow it. After Allah ta’ala mentions the Commandments to both men and women to lower their gaze, and then about marriage, at the end of this paragraph Allah says:

“Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth…” [Surah An-Nur 24: 35]

Scholars said that this sequence implies that for those who lower their gaze, Allah - Who is the Light of the heavens and the earth - will bestow light in their hearts, and illuminates them. The more we lower our gaze, the higher our status is raised. It also becomes a means for a believer to enter Jannah, for Rasulullah ﷺ said:

“Assure six deeds for me, and I will assure you Jannah:

(1) when you speak, do not lie;

(2) when you promise, do not break it;

(3) when you are trusted, do not betray it;

(4) lower your gaze;

(5) guard your chastity;

(6) and restrain your hands from harming others.” [Al-Mu’jam Al-Kabir 8018 | Graded Hasan by Ibn Hajar]

🌸 Eyes that will not be touched by the Fire

So how do we show gratitude to Allah with our eyes?

By using them in matters that increase our iman and ‘amal soleh, and there are so many ways of doing this — by attending or watching Islamic lectures, by pondering on the creation of this universe so that we may marvel at Allah’s Might and Majesty, or even by contemplating on our past sins and shortcomings until our eyes shed tears out of the immense guilt and shyness towards Allah. Know that those who weep from the fear of Allah will be saved from the Hellfire. Rasulullah ﷺ said:

“There are two eyes that shall not be touched by the Fire: an eye that wept from the fear of Allah, and an eye that spent the night standing on guard in the cause of Allah (eg. in battlefields, or protecting people’s lives).” [At-Tirmidhi 1639 | Graded Hasan by Darussalam]

So protect our good deeds from being diminished by having taqwa of Allah in public and in private. Abandon that which is displeasing to Him, and know that were you to abandon any form of sin for the sake of Allah, Allah will not abandon you while you were on that journey.

Rasulullah ﷺ said: “Verily, you will never leave anything for the sake of Allah Almighty, but that Allah will replace it with something better.” [Musnad Ahmad 22565 | Graded Sahih by Al-Albani]

And there is no greater replacement, no greater reward than Allah’s Pleasure and His Jannah.

Your sister in Deen,

Aida Msr 🌸

___

References:

• Tafsir Ibn Kathir
• Sunnah.com
• AbuAminaElias.com