eye contact in islam

[DaZahroJaam.]

i recently came across an article that almost suggested that people of the opposite gender are not to make eye contact with each other in islam at all. i know you are supposed to look away when you see something that you are not supposed to see or if the person is being a retard but really?? not look at anyone who happens not to be of your gender, in the eye??is that necessary??
why would islam forbid eye contact all together?? it's very difficult to understand what a person is trying to commincate if you are not looking at thier eyes.

[torkham]

It is very probably related to the idea that eyes alone can express immense non verbal communication.
For instance (example may be be the extreme end of this idea) - "zina can be commited by the eyes" - I heard this in an islamic debate by youtube scholars.

[HalloIsBack]

i read once a book about the headscarf
and it was jews who first hide their faces because they should not commit a sin
also guys hid their face and some of them run through the street only with one eye
lol

[DaZahroJaam.]

It is very probably related to the idea that eyes alone can express immense non verbal communication.
For instance (example may be be the extreme end of this idea) - "zina can be commited by the eyes" - I heard this in an islamic debate by youtube scholars.

i see as much logic in that statment as one would of someone randomly killing himself because they are convinced that living would eventually lead them to comitting sins. that the act of living was directly responsible for their sins. not their actions but the fact that they chose to breathe.
to believe that, one has to assume that looking at someone else would automatically result in comitting zina with one's eyes and that is just not true on everyone's part.

[Admin Khan]

DZJ,
I think more or less it depends on your intentions, and I dont think it should be taken to an extreme extent that no eye contact should be made. Hell, I advise everyone to make eye contact with folks that they are surrounded by, at any given time, cause usually you can tell a mad/drunk person from his eyes, movements, and if such is the case, boot!

[Breshna]

i recently came across an article that almost suggested that people of the opposite gender are not to make eye contact with each other in islam at all. i know you are supposed to look away when you see something that you are not supposed to see or if the person is being a retard but really?? not look at anyone who happens not to be of your gender, in the eye??is that necessary??
why would islam forbid eye contact all together?? it's very difficult to understand what a person is trying to commincate if you are not looking at thier eyes.

Tell the believing men to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts. That is purer for them.

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]

If you look at the Quran ayats above,to reduce (some) of their vision. It is permissible to look as long as one feels no sense of desire.

[Shamlawar Khurasani]

One is not suppose to stare or constantly make eye contact. Single eye contact may occur but constantly looking is not permissible.

[RevolutionThroughReason]

and this is why I'm a Mu'tazilah

[کیش]

why was my post censored? I don't like that at all.

eye contact isn't anything of importance. its what you are saying is what matters. so what if someone is drunk, mad, whatever that doesn't matter. its the message and how its delivered that is.

[DaZahroJaam.]

DZJ,
I think more or less it depends on your intentions and I dont think it should be meant to taken to an extreme intent that no eye contact should be made. Hell, I advise everyone to make eye contact with everyone they surround, cause usually you can tell a mad/drunk person from his eyes, and boot if necessary.

I agree with you. Though I won't suggest one base someone's drunkness on the condition of their eyes. Sinus allergies or shampoo can have devastating effects on eyes. But you are right. Looking at people's eyes can definitely clarify what people men and in which context, too.

Tell the believing men to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts. That is purer for them.

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]

If you look at the Quran ayats above,to reduce (some) of their vision. It is permissible to look as long as one feels no sense of desire.

i would like it if you applied yourself every once in a while rather than copy pasting. Instead of telling me to reduce my vision, tell me in your word what you mean. Obviously we are not meant to look at people's privates.

One is not suppose to stare or constantly make eye contact. Single eye contact may occur but constantly looking is not permissible.

what?? i can't look at my notebook and then back at the teacher?? Permission expired??

and this is why I'm a Mu'tazilah

^ explain this.







After reading that article, I tried it for two days. It was almost impossible to stay focused on the conversation and it was irritating as hell. Try it yourself and see how you feel.

[Shamlawar Khurasani]

and this is why I'm a Mu'tazilah

Because you like to violate the ruling?

[Breshna]

i would like it if you applied yourself every once in a while rather than copy pasting. Instead of telling me to reduce my vision, tell me in your word what you mean. Obviously we are not meant to look at people's privates.

I did write under the quotations of the holy quran, but i will clarify it further. In Islam a Woman is told to guard her self, hence so is a Man.
Eye contact is permissible for the right reasons. In class it's important to make eye contact with the Tutor, as it shows respect and that your really applying yourself.

Islam does not forbid eye contact as long as it has no sense of desire. Eye contact can even protect you from a perv gawking, give him a ice cold look full of daggers and all is well. Eye contact is important when giving a statement to the law, if your acting shifty eyed the law thinks your guilty. Flirting is done with the eyes Islam forbids these sort of things.

[RevolutionThroughReason]

I don't want to get into the drama and the flame war but, let's look at things realistically. At the end of the day the TRUE RELIGION does not have unrealistic expectations. Imagine if we were all trying to avoid eye contact or even Gazing at someone, and that someone happens to be the opposite sex, Imagine how we'd never get anything accomplished because we're too afraid to look someone in the face. How would that work? None of the annals of early Muslims even indicates that this was an issue. "Lowering your gaze" seems to be avoiding things that TEMPT you, it's an idiom about how you should navigate your behavior. Because BODY language tells more than words. Lowering your gaze means don't undress someone with your eyes. Use your judgement, that's the the ruling of Islam.

that's what I mean by being a Mu'tazilah

[Shamlawar Khurasani]

I don't want to get into the drama and the flame war but, let's look at things realistically. At the end of the day the TRUE RELIGION does not have unrealistic expectations. Imagine if we were all trying to avoid eye contact or even Gazing at someone, and that someone happens to be the opposite sex, Imagine how we'd never get anything accomplished because we're too afraid to look someone in the face. How would that work? None of the annals of early Muslims even indicates that this was an issue. "Lowering your gaze" seems to be avoiding things that TEMPT you, it's an idiom about how you should navigate your behavior. Because BODY language tells more than words. Lowering your gaze means don't undress someone with your eyes. Use your judgement, that's the the ruling of Islam.

that's what I mean by being a Mu'tazilah

I don't know enough about the Mu'tazilah to understand what you are saying here. But if you are saying that you are being pragmatic, then here is what I have to say in response:

Avoiding eye contact and not looking at the opposite sex is Islamic morality/ethics.

The basis of ethical behavior in Islam consists of two things: knowledge and intention. One have to know what is ethical, and one have to act ethical with the correct intention. The intention is to please Allah.

How you apply this moral conduct in your own personal life and in the place where you live may differ from one person to another. In a society where everybody behaves the way we are suppose to behave, it is much more easier to avoid eye contact.

But living in a society where making eye contact is the norm, it may cause some inconvenience, but it is still possible to limit eye contact to a minimum with the intention to observe the Islamic moral conduct without causing any inconvenience.

[Manzareh]

DZJ you are sitting in a café, RTR is sitting opposite and looking into your eye's, he locks on to you, you look away, you look back and he's locked on to you again. After this a petition comes round to ban eye contact with the opposite sex.would you sign or no?