What is the wisdom behind prohibiting looking at women and playing dice? And does the prohibition remain in effect if the reasons for which they were prohibited do not materialize?

Answer Summary:

A distinction must be made between the illah (legal cause) of a Shariah ruling and its hikmah (wisdom). The illah is the precise attribute to which the ruling is tied, existing when it exists and absent when it is absent. As for the hikmah, it is the benefit or harm averted that results from connecting the ruling to its illah. The hikmah is often not suitable for establishing a ruling or for analogical deduction (qiyas), unlike the illah. For example: the illah for qisas (retribution) is intentional, aggressive killing, while its hikmah is the preservation of lives. And the illah for shortening prayers is travel, while its hikmah is to avert hardship. Therefore, what was mentioned regarding avoiding temptation by gazing or avoiding distraction from the remembrance of Allah by playing backgammon are hikam (wisdoms), not ilal (legal causes), and do not permit gazing or playing backgammon.