How can one deal with the psychological conflict between lowering the gaze and looking at unveiled women, especially when in a tourist area?
It is obligatory to lower one's gaze from the forbidden and to strive against one's self in doing so. If one's eye falls upon something forbidden, it must be averted immediately, as Allah says: (Say to the believing men that they cast down their gaze), and as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said to Ali: "Do not follow a glance with another glance." And regarding a sudden glance, he said: "Avert your gaze." Unleashing one's gaze with lust is one of the greatest causes of corruption, and the origin of calamities stems from looking. Lowering the gaze is one of the most beneficial things for preserving chastity and rectifying the heart. Among the effective remedies are marriage, and if one is unable to marry, then patience and chastity, along with frequent fasting, guarding one's hearing and sight, associating with righteous people, and occupying one's time with beneficial deeds.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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