What is the meaning of Sufyan al-Thawri's saying, "There is no harm in looking at the adornment of the women of the People of the Book, and indeed, that was forbidden out of fear of temptation, not because of their sanctity," within the framework of encouraging believers to lower their gaze in the Qur'an and Sunnah?

The texts from the Qur'an and Sunnah are absolute in their prohibition of looking at a non-mahram woman, whether she is a Muslim, a dhimmi, or of any other religion. This is because the texts do not restrict the prohibition of looking to Muslim women exclusively, nor do they restrict it to looking with lust rather than without lust. Allah Almighty says: [Tell the believing men to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what they do] (An-Nur:30). Furthermore, the reason for which looking at a non-mahram Muslim woman is forbidden is also present in non-Muslim women. As for what was narrated from Sufyan al-Thawri regarding the permissibility of looking at the adornment of Dhimmi women, it is an ijtihaad (independent legal reasoning) that cannot contradict clear, absolute evidence.