👀How lowering your gaze boosts productivity?

Assalamu'alaikum,

As the summer heat has taken hold in the northern hemisphere, we find ourselves grappling with a peculiar challenge. Maintaining the practice of "lowering our gaze" in an environment rife with distractions.

Billboards, workplaces, and social media bombard us with sights that are not only contrary to what our faith encourages us to view but also detrimental to our spiritual heart and productivity.

So, what should we lower our gaze from? And how can it impact us?

I think of lowering the gaze in 3 levels:

• Level 1 involves averting your eyes from that which is "haram" or forbidden by Allah, such as the "awrah" (intimate parts) of men and women.

• Level 2 involves restraining your gaze from the blessings that Allah has conferred upon others to guard your heart against envy and jealousy. For instance, you may have a friend bestowed with a beautiful house or car. Lower your gaze from these blessings to safeguard your heart from the clutches of envy.

• Level 3 is about reducing our fixation on worldly possessions. Ever felt a bit down after a bout of window shopping because you couldn't afford what you saw?

Impact of lowering the gaze on focus and productivity

The impact of these three levels on our spiritual hearts is one thing, but it also impacts our day-to-day productivity and focus in unique and profound ways.

• Lowering the gaze from the haram will keep your heart pure and clean and will not fuel your desire and temptations unnecessarily; thus, you can stay productive and focused during the day.

• Lowering your gaze from what others possess will decrease envy and jealousy in your heart, thus helping you maintain healthy relationships without getting preoccupied with what you lack (or questioning why someone has a blessing you don't have!).

• Lowering your gaze from the worldly glitz and glamour lessens your attachment to worldly possessions, making you more focused on being akhirah-oriented and centered on higher intentions that serve Allah SWT and the Ummah at large.

Simply put, lowering your gaze reduces internal distractions upon your mind and heart thus enabling you to improve your focus and productivity in ways beyond your expectations.

Moreover, by practicing lowering the gaze, you'll receive a special gift that people rarely have: the gift of clear insight and 'baseera'. You’ll be able to have ideas, insights, and “aha” moments that people won’t have because they are constantly distracted.

Imam Ibn Al-Qaayim wisely said:

Practical tips to lower your gaze

Implementing this practice may seem daunting initially, but here are a few practical tips that may aid your efforts:

• Physically turn your head away when your eyes fall on the haram. It may feel strange initially, but soon enough, it will become a natural reflex, Insha'Allah.

• When visiting a friend or someone who has been blessed with something you desire, keep repeating 'masha'Allah' and pray for their blessings to be multiplied rather than dwelling on why you don't have what they have.

• Limit visits to shopping centers/malls and avoid aimless online shopping. If you must shop, recite the dua for entering the marketplace, and refrain from focusing on items that attract you to prevent attachment.

• Consider deleting social media apps on your phone. We often stumble upon inappropriate content despite our intentions and best efforts. Your heart will feel 'lighter' by removing the constant bombardment of social media images from your daily life.

Yes, lowering your gaze is hard - no one is saying it's easy. Between the nafs being tempted and wanting to feast on all the eyes can see, to shaytaan's whispering to keep gazing and looking and what's forbidden, to the ease and pervasiveness of looking at what will hurt us spiritually.

It feels like a battle we'll lose before we even begin. However, if you're sincere, Allah will make it easy for you and protect you in ways you don't expect.

Moreover, once you taste the sweetness of baseera/insight of the heart when you lower your gaze, you'll not want to return to the traps of letting your eye loose insha’Allah.

And lest you think otherwise, I am no saint. I, too, struggle with this practice, just as you do, but I am hopeful that by encouraging each other and seeking Allah's guidance, we can all strive to be the best versions of ourselves. Ameen.

Your friend on this journey,

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