WEBVTT 00:00:00.180 --> 00:00:08.740 A summary of the concepts held by the Ahl al-Sunnah. 00:00:08.740 --> 00:00:13.740 The impact of the physical acts of worship on the heart and its inner states. 00:00:13.740 --> 00:00:18.440 The limbs are the gateways and frontiers of the heart. 00:00:18.440 --> 00:00:25.440 Whatever the limbs are engaged in regarding acts of obedience serves to strengthen and support the heart. 00:00:25.440 --> 00:00:31.440 Just as the strength of a nation’s frontiers contributes to the strength of its capital and its sovereign power. 00:00:31.440 --> 00:00:38.600 Is it not evident how prayer imparts contentment, tranquility, humility, and repentance to the heart? 00:00:38.600 --> 00:00:43.659 And is the effect of fasting on piety, sincerity, and certainty not equally clear? 00:00:43.659 --> 00:00:45.659 Allah the Almighty says: 00:00:45.659 --> 00:00:54.659 “O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, even as it was prescribed for those before you, that ye may ward off (evil);” (2:183) 00:00:54.659 --> 00:01:00.759 Likewise, it is well known that striving in the way of Allah fosters a love for the Hereafter. 00:01:00.759 --> 00:01:02.759 And detachment from this worldly life. 00:01:02.759 --> 00:01:06.760 And total submission to Allah and steadfastness upon the truth. 00:01:06.760 --> 00:01:12.019 It suffices, in demonstrating the impact of the limbs' obedience on the vitality of the heart, 00:01:12.019 --> 00:01:17.019 To detail the effects of one specific act of obedience upon the heart. 00:01:17.019 --> 00:01:21.019 That is the act of lowering the gaze from what is forbidden. 00:01:21.019 --> 00:01:23.019 This produces the following results: 00:01:23.019 --> 00:01:25.019 First: 00:01:25.019 --> 00:01:28.019 It unites the heart in the love of Allah and intimacy with Him. 00:01:29.019 --> 00:01:34.019 Whereas letting the gaze wander causes the heart to be diverted from Allah and scattered. 00:01:34.019 --> 00:01:38.180 And it creates a sense of alienation between the servant and his Lord. 00:01:38.180 --> 00:01:40.180 Second: 00:01:40.180 --> 00:01:42.180 It clothes the heart in light. 00:01:42.180 --> 00:01:45.180 Just as letting the gaze wander leaves it in darkness. 00:01:45.180 --> 00:01:50.180 This is why Allah first commanded the believing men and women to lower their gaze. 00:01:50.180 --> 00:01:52.180 As He, the Almighty, says: 00:01:52.180 --> 00:01:56.180 “Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and be modest. That is purer for them. Lo! Allah is aware of what they do.” (24:30) 00:01:56.180 --> 00:02:00.180 Then, after detailing that, He mentioned the Verse of Light: 00:02:00.180 --> 00:02:04.180 “Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The similitude of His light is as a niche wherein is a lamp. The lamp is in a glass. The glass is as it were a shining star. (This lamp is) kindled from a blessed tree, an olive neither of the East nor of the West, whose oil would almost glow forth (of itself) though no fire touched it. Light upon light. Allah guideth unto His light whom He will. And Allah speaketh to mankind in allegories, for Allah is Knower of all things.” (24:35) 00:02:04.180 --> 00:02:08.180 “Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The similitude of His light is as a niche wherein is a lamp. The lamp is in a glass. The glass is as it were a shining star. (This lamp is) kindled from a blessed tree, an olive neither of the East nor of the West, whose oil would almost glow forth (of itself) though no fire touched it. Light upon light. Allah guideth unto His light whom He will. And Allah speaketh to mankind in allegories, for Allah is Knower of all things.” (24:35) 00:02:08.180 --> 00:02:10.180 The lamp is within a glass. 00:02:10.180 --> 00:02:22.180 “Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The similitude of His light is as a niche wherein is a lamp. The lamp is in a glass. The glass is as it were a shining star. (This lamp is) kindled from a blessed tree, an olive neither of the East nor of the West, whose oil would almost glow forth (of itself) though no fire touched it. Light upon light. Allah guideth unto His light whom He will. And Allah speaketh to mankind in allegories, for Allah is Knower of all things.” (24:35) 00:02:23.180 --> 00:02:29.180 “Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The similitude of His light is as a niche wherein is a lamp. The lamp is in a glass. The glass is as it were a shining star. (This lamp is) kindled from a blessed tree, an olive neither of the East nor of the West, whose oil would almost glow forth (of itself) though no fire touched it. Light upon light. Allah guideth unto His light whom He will. And Allah speaketh to mankind in allegories, for Allah is Knower of all things.” (24:35) 00:02:29.180 --> 00:02:31.180 Light upon light. 00:02:31.180 --> 00:02:35.180 Allah guides to His light whom He wills. 00:02:35.180 --> 00:02:38.180 And Allah presents examples for the people. 00:02:38.180 --> 00:02:41.180 And Allah is Knowing of all things. 00:02:41.180 --> 00:02:45.180 This is to indicate that the light of the person who lowers his gaze, 00:02:45.180 --> 00:02:49.180 Is derived from the light of Allah and His divine guidance. 00:02:50.180 --> 00:02:57.180 Through this light, guidance is attained, and innovations and misguidance are warded off. 00:02:57.180 --> 00:03:02.340 Third: Lowering the gaze strengthens the heart and brings it joy. 00:03:02.340 --> 00:03:10.340 It grants the heart true insight, by which one distinguishes between truth and falsehood, and the truthful and the liar. 00:03:10.340 --> 00:03:16.460 Fourth: It imparts to the heart steadfastness, courage, and strength. 00:03:16.460 --> 00:03:23.620 Thus, Allah combines for him the authority of insight and argument with the authority of power and strength. 00:03:23.620 --> 00:03:29.620 Fifth: It frees the heart to contemplate its own interests and occupy itself with them. 00:03:29.620 --> 00:03:36.659 Instead of letting the gaze wander, which distracts the heart from all of that and plunges it into heedlessness. 00:03:36.659 --> 00:03:38.659 Sixth and finally: 00:03:38.659 --> 00:03:44.659 Lowering the gaze protects the heart from the poisoned arrows of Iblis directed toward it. 00:03:44.689 --> 00:03:49.689 For the devil enters the heart with his whispers through the forbidden glance. 00:03:49.689 --> 00:03:54.689 And he penetrates it faster than air rushes into an empty space. 00:03:54.689 --> 00:03:59.689 He then presents the image of what was looked at and beautifies it in the person's mind. 00:03:59.689 --> 00:04:07.689 He makes promises and stirs up desires, inflaming the heart with them and thereby distracting it from acts of obedience.