He frequently looks at women and young boys; does this affect his fast?

The questioner : The questioner says that he frequently looks at women and young boys; does this affect his fast, may Allah protect us from that?

The Shaykh : Yes, every sin affects the fast, for Allah the Exalted only made fasting obligatory upon us for the sake of taqwa (mindfulness of Allah) And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: This man who has been afflicted with this affliction—we ask Allah to protect him from it—without doubt is doing what is forbidden, for looking is an arrow among the arrows of Satan, may Allah protect us from that. How many a look has caused its owner to fall into tribulation and become, may Allah protect us from that, a prisoner to it. How many a look has affected a person’s heart until he became a prisoner to the love of images. Therefore, a person must, if he is afflicted with this matter, turn to Allah the Mighty and Majestic with supplication, asking Him to deliver him from it and to protect him from it. He should turn away from this and not raise his gaze to any of the women or any of the young boys, while seeking help from Allah the Exalted, taking refuge in Him, and asking Him for protection from this disease. If he does so, it will be removed from him, if Allah wills.