The Meaning of the Saying of Allah the Exalted: (And say to the believing women that they cast down their gazes...)

Question: This is a message sent by a sister in Allah (may Allah preserve her) from Sudan. In her message—she sent several questions—the first question says: Allah the Exalted says in His Noble Book: [al-Nur:31]. She says: I hope you will clarify the meaning of the verse, especially in the words of the Exalted: [al-Nur:31]?

Answer:
The scholars have spoken about this verse and explained that it is not permissible for her to look at men with a lingering gaze; rather, she must lower her gaze, just as the man must lower his gaze from women. This is because such looking exposes everyone to fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). This refers to the look that is intended or is driven by desire. As for the passing glance with which one looks at the road and the people on the road without a specific intention, this does no harm.
Likewise, the man looks at the road and looks at the women passing on the road without intending to look at them or at their adornment; rather, the intention is merely to cross the road, or the mosque, or something similar. Especially if it is for desire, it is strictly forbidden, whether his look at her is with desire or her look at him is with desire, because this is a means to fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). And if it is without desire, one should not intend it or persist in it.
As for the passing glance, it does no harm. But as for the persistent look that involves deliberate intention, there is fear that it will lead to desire, so it is prohibited. This is unlike the passing glance that is not intended, which does no harm, or the sudden glance that catches a person off guard, where he looks at her suddenly while she is uncovered, and he averts his gaze, and that does not harm him. Similarly, she averts her gaze and does not extend her look at men, but lowers her gaze. And if it is for desire, it is forbidden in all cases.
As for His saying, the Exalted: [Al-Nur: 31], the adornment (zayn) is that which exposes fitnah (trial, discord or temptation)... the fitnah from displaying the hair, or the necklace, or the face, or the chest, or the upper arm, or the forearm, or the hand, or the palm, or the feet, or the anklets, or something similar that tempts people. This is the adornment. Her adornment is the beauty that Allah created in her, such as the face; the beauty of the face, the hand, the head, and the like. And likewise, what she wears of adornment; such as a necklace, earrings in the ears, anklets on the legs, and the like. All of these are called adornment.
There is attached adornment, which is beauty, and separate adornment, which is what the woman wears of jewelry in the neck, hands, and the like. These are things she does not display to men because they tempt the man. And His saying: [Al-Nur: 31] refers to the customary thing; the customary clothing that is not intended for fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). There is no harm in looking at it; the customary clothing, there is no harm in displaying it, such as the abaya... what she walks in. It should not be something that causes fitnah; it should be ordinary, ordinary clothing that contains no fitnah. Yes.