Question: He says: We go to public parks on holidays for recreation, and the park is mixed, with both men and women present. Is there any sin upon us for doing

Sheikh Salih Al-Luhaidan rahimahullah: Yes, a person must first and foremost protect himself from the causes of destruction. Allah says: “O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones” [66:6]. It is well known that when a person enters a place where there are many immodestly dressed women, it is unlikely that he will avoid glancing at them. One look may follow another, possibly leading to fascination, a desire for immorality, or even falling into it. Prevention is required, and safety is something a rational person strives for. When Allāh, Glorified and Exalted, commands lowering the gaze, how can one lower his gaze in such mixed settings? If he does lower his gaze, it will barely be effective, and if he lets his gaze wander, it will fall upon alluring scenes—poisonous sights. Indeed, the gaze is a poisoned arrow from the arrows of Shayṭān, striking the heart’s core. If a person promptly responds with repentance, seeking forgiveness, and turning his gaze away, he may recover before greater harm occurs. But if he continues looking, as is often the case, one wound adds to another until the heart bleeds and the affliction intensifies, becoming difficult or even impossible to treat. Likewise, women may also become infatuated by constantly observing such scenes and derive pleasure from looking at these charms. There is no doubt that these are trials and tribulations, and we ask Allāh to remove them from all Muslim lands. And Allāh knows best.