and in this they contradict themselves, for they cannot be pleased with everything that exists. Evils are things that harm them and others. Each of them remains governed by his temperament, taste, and desires, condemning whatever offends his taste but not what it finds agreeable. They thus cast off Allah’s religion. One of them may even embrace unrestricted union with God and divine indwelling. Some restrict this indwelling or union to particular created beings, such as the Messiah, ‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib, or other spiritual masters, kings, and beardless youths. They claim that He dwells in beautiful forms and worship them.

Others do not hold this belief, but make a religious practice of loving beautiful forms—non-mahram women (those whom they are not permanently forbidden to marry), beardless youths, and others. They regard this as part of the beauty that Allah loves and that they themselves love. They cloak forbidden natural attraction in religious love, making what Allah has forbidden into a means of drawing near to Him.

“When they commit an indecency, they say, ‘We found our forefathers doing this, and Allah has commanded us to do it.’ Say, ‘Allah does not command indecency.’”
[Surah al-A‘rāf 28]

As for the others, they say: It is established in Sahīh Muslim, on the authority of Abū Hurayrah, that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

“Allah does not look at your forms and your wealth; rather, He looks at your hearts and your deeds.”

It is well known that he was not denying the gaze of perception, but the gaze of love.