is a comprehensive term for everything Allah hates and forbids, although a servant does not become a disbeliever when he possesses the foundation of faith along with some branches of disbelief in the form of sins, just as he is not a believer when he possesses the foundation of disbelief along with some branches of faith. Lowering the gaze has a particular connection with light, as we shall explain, if Allah Most High wills.

Abū Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“When a servant sins, a black spot is marked on his heart. If he repents, desists and seeks forgiveness, his heart is polished clean. But if he continues sinning, the spot grows until it covers his heart. That is the stain Allah mentioned: ‘No indeed! Rather, their hearts have been stained by what they used to earn.’”

Al-Tirmidhī narrated this and graded it authentic. It is also reported in the Sahīh that he said:

“A veil comes over my heart, and I seek Allah’s forgiveness a hundred times a day.”

This veil is thin, thinner than a cloud. He thus explained that he seeks Allah’s forgiveness in a manner that removes this veil from the heart, so that it does not become a black spot, just as a black spot, when removed, does not become an enveloping stain.

Hudhayfah said:

“Faith first appears in the heart as a white speck. The more a servant’s faith increases, the whiter his heart becomes. If you were to uncover the believer’s heart, you would see it white and radiant. Hypocrisy first appears in it as a black speck. The more a servant’s hypocrisy increases, the blacker his heart becomes. If you were to uncover the hypocrite’s heart, you would find it a murky black.”

The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“When light enters the heart, it opens and expands.”

He was asked, “Is there any sign of that, O Messenger of Allah?”

He replied, “Yes