As for the eyes, they must be opened and used to see. A person may unexpectedly see something without intending to, so it is impossible to keep one’s gaze lowered at all times. Allah Most High therefore commanded His servants to restrain their gaze, just as Luqmān commanded his son to moderate his voice. As for His words,

“Indeed, those who lower their voices in the presence of the Messenger of Allah,”

and the rest of the verse, He praises them for lowering their voices without qualification in the presence of His Messenger. They are commanded to do so in such circumstances and forbidden to raise their voices in his presence, peace be upon him. Lowering one’s voice without qualification in the presence of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, is a particular, praiseworthy form of restraint. A person can keep his voice lowered at all times, but he has not been commanded to do so. Rather, he is commanded to raise his voice in certain circumstances, either as an obligation or as a recommended act. Hence His words:

“And moderate your voice.”

Restraint in voice and sight encompasses what enters the heart and what leaves it: through hearing, things enter the heart, and through the voice, they leave it. Likewise, He mentions both organs together in His words:

“Have We not given him two eyes, and a tongue and two lips?”

Through the eyes and sight, the heart learns about things, while the tongue and voice express what is within it. The former is the heart’s scout, its informant and spy; the latter is its interpreter.

Then Allah Most High says:

“That is better for you and purer.”

He also says:

“Take charity from their wealth, by which you purify and cleanse them.”

And He says:

“Allah only intends to remove impurity from you, O members of the household, and to purify you thoroughly.”

And in the verse concerning seeking permission to enter, He says: