Could anything be plainer than that? A woman can snatch away the mind—the very reason—of a resolute man; so what do you imagine becomes of the weak, spineless fellow who has no firmness, no determination, no faith, and no manliness? His plight is even worse, Allah’s protection is sought.

Even a determined man loses his sense because of women—may Allah grant us well-being—and this is the plain fact. For that reason, immediately after commanding the believers to lower their gaze, Allah the Exalted says: “And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed” (24:31).

The words, “And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you,” indicate that we ought—indeed we are obliged—to enjoin one another to repent and to check on each other: has a person repented of his sin or is he still persisting in it? The address is to everyone: “And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers” (24:31).

Likewise, the phrase “that you might succeed” shows that repentance is one of the causes of falah (true success). Falah, as the scholars of exegesis and language explain, is a comprehensive term: by it what is sought is attained and what is feared is removed. It encompasses the good of both this world and the Hereafter.

Every person seeks the good of this world and the next; you will not find anyone—even the disbeliever—who does not want good. Some people are granted success, while others are not.

The disbeliever also wants good, but only the good of this world, for he is a bestial creature. Allah says, “Indeed, the worst of creatures in Allah’s sight are those who disbelieve” (8:55)—worse than any creature that walks the earth. Yet he still hankers after ease, luxury, and worldly enjoyment. This world, however, is his paradise, whereas the Hereafter—Allah’s refuge is sought—