“Notice how strongly this has been emphasized: first of all, if one has no reason to do so, one should not sit unnecessarily on the roads. And if, out of necessity, one must sit there, then one should fulfil the rights of the road. Do not sit there looking around unnecessarily; rather, lower your gaze and keep your eyes down. For it should not be that once your eyes happen to fall upon something, you begin looking from one end to the other and continue staring. …
“Consider the merits of the Islamic teaching of purdah. One’s eyes may happen to fall upon someone; that is perfectly natural. On the one hand, women have been instructed that when they go out, they should observe purdah and should not display their adornment except that which is naturally apparent. On the other hand, men have been instructed to keep their gazes lowered. If you sit in the marketplace, keep your gaze lowered; and if your eyes happen to fall upon someone, immediately avert your gaze, so that a virtuous society may continue to be established.”
[Friday Sermon, January 30, 2004; Khutbat-e-Masroor, vol. 2, pp. 96–97; translated from Urdu]