Ghamidi Sahab has discussed the matter from a principle stand-point in the light of Quran, after which all such ahadith can be understood properly. Ahadith are not absolute directives, they always come with coditions and boundaries defined by Quran and Sunnah and should be understood in their light.
To understand Ghamidi Sahab’s take on how to approach hadith corpus from an epistemological stand-point, you’re requested to please go through all the resources provided in the following response or at the very least, go through the text and videos provided under the heading “placement of Hadith in the overall framework of religion“:
Discussion 66135 • Reply 66162
Ghamidi Sahab writes in Meezan: (Source: Discussion 30301)
…”If women are present then the divine directive is that both the men and women present should restrain their gazes. The words used for this directive are يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ. If there is modesty in the gaze, and men and women refrain from feasting their eyes on the physical attributes of one another and ogling each other, then no doubt the purport of the directive stands fulfilled. The expression غَضِّ بَصَرْ does not mean that men and women should not look at each other or have to constantly stare at the floor while interacting with one another. It means to guard one’s gaze from taking undue liberty and to refrain from staring at one another. If this vigil on the eyes is not kept, then in the words of the Prophet (sws), this would be tantamount to adultery of the eyes. Once a person indulges in it, his sexual organ either fulfils the ultimate objective of what his eyes initiated or is unable to do so [3]. It is regarding this first accidental gaze about which the Prophet (sws) has directed the believers to turn it away.
Jarir ibn Abdullah reports that he asked from the Prophet (sws): “What if such a glance takes place suddenly?” The Prophet (sws) replied: “Immediately turn it away or lower it.” [4]
Once during the Prophet’s farewell pilgrimage when a lady from the Khatham tribe stopped the Prophet (sws) on his way, Fadl ibn Abbas started to stare at her. When the Prophet (sws) saw him, he caught hold of his face and turned it to the other side. [5]“…
____
[3].Al-Bukhari, Al-Jami‘ al-sahih, 1087, (no. 6243); Muslim, Al-Jami‘ al-sahih, 1157, (no. 6754).
[4]. Muslim, Al-Jami‘ al-sahih, 961, (no. 5644).
[5].Al-Bukhari, Al-Jami‘ al-sahih, 299, (no. 1855); Muslim, Al-Jami‘ al-sahih, 563, (no. 3251).
_____
For further detail on the said matter, please refer to the following link from 3:36 to 18:26 (English subtitles available)
Discussion 47826 • Reply 47838