Question # 517: Assalaamu ‘alaykum. Is it true that many scholars have said that for a man to look at an unveiled non-mahram woman is not a sin as long as the look is not accompanied by lust?

bismi-llahi r-raḥmani r-raḥīm,

Assalamu ‘laikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,

All praise and thanks are due to Allah (سبحانه و تعالى), and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger (صلى الله عليه و سلم).

Dear questioner,

First of all, we implore Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) to help us serve His cause and render our work for His sake.

Shorter Answer: It is unbelievable that any of the scholars of Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah is of the view that it is permissible to look at women without lust, as the prohibition of this matter is agreed upon by the jurists. Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) says in the Qur’an: “Tell the believing men to lower their gaze…” (Soorah An-Noor, 24:30). Also, the following hadith corroborates this prohibition:

  • Jareer ibn Abdullah (رضي الله عنه) said: “I asked the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) about an accidental glance at a woman. He commanded me to turn my gaze away.”
  • The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “O Ali, do not follow a glance with another, for you will be forgiven for the first, but not for the second.”

How can someone ensure that looking at women without lust initially will not lead him to look at them with lust afterward and then commit what is more serious than that? Indeed, the Shaytaan gradually drags people into sin. Also, the view about the permissibility of looking at the face and hands without lust is a weak opinion.

The only exception is when a man is proposing to a woman in marriage.

Long Answer: [It is unbelievable] that any of the scholars [of Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah] …is of the view that it is permissible to look without lust at women…, as the prohibition of this matter is agreed upon by the jurists.

Jareer ibn Abdullah (رضي الله عنه) said: “I asked the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) about an accidental glance at a woman. He commanded me to turn my gaze away.” (Reported by al-Tirmidhi, who said: This is a saheeh hasan hadith) Commenting on this hadith, al-Mubarakpuri said: “ Accidental means that his gaze fell on a non-mahram woman unintentionally. He commanded me to turn my gaze away means that he was not to look a second time, because the first glance was not by choice and would be forgiven, but any further glances would be counted as sin, and he should heed the words of Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) says in the Qur’an: “Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things) (Soorah An-Noor, 24:30)”

The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “O Ali, do not follow a glance with another, for you will be forgiven for the first, but not for the second.” (Reported by al-Tirmidhi; see Saheeh al-Jaami. [Also, reported in Musnad Ahmad; graded hasan because of corroborating evidence and its isnad is da’if]) In al-Tuhfah, [al-Mubarakpuri] said: “The words do not follow a glance with another mean do not look again after the first glance. You will be forgiven for the first means that you will be forgiven if the first glance was unintentional, and but not for the second means that because the second glance was by choice, it will be counted against you.”

The Fiqh Encyclopedia (Al-Mawsoo‘ah Al-Fiqhiyyah) reads: “The jurists have unanimously agreed that it is forbidden for a man to look at the ‘Awrah of a young non-Mahram woman. They provided as evidence for that the statement of Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) says in the Qur’an: “Tell the believing men to lower their gaze…” (Soorah An-Noor, 24:30), and the statement of the Prophet  (صلى الله عليه و سلم): “Allah fixed the very portion of adultery which a man will indulge in. There would be no escape from it. The adultery of the eye is the lustful look and the adultery of the ears is listening to voluptuous (song or talk) and the adultery of the tongue is licentious speech and the adultery of the hand is the lustful grip (embrace) and the adultery of the feet is to walk (to the place) where he intends to commit adultery and the heart yearns and desires which he may or may not put into effect.” (Sahih Muslim)

Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) has forbidden men from looking at women with the exception of when a man is proposing to marry a woman, and He (سبحانه و تعالى) has not differentiated between looking (at women) with lust or without lust. How can someone ensure that looking at women without lust initially will not lead him to look at them with lust afterward and then commit what is more serious than that – fornication? Indeed, the Shaytaan gradually drags people into sin. It is for this reason that Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) warned of his plot, as Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) says in the Qur’an: “O you who have believed, do not follow the footsteps of Shaytaan. And whoever follows the footsteps of Shaytaan – indeed, he enjoins immorality and wrongdoing. And if not for the favor of Allah upon you and His mercy, not one of you would have been pure, ever, but Allah purifies whom He wills, and Allah is Hearing and Knowing.” (Soorah An-Noor, 24:21)

[Furthermore,] the view about the permissibility of looking at the face and hands without lust is a weak opinion, and An-Nawawi is of the view that this is forbidden as he said in Minhaaj At-Taalibeen: “It is forbidden for an adult man to look at the ‘Awrah of a free adult non-Mahram woman as well as her face and hands when he fears he will be tempted by her, and even when one is secure from being tempted by her according to the correct opinion….”

Some scholars are of the view that it is permissible to look at an old woman’s face and hands without lust; the Fiqh Encyclopedia reads: “There is no difference in opinion among the scholars that it is forbidden to look at an old woman without a sound reason with or without lust; they only differed in regard to looking at her without desire and without the intention of pleasure, into two different opinions:

The first view: It is permissible to look at her face and hands, if men do not lust over her, and provided that she is not showing her adornment; this is the view of the majority of scholars of the Hanafi, Maaliki, and Hanbali Schools…

The second view: There is no difference between a young non-Mahram woman and an old non-Mahram woman in regard to the ruling of looking at them. This is all forbidden [looking at both is forbidden], and it is not permissible to look at any uncovered part of the body of an old woman, even though she is not desired [for sexual intercourse]. This is the preponderant view and it is the standard opinion of the Shaafi‘i School, given the general indication of the evidence which prohibits looking at non-Mahram women, and because lust is not bound by any certain criteria.”

(The above reply is based on various answers on similar topics provided by:

  • Islamweb.net, a website belonging to the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs in the State of Qatar; and
  • Islamqa.info)

Allahu A’lam (Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) knows best) and all Perfections belong to Allah, and all mistakes belong to me alone. May Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) forgive me, Ameen.

Wassalaam