Learn the Rulings on Lowering the Gaze All in One Place

Shaykh Bali has arranged the rulings on the gaze into ten questions — the non-mahram woman, photos, the doctor, seeing a prospective bride, the mahram, even up to watching sports.

How the Questions Come

• What is the ruling on looking at a non-mahram woman?
• Can one look at a woman wearing niqab and hijab?
• Looking at a woman in a photo or video?
• Can a doctor look at a female patient?
• How much of the prospective bride may one look at?
• How much of a mahram is it permissible to see?

The Shaykh makes the definition clear right at the start — a non-mahram woman means one whom it is permissible to marry. So paternal aunt's daughters, maternal aunt's daughters, maternal uncle's daughters, paternal uncle's daughters, and the wife's sister — all of them fall within this.

The Shaykh's Answer

Deliberately looking at a non-mahram woman is haram — in real life, in photos, in videos, on screens, everywhere.

Even if she is wearing niqab and hijab, one must not size up her body through her clothing; when a woman goes out, Shaytan makes her look appealing in the eyes of onlookers (Tirmidhi, hasan chain). Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) used to say — in every glance there is a temptation from Shaytan.

If your eyes fall on her unintentionally, there is no sin; just turn them away. And when proposing marriage, it is mustahabb to see the face and wrists in the presence of a mahram — the Shaykh says one should not propose without seeing her.

Evidence — the Ruling Applies to Both Sides

وَقُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنَٰتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَٰرِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ

And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests and not expose their adornment [i.e., beauty] except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, their brothers' sons, their sisters' sons, their women, that which their right hands possess [i.e., slaves], or those male attendants having no physical desire, or children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of women. And let them not stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment. And turn to Allāh in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed. (Surah An-Noor 24:31 — Saheeh International; meaning of the complete verse)Copy

The Prophet ﷺ said — The zina of the eyes is looking, the zina of the ears is listening, the zina of the hand is touching; and the heart desires, and the private part either confirms it or denies it. (Sahih Muslim)

What to Do

1. Turn your eyes away from photos and videos of non-mahram women — the ruling is the same on screens.
2. If a female doctor is available, go to her; otherwise take a mahram along, not alone.
3. A woman should not describe another woman to her husband — the Prophet ﷺ forbade this.
4. Lower your gaze while watching sports too — a man's awrah is from the navel to the knee.

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Source: Based on a talk by Shaykh Wahid Abdussalam Bali

Translation and compilation: Raqi Faisal Ahmed Sabit — Al Qur'an Ruqyah Healing Center