Looking at Women
 

Whenever someone wants to marry a woman, he has the right to look at her but not in seclusion (Khulwah). Jabir said that the Messenger of Allah said: ''If a man proposes to a woman and he is able to look at whatever would encourage him to marry her, let him do so''. He said, ''I proposed to a woman whom I used to look at from a hide out, I did this until I saw what invited me to marry her then I married her''. It is allowed to look at her with or without her permission. This is due to the fact that the Prophet ordered us to look without restriction. In the hadith of Jabir (I used to hide and look) it is not allowed, however, to be in seclusion (Khulwah) with her. For the Prophet said: ''Whoever believes in Allah and the Day of Judgement he should not be in a khulwah with a woman without her mahram for the third (person) that will be with them is the shaytan''.

This is a general rule, and no exception is made for the one who is seeking marriage, as is the case with looking. The person seeking marriage may look at the face and the hands as well as other parts. This is due to the fact that looking at the face and hands is allowed for everyone, including the one seeking marriage. So giving an exception to the one who is seeking marriage would be meaningless unless it means allowing him to see more than the face and hands. Also, the Messenger said: ''To look at her''. This is general and therefore includes the face and hands as well as other parts, which are needed to be known for the purpose of marriage in order for him to propose to her. In addition, Allah (swt) commanded the believers to lower their gaze. Lowering their gaze requires that one should not look directly, be they men to women, or women to men. The hadith of Jabir allows the marriage seeker to look directly at the woman and therefore, it excludes him from the order of lowering the gaze. This means, believing men must lower their gaze except the ones proposing, who have the right not to lower their gaze, in order for them to look at the women they seek to propose to. 

It is allowed for the married couple to look at the entire body of the other. Bahz b. Hakeem reported from his father from his grandfather, he said: ''I said, Oh Messenger of Allah, what should we hide and what should we show of our private parts?'' He said to me ''protect your 'awrah except from your wife ''.

In addition, the man is permitted to see more than the face and hands and the places of charms (Zeenah) of his mahram women, be they Muslims or non-Muslims. This is due to the unrestricted (Mutlaq) text on the matter. Allah (swt) says: 

''They should not show their Zeenah (charms) in public beyond what may (decently) be apparent thereof; hence let them draw their head-coverings (khumur) over their necks and bosoms (juyub). And let them not display (more of) their charms to any but their husbands, their fathers, their husbands fathers, their sons, their husbands sons, their brothers, their brothers sons, their sisters sons, their women folk, their maids, such male attendants as are beyond all sexual desire, or children that are as yet unaware of women's nakedness; and let them not swing their legs (in walking) so as to draw attention to their hidden charms''. 
[An- Nur: 31] 

All of these are allowed to see the woman's hair, neck and places of bracelet, necklace, and leg band, as well as other places that fit the category of charms (Zeenah). This is because Allah (swt) says: ''They shouldn't show their charm'' i.e. the place of their charm (Zeenah), except to those mentioned in the Qur'an. Such people are allowed to see what appears of her when she is wearing house clothes. Ash-Shafee reported in his Musnad from Zaynab bint Abi Salama that she was breastfed by Asmaa, Az-Zubayrs wife. She said: ''I used to see him as a father. He used to walk in while I was combing my hair - he would hold a lock of my hair and say come here''. It was also reported that Abu Sufyan upon coming to Madinah to renew the treaty of Hudaybiyah, went to his daughter, Ummu Habibah, who was the Messenger's wife. Upon entering her house, she folded the Messenger's bed so that he would not sit on it. She did not cover up in his presence. She mentioned the incident to the Messenger of Allah , and he approved of her action and did not order her to cover up in her fathers presence as he was a mahram to her even though he was a Mushrik.

With regards to the person who is non-mahram, not proposing, nor a husband, there are detailed rules that address his seeing of a woman. If there is a need for the man to look at the woman or the woman to look at the man, then it is allowed to look only at that part which is necessary. Other than that, he or she is not allowed to see more than the face and hands. People who might have a need to look at such parts of the woman's body which the Legislator allowed them to see include the doctor, the nurse, the investigator and other such people. It was reported that when the Prophet appointed Saad to give his verdict on Bani Quraythah, he used to remove children's Izar (piece of cloth used to cover their private parts). Also, Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, was brought a boy who stole. Uthman said: ''Look under his Izar''. They found no pubic hair and so did not cut his hand. Uthman's action was with the full knowledge of the sahabah and none of them objected, therefore this is considered Ijmaa(agreement).

However, if there is no need to look at such parts, and the non-mahram man is not from the people who have no desire and ability, he is allowed to see the face and hands only and is forbidden to look at anything else. Aisha reported that Asmaa bint Abu Bakr entered the quarters of the Messenger of Allah wearing thin clothes. The Messenger turned his face away and said: ''Oh Asmaa, if the woman reaches puberty, it is not allowed to be seen from her except this and this''. and he pointed to his face and hands. The hands and face are the only exception made by the Qur'an to the prohibition of showing the places of charm. Allah (swt) said: 

''And let them not show their charms except that which is apparent from it''.[An- Nur: 31]

Ibn Abbas in explaining the above honourable Ayah said this means the face and hands. The command to the woman not to show her charm is a command not to show her private parts (Awrah). The fact that it is prohibited for her to show them means it is prohibited for men to look at them. To make what is apparent as an exception from the prohibition of showing them means it is an exception from the prohibition of looking at them. This means, it is allowed to look at them. Therefore, a non-mahram man is allowed to look at the face and hands of a non-mahram woman. The look that is permissible is limited to that which would enable him to recognise her and distinguish her from other women whom he might testify for or against if required, to recognise her if he traded with her, rented to or from her, or to identify her if he borrowed from, or lent money to her. 

Similarly, the woman is allowed to look at non-awrah body parts of the man. Aisha said: The Messenger of Allah used to cover me with his garment while I was watching the Abyssinians in the masjid. Also, when the Prophet finished the Eid Khutbah, he went to the women with Bilal and preached to them and commanded them to give sadaqa. It is clear from this that the Messenger approved the women to look at men. As for looking being restricted to the non-awrah parts, this is because Aisha was watching the Abyssinians playing, where she saw all of them except the 'awrah. Looking was therefore, not restricted, rather it was absolute. Also, Amru bin Shuayb reported from his father from his grandfather who said: ''The Messenger of Allah said: ''If you get your servant married to your slave or a hired hand, you should not look at anything below the navel and above the knee, for it is 'awrah''. One can conclude from this hadith, permission to look at other than this area. The permission is not restricted and thus includes men and women.
As for the report of Umm Salamah in which she said: ''Hafsah and I were sitting with the Prophet and Ibn Umm Maktoom sought permission to enter. The Prophet said (to us): ''hide from him''. I said: ''Oh Messenger of Allah, he is blind and cannot see''. He said: ''Are you both blind and cannot see him?'' This hadith is reported by Abu Daud and others on the authority of Nabhan. An-Nisai said: ''We do not know persons who reported from Nabhan except Az-Zuhri''. Ibn Abd el-Bir said, 'Nabhan is unknown, no narration from him is known except this hadith by Az-Zuhri'. The narration from the unknown is a weak (Daif) hadith, which is not good as an evidence.

As for what was reported from Jarir bin Abdullah who said: ''I asked the Messenger of Allah about the look of surprise, so he commanded me to look away. And what was reported from Ali who said: The Messenger of Allah said to me: ''Do not follow up the (first) glance with a second look. The first is permitted for you but not the second''. These ahadith are regarding men looking at women, not women looking at men. What is understood from the first hadith is looking at other than the face and hands, since they are allowed to be seen. The second hadith is addressing the prohibition of looking repeatedly since it might cause desire. The prohibition is not regarding the mere looking.

As for the saying of Allah (swt): ''And command the believers to lower down their gaze'', it refers to lowering their gaze from that which the believers are forbidden to look at, and restricting themselves to that which is allowed to be looked at. It doesn't mean lowering the gaze absolutely. This is true due to the fact that the Legislator has permitted looking at the mahrams hair, chest, breasts, arms, legs and feet. As for the non-Mahram woman, it is not allowed to see of her more than her face and hands. In addition, the word Ghadd ul Basar (lowering the gaze) is merely lowering ones sight.

Therefore, it is allowed for the man and woman to look at each other as long as they are looking at other than each others 'awrah and without the intention of lust. The 'awrah of the woman is her entire body except her face and hands. Thus, her neck, hair (even one hair) and any side of her head are 'awrah. Anything other than that must be covered. This is taken from the saying of Allah I: ''And they are not to show their charms except that which is apparent''. That which is apparent are the face and the hands because they are the body parts that were shown by the Muslim women in front of the Prophet and to which he approved by his silence. Also, these are the parts of the body that are shown in Hajj and Salah, as well as being the parts which were usually shown at the time of the Messenger , i.e. at the time of the revelation of the Ayah.

Furthermore, there are other proofs confirming that the woman's 'awrah is her entire body while her hands and face are the only exception. The Messenger of Allah said: ''The woman is 'awrah''. He also said: If the woman reaches the age of puberty, she is not permitted to show but her face and what is beyond this (point), where he held his arm and left a distance of a fist or so between his fist and the hand. In another report, he said to Asmaa bint Abu Bakr: ''Oh Asmaa, if the woman reaches the age of puberty, nothing should be seen of her but this and this''. - pointing to his face and hands. These are clear and explicit evidences that the entire body of the woman is 'awrah with the exception of the face and hands, and that the woman is obliged to cover her 'awrah i.e. her entire body with the exception of the face and hands.

As for the material used for covering the body of the woman, the Legislator did not specify a specific attire to cover the 'awrah. The Legislation merely said: and not to appear from her i.e. the 'awrah should not appear, they are not to show, she is not allowed to show, and it is not fitting to be seen from her. Thus, any type of clothing that covers her entire body except her face and hands is considered a covering (Saatir) whatever its shape. So, the long dress, the pants, skirt or the socks are all considered covering (Saatir). This is because neither the type of clothes nor the shape of clothes has been specified by the Legislator. Therefore, every cloth that covers the 'awrah i.e. the 'awrah is not seen through it, is considered legally valid to cover the 'awrah regardless of its shape, type and number of pieces.

However, the Legislator stipulated that clothes must cover the skin. Meaning the clothes must hide the colour of the skin for example, it should not be identified as white, red or black. In other words, whatever is used to cover the 'awrah must do so in such a way that the colour of the skin is not known. If the clothing is thin enough to let the colour of the skin be seen, then that clothing is unfit to cover the 'awrah. The 'awrah in such cases is considered to be revealed, for the covering is not considered valid unless it conceals the skin. Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, reported that Asmaa bint Abu Bakr entered upon the dwelling of the Messenger of Allah while wearing thin clothes. He turned his face away and said: ''Oh Asmaa, if the woman reaches puberty, it is not allowed to be seen from her except this and this''. and he pointed to his face and hands. The Messenger of Allah did not consider the thin garment to be covering the 'awrah. He considered Asmaa to have revealed her 'awrah, to which he reacted by turning his face away and commanded her to wear a garment, which would cover her 'awrah. This is further illustrated by the hadith of Usama where the Messenger inquired from him about the cuptiyah (thin garment) and to which he replied that he dressed his wife in it. The Messenger , in response said: ''Command her to wear a ghilalah (under garment) underneath it, for I fear it might describe the size of her bones''. The cuptiyah cloth is a type of cloth that is thin. Once the Messenger found out that Usama dressed his wife in it, he commanded him to tell her to wear a garment under it in order for her skin not to appear through the cuptiyah cloth. The Messenger said: ''Command her to wear a ghilalah under it''. He gave his reason for this command by saying: ''For I fear it might describe the size of her bones''. The word he used was tasif. Such a word is used in reference to something that is transparent. Thus his saying tasif is derived from the verbal noun wasafa. Wasafa is only used for something that shows what is behind it, and not for something that describes the form of the body behind it. That is why He said tasif and not tushakkil, i.e. Hadith:I fear that it will reveal what is behind it, meaning the size of the bones, that is, their colour, not their shape. Both of the above mentioned hadith are clear that the Legislator stipulated that the material used to cover the 'awrah must cover the skin in such a way that it does not reveal what is behind it. Therefore, the woman must use a cloth that is not too thin in order to cover the 'awrah. 

This is the subject of covering the 'awrah. This subject should not be confused with the woman's dress in public life, or the Tabarruj (revealing the beauty) portrayed by some types of clothes. Even though a garment covers the 'awrah, it does not mean that the woman is allowed to wear it in public, whilst in public a specific type of clothing has been specified by the Legislator. To merely use something that covers the 'awrah in this area is not sufficient. So trousers, for example, do cover the 'awrah, but still cannot be worn alone in public. If the woman disobeyed the command of the Legislator and wore clothes different from those determined by the Legislator, she would have sinned. The issue of covering the 'awrah therefore, must not be confused with the woman's dress in public. Similarly, the issue of covering the 'awrah must not be confused with the issue of Tabarruj. Trousers for example, as long as they are not made of thin material, do cover the 'awrah, but this does not mean that a woman can wear them in front of non-mahram men in such a way that she would be revealing her beauty and charm. While she would be covering her 'awrah in this case, she would be in a state of Tabarruj, which is forbidden by the Legislator. So, the fact that the woman has her 'awrah covered, does not mean that her clothing prevents her from being in a state of Tabarruj. Consequently, there should be no confusion between the issues of covering the 'awrah and Tabarruj. Each is different from the other.

With regard to the woman's dress in public life, the Legislator (swt) has obliged her to wear a wrap (Jilbab) which conceals her (home) clothes and drapes down until it covers her feet. If she does not have such a wrap (Jilbab), she must borrow one from a neighbour, female friend or relative. If she is unable to borrow one, she is not allowed to go out without such a cloth. If she leaves without a wrap over her (home) clothes, she would be sinful, for she has abandoned an obligation from Allah. This is in reference to the lower portion of woman's clothes. As for the upper portion, she must have a khimar (head cover) or anything similar, which covers the entire head, the neck and the opening of the garment on the chest. Such a khimar should be ready when she goes out in public as this constitutes the upper portion of the woman's dress in public life. Once the woman has these two items of clothing, she is allowed to leave her home. If the woman does not have these two pieces of clothes, she is not allowed to go out at all. This is because the command to wear these two pieces is general and it will remain so, since there is no proof to make an exception to that.

As for the evidence which obliges these two items of clothing to be worn in public life, it is the saying of Allah (swt) with respect to the upper part of the clothing: 
''Let them draw their head-coverings (khumur) over their necks and bosoms (juyub). And let them not display (more of) their charms to any but their husbands...'' [An- Nur: 31]

As for His (swt) saying regarding the lower half: 
''Oh Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (Jalabeeb) all over their bodies'' [Al- Ahzab: 59]

Additionally, it has been narrated from Umm Atiyya (ra), who said: The Messenger of Allah ordered us to bring out the young women, the menstruating women and veiled women for the two Eid festivals. The menstruating women were to keep away from prayer, yet witnessing the goodness and the dawa (address) to the Muslims. I asked, ''Oh Messenger of Allah , what about one who does not have a Jilbab?''. He said: ''Let her use the Jilbab of her sister''. These evidences are clear in their indication of a woman's dress when in public. Allah has thus described accurately, completely and comprehensively in these above verses clothing which He (swt) has obliged the woman to wear in public life. Allah (swt) has said with respect to the upper part of a woman's clothing: 


''Let them draw their head-coverings (khumur) over their necks and bosoms (juyub)''
[An- Nur: 31]

i.e., to drape their head-coverings over their necks and bosoms and to conceal the collar of the shirt and garment from the neck and chest. As regards the lower part of a woman's clothing He (swt) said:

''To draw their cloaks all over their bodies'' [Al- Ahzab: 59]

i.e. to drape their garments over their bodies which they wear over their normal clothes when going out, wearing a cover (Mula) or sheet (Milhafa) of cloth which is draped down. Concerning the general manner in which this clothing should be worn Allah (swt) has said:

''And they do not show off their charms (Zeenah) except only that which is apparent'' 
[An- Nur: 31] 

The objects of charm in terms of the parts of the body including ears, arms and lower leg should not be shown except to that which normally appeared of her at the time this verse was revealed, i.e. the hands and face. According to this strict description it is clearly evident what the dress of the woman is in public. The hadith of Umm Atiyya explains very clearly the obligation on her to wear a garment which covers her normal clothes when she goes out. When she said to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him): ''Oh Messenger of Allah what about one who does not have a Jilbab?'' The Messenger ordered her, ''Let her use the Jilbab of her sister''. When she said to the Messenger that she did not have a garment to wear over her clothing so that she may go out, he ordered her to borrow one from her sister. This means that if she is unable to borrow one then it would not be correct for her to go out. This is an indication (Qareena) that the order in this hadith constitutes an obligation (Wujub). It is obligatory therefore, for the woman to wear a Jilbab over her normal clothes when she wishes to go out. 

It is stipulated that the Jilbab is draped down to the floor until it conceals the feet because Allah (swt) says in the Ayah: 

''to draw their cloaks (Jalabeeb) all over their bodies''. [Al- Ahzab: 59] 

i.e. they should drape their Jilbabs because the preposition min here is not partative but explanatory. In other words they should drape their cover (Mula) and sheet (Milhafa) down towards the floor. Since it has been narrated on the authority of Ibn Umar that the Messenger of Allah said: ''On the Day of Judgement, Allah will not look with mercy towards the one that trails his garment behind him/herself in haughty pride''. Umm Salama asked: What are the women to do with the hems of their dresses? He answered: ''Let them increase their hems the length of a hand span''. She enquired: Then their feet will be uncovered! He then replied: ''Let them increase a fore arms length and no more''. This clearly shows that the garment which is worn over ones clothes i.e. the cover (Mulaa) and sheet (Milhafa) - should be draped down towards the floor until it covers the feet. Even if the feet were to be concealed by wearing socks or shoes, that will not substitute the draping of the garment down towards the floor in the manner which indicates that it has been draped. It is not necessary to cover the feet (by the draping of the garment) if the feet are concealed (by wearing shoes and socks). But the draping of the garment must be done, the Jilbab must come down towards the floor in a clear manner such that it is understood that it is the dress of public life, which the woman is obliged to wear. The draping must be plain to see in accordance with the saying of Allah (swt) : ''Draw down their Jilbabs''.[Al- Ahzab: 59]

It is clear from this that the woman is obliged to have a wide and loose fitting (baggy) garment, which she wears over her normal clothes in order to go out. If she does not have such a garment and she wishes to go out then she should borrow one from her sister, i.e. she should borrow the dress from any Muslim woman, which is worn over her home clothes. If she did not find someone to borrow from, she should not go out until she finds a garment to wear over her home clothes. If she goes out wearing her home clothes without a wide and loose fitting garment which drapes down towards the floor then she would be sinful even if her entire 'awrah was covered. Wearing a wide and loose fitting garment, which drapes down towards the floor until the feet, is obligatory (Fard). If she does not wear this garment, she will be going against this fard and is sinful in the sight of Allah I. She will be punished by the state with the penalty of tazeer (discretional punishment).

Two issues remain to be discussed with regards to the woman looking at the man and the man looking at the woman. The first issue is the presence of male non-mahrams in houses with the permission of their occupants, and their looking at the women who are attired in their normal home clothes and seeing the parts of the woman's body which exceed the limit of the hands and face. The second is the issue of non-Muslim and even Muslim women in public who display more than their hands and face. Those two issues are a reality and so is the reality of their affliction on Muslims. Therefore, the ruling of Allah (swt) with regards to these two issues must be clarified. 

As for the first issue, there may be brothers or relatives living together in the same house with the wives of each appearing before each other in their home clothes, with their hair, neck, arms and lower legs showing as well as anything else the home clothes may reveal. Her brother-in-laws or her non-mahram relatives look at her in the same way as her brothers, father and other such mahrams look at her, even though her brother-in-law is non-mahram like any other non-mahram. Similarly, relatives visit each other such as cousins (on the maternal and paternal sides), and other such non-mahram relations or non-relatives. It happens that they greet the women and sit with them whilst they are attired in their normal home clothes that show more than their hands and face such as their hair, neck, arms and lower legs. The non-mahram men deal with their uncovered female relatives as if they are mahrams. Sadly, this problem is widespread and most Muslims are afflicted by it and they think it is permitted (Mubah). The ruling concerning this is that Allah (swt) has absolutely forbidden the woman to be an object to be looked at or for sensual pleasure. He made the sensual pleasure an exception for spouses and then He made the charms i.e. the gaze at it, an exception for twelve categories of people in addition to them and those that are similar to them such as the maternal and paternal uncles. Allah (swt) made an exception of the woman showing her hands and face to all men. The sensual pleasure, that is, the lustful look is completely Haram except for the husband. Looking at just the hands and face as a mere look is undoubtedly permitted (Mubah) without restriction. Looking at more than the hands and face is absolutely haram except for the mahrams whom Allah (swt) has mentioned.

Previously discussed was the Shari'ah ruling with regards to public life as can be found in the texts (Nusus). Regarding the private life, the Legislator has permitted the woman to reveal more than the hands and face of, that which normally appears when she does the housework. Allah (swt) said: 


''Oh you who believe! Let your legal slaves and slave-girls, and those amongst you who have not reached the age of puberty ask your permission (before they come to your presence) on three occasions; before fajr (morning) prayer, and while you take off your clothes for the noon day (rest), and after ishaa (late-night) prayer'' [An- Nur: 58]

Allah (swt) has ordered the boys who have not reached the age of puberty not to call upon women at those three times. He then permitted them to enter at other than those three times: 

''These three times are of privacy for you, other than these times there is no sin on you or on them to move about''. [An- Nur: 58].

It is clear that other than at those three times, young boys and the slaves of women can visit women without their permission whilst wearing her home clothes and is allowed to reside in the house whilst attired in her home clothes. It is permitted for her to appear in these clothes before young boys and her slaves and the woman is allowed to live in her house in her home clothes without any doubt, and she will not be committing any sin. It is permissible for young boys and her slaves to enter her home without permission and to see her in such a condition. Similar to slaves are the servants who work in the house even if they are non-mahram men. Since the verse justifies the slave entering without permission by the fact that they move about them, as Allah (swt) said: 

''Or to move about attending to each other''. [An- Nur: 58]
i.e. because they move about you, or, they move about them. This reason (Illah) that exists for the slave, exists for the servant and all those similar to the servant. Accordingly, the woman in private is not obliged to cover that which exceeds the hands and face in terms of what normally appears when she is doing her household work except if she is naked or semi-naked, that is except in those three circumstances.

As for those other than young boys, slaves and servants, Allah (swt) has clarified the judgement on them in the private life as he ordered them to seek permission before they enter: 

''Oh you who believe! Enter not houses other than your own, until you establish familiarisation and greet their inhabitants''.[An- Nur: 27] 

Allah (swt) has commanded that the Muslim seeks permission (Istizan) (for which He has used the word istinas meaning familiarisation) when he wishes to enter a house other than his own. When he wishes to enter his own house it is not necessary for him to seek permission. The cause of revelation (Asbab Nuzul) for this verse can be seen when a woman from the Ansar said: Oh Messenger of Allah! I live in the house in such a state (condition) that I do not wish anyone to see me. Neither my father nor my son. But my father comes and enters my house (without permission). Men folk from my family continue to enter whilst I am in such a state. So what shall I do? The verse of istizan (seeking permission) was then revealed. If the cause of revelation and the wording (Mantuq) and meaning (Mafhum) of this Ayah are both analysed, (we find) that they indicate that the issue in the private life is not the covering or not covering of the 'awrah rather it is the woman's attire of her home clothes. Allah (swt) did not order the women not to wear home clothes or to screen themselves but rather ordered that men seek permission before they enter. In this particular situation there is no difference if they are mahrams, non-mahrams, men or women. The father and the foreign man (Ajnabi) are thus the same as the man and the woman, the only exceptions being young boys, and servants. Consequently, a man living with his wife, in a house where another man or woman resides, has the same ruling as living with the brother and the father, whether mahram or non-mahram (Ajnabi). There is no blame on the woman if she appears in her home clothes in private. As for the man, he must seek permission if he wishes to enter a house, other than his own.

As for the man looking at the woman in her home clothes, this is a different matter since it relates to looking, whether it is in private or elsewhere. Allah (swt) has forbidden the non-mahram from seeing more than the hands and face while permitting that to the mahrams. He ordered men to lower their gaze when it exceeds the hands and face. Allah (swt) has however forgiven the look, which is not a full glance. The prohibition of looking at more than the hands and face is clear. The lowering of the gaze from that which exceeds the hands and face, becomes evident where Allah (swt) commands:

''Tell the believing men to lower from their gaze'' [An- Nur: 30]

What is meant here is the lowering of the gaze from that which exceeds the hands and face as evidenced by the permissibility of looking at the face and hands. Bukhari narrated: Said b. Abu al-Hasan said to al-Hasan: ''The wives of the non-Arabs reveal their chest and head''. al-Hasan responded: ''Divert your gaze''. In the Hadith regarding the prohibition of sitting in the streets he said: Lower your gaze, that is, whilst in public women may reveal more then their hands and face in which case men are commanded to lower their gaze and not look at all. When Allah forbade the look He prohibited that which exceeds the hands and face which He defined as the premeditated look. As for the non-premeditated look, He did not forbid it or order its abstention but ordered that the gaze should be lowered as He (swt) says: 

''to lower from (min) their gaze'' [An- Nur: 30]. 

The preposition 'min' here is partative, indicating that they should lower a portion of their gaze, which means the permissibility of the partial gaze, that is the ordinary gaze, and not the premeditated look.

Accordingly, it is permitted for a man to live with his relatives. In this respect the mahram and non-mahram are all equal, for example, the father, brother and cousin. There is no harm for the woman to appear in her home clothes in front of those living in the same house with her husband or brother. The man who resides therein is obliged to lower his gaze. There is no harm for him to look at her normally whilst she is attired in her home clothes except in the three circumstances, i.e. except in the three mentioned time periods, that is, except the situation in which she will be in the three (stipulated) times.

As for those entering the house from the outside whether relatives, non-relations, mahrams or non-mahrams, they are all obliged to seek permission before they enter. In the case of mahrams entering the house, the woman is not required to cover herself from them because it is permitted for them to look at her charm, i.e. her 'awrah. If the visitors are non-mahrams, the woman is obliged to conceal her charm from them, showing no more than her hands and face. If she does not comply and remains in her ordinary home clothes then she will be sinful. The man is obliged in this case to lower his gaze. The difference between the visitor and the one living in the house is that the latter is not required to seek permission because it is his home and the woman is not required to do anything as she is in a private place. In the situation of a visitor going to a house, Allah (swt) has demanded that he seeks permission. This implies that the woman should not be wearing her home clothes except if the visitor is a mahram to her. The requirement of her to cover herself is evidenced by the cause of revelation for the Ayah. So if anyone visits a woman, he must ask permission to enter, whether he is a mahram or non-mahram. The seeking of permission implies that she should cover herself from non-mahrams. 

Since the onslaught of the western culture and the rule of the Muslim countries by the systems of kufr, non-Muslim women have started to go out semi-naked; showing their chests, backs, hair, arms and lower legs. Some Muslim women began to imitate them and also went out in public attired in this manner, until a man could not tell the difference between a Muslim woman and a non-Muslim woman. The Muslim men who lived in these cities were unable to eradicate this munkar by themselves. They were also unable to live in these cities without looking at these 'awrah of women. A man would inevitably look at a woman's 'awrah due to their lifestyle and the type of building in which they lived. No man could guard himself from looking at the 'awrah of women; their arms, chests, backs, lower legs and hair, no matter how much he tried not to look, except if he sat in his own house and didn't leave it. A man could not remain at home as he has to establish relations with people in terms of buying, selling, leasing, work and others similar. He could not undertake such relationships whilst guarding himself from such 'awrah. However, the prohibition of looking at such women is clear in the Kitab and Sunnah and this problem is circumvented only in two situations:

Firstly, the sudden look  which is what he encounters whilst in public. This person is forgiven for the first unexpected look (at an 'awrah) but he is obliged not to look again as has been narrated from Jarir b. Abd Allah, he said: I asked the Messenger of Allah about the sudden look (Nazra al-Fuja'a), so he instructed me to divert my gaze. It has been narrated on the authority of Ali that he said: The Messenger of Allah told me: ''Do not follow up the (first) glance with a second look. The first is permitted for you but not the second''.

In a situation where a non-mahram man is talking to a woman whose head and arms are uncovered as well as other parts she has become accustomed to show, he must divert his sight and lower his gaze. This has been narrated by Abu Dawud: al-Fadl b. Abbas was the Prophets riding partner at the time when a woman from Banu Khatham came seeking a hukm (ruling), so al-Fadl began to look at her and she at him, so the Messenger of Allah made him turn his face from her.

Allah (swt) Has said: 

''Tell the believing men to lower from their gaze and protect their private parts''. [An- Nur: 30]

What is meant by 'lowering the gaze' is to curtail it. The solution to this problem is the lowering of the gaze by the man whilst, for example, partaking in necessary conversations with her, travelling by car or sitting on a balcony due to the intense summer heat. These are needs which are part of the necessities of the public life for man. He does not have the ability to repulse this affliction of the womans' uncovering of their 'awrah and so he is obliged to lower from his gaze in accordance with the provision of the Ayah. 

It cannot be said here: that this affliction of looking at the 'awrah of women has become unavoidable and is difficult to guard against. Indeed, this principle contradicts the Shar'a. The haram does not become halal when it becomes an affliction and nor does the halal become a haram when it becomes an affliction. It cannot be stated that these women are unbelievers and so they should be dealt with in the same way as the slave girl. The kafir woman is not compared to the slave girl because the analogy is devoid of meaning. Their 'awrah is the same as that of the slave girl and the hadith is general and applies to all women, not exclusively to Muslim woman. The Prophet said: ''Oh Asmaa, if the woman reaches puberty, it is not allowed to be seen from her except this and this'', and he pointed to his face and hands. The hadith prohibits looking at a woman whether she is Muslim or non-Muslim and is a. general application for all situations.

Men who visit houses other than their own, where non-mahram women reside, should lower their gaze from that which exceeds the hands and face. Those who live in the cities and are forced to go into society or deal with kafir women, in terms of buying, talking, renting, leasing or selling with these womens' awrah's revealed, should lower their gaze during that time. They should limit the encounter to that which they necessarily need.

With regard to a handshake, between a man and a woman, it is permitted with no barrier between them due to what has been established in the Sahih Bukhari regarding Umm Atiyya. She said: ''We gave our baya(vote) to the Messenger of Allah , so He recited to us ''They should associate none with Allah and he forbade us from wailing (for the dead)''. A woman among us withdrew her hand...''. The pledge used to be taken by the shaking of hands. She withdrew her hand and retracted it after extending it for the pledge. This also implies that the others took the pledge by shaking hands but did not withdraw their hands as she had withdrawn her hand. When Allah (swt) stated: ''Or you have touched the women'' [An- Nisa: 43] Its wording is general to all women implying that touching invalidates the ablution (Wulu) which indicates the restriction of the rule to the invalidation of wulu by the touching of women. Touching women without desire, however, is not haram and so shaking their hands is not haram either. Just as the womans hand is not 'awrah, which does not constitute part of her 'awrah, it is not forbidden to look without desire, handshaking has not been forbidden either.

The permissibility of the shaking of hands is contrary to the act of kissing. A mans kissing of a (non-mahram) woman and vice versa is forbidden because it is one of the preludes to fornication (zina). It is the nature of such a kiss that would normally be a prelude to zina, even if there was no actual desire in it and if it did not lead to zina. The Prophet said to Maiz, when he came to him demanding that he be purified because he had committed fornication; ''perhaps you kissed''. This indicates that such kisses are a prelude to zina. The verses and Ahadith, which prohibit zina, include the prohibition of all the preludes to it even the touching, if by its nature it constitutes a prelude to zina. Such preludes take place if a person who has designs on a woman, wishes to seduce or kiss her, hold her tightly, or embrace her similar as to what takes place between some of the disgraceful youth today. This kind of kissing is prohibited even if it was for the purpose of greeting someone on return from a journey as the nature of such a kiss between young men and women acts as a prelude to zina (fornication). 

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