Fatwa ID: 09058
Answered by Maulana Aabu Saeed Miah
Question:
Setting aside the issue of taswir itself. Is the prohibition on looking at an image of a woman’s ʿawrah because of the fact that it is ʿawrah in and of itself, or is it based on the presence or fear of shahwah?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Guarding one’s eyes for both men and women is of paramount importance to protect the heart. The eyes and ears serve as a gateway to the heart.
‘Gazing at the awrah of a women’, is to look directly at a woman, not at a reflection or an image. Looking at digital images of Awrah is also Haram without a doubt. This is because it has the same effect on carnal desires as does looking at the Awrah directly. Therefore, to prevent corruption and sin, looking at digital images/videos of the Awrah is Haram.
Only Allah ﷻ knows best.
Written by Maulana Aabu Saeed Miah
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
References:
الْبَصَرُ هُوَ الْبَابُ الْأَكْبَرُ إِلَى الْقَلْبِ، وَأَعْمَرُ طُرُقِ الْحَوَاسِّ إِلَيْهِ، وَبِحَسَبِ ذَلِكَ كَثُرَ السُّقُوطُ مِنْ جِهَتِهِ. وَوَجَبَ التَّحْذِيرُ مِنْهُ، وَغَضُّهُ وَاجِبٌ عَنْ جَمِيعِ الْمُحَرَّمَاتِ، وَكُلِّ مَا يُخْشَى الْفِتْنَةُ مِنْ أَجْلِهِ
Page 223 – The book Tafsīr al-Qurṭubī (Al-Jāmi‘ li-Aḥkām al-Qur’ān) – Sūrah al-Nūr, a verse – Dār al-Kutub al-Miṣriyyah – Cairo.