Fatwa ID: 07195
Answered by: Mufti Mohammed Dilwar Hussain
Question:
Question is not regarding tasweer. Ignoring jawaz/ adame jawaz of tasweer, looking at awrah without shahwah through a medium e.g. video or mirror, is it the same / I.e. sinful as looking directly?
In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Allāh Ta’ālā says: “And tell the believing women that they must lower their gazes and guard their private parts, and must not expose their adornment, except that which appears thereof, and must wrap their bosoms with their shawls, and must not expose their adornment…” [Surah an-Noor; 24:31] [1]
The entire body of a free woman is her Awrah, except her face and hands. [Al-Bināyah: vol. 2, pg. 137-138] [2]
Allāh Ta’ālā implores us: “Do not even go close to fornication. It is indeed a shameful act, and an evil way to follow.” [Surah al-Isrā; 17:32] [3]
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Beware! Avoid sitting on the roads (ways).” The people said; “There is no way out of it as these are our sitting places where we have talks.” The Prophet ﷺ said: “If you must sit there, then observe the rights of the way.” They asked: “What are the rights of the way?” He ﷺ said: “They are the lowering of your gazes (on seeing what is illegal to look at), refraining from harming people, returning greetings, advocating good and forbidding evil.” [Sāhīh al-Bukhārī: Hadith 2465] [4]
The ruling on lowering one’s gaze stands as a preventative measure to protect us. The evils of which are clearly visible in our societies when this ruling is exploited.
If one fears lust or even a hint of possibility towards any Fitnah occurring then he must lower his gaze.
Generally, we should not be looking at the private parts of any individual including our own unless there is a need. Where there is a need to look, then it should be limited solely to what is required.
We must never look towards the opposite gender, especially towards their private parts. This includes all Mahram women aswell (i.e.). The only exception being one’s spouse as there is no pardah between spouses.
The sin is the same, whether one looks at Harām directly (i.e., in person) or indirectly (i.e., through a video). Both must be avoided. Private parts are referred to as ‘private parts’ for exactly that reason, that they should be kept private and should not attract unnecessary attention.
Only Allāh Ta’ālā knows best.
Written by Mufti Mohammed Dilwar Hussain
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
[1]وَقُل لِّلۡمُؤۡمِنَٰتِ يَغۡضُضۡنَ مِنۡ أَبۡصَٰرِهِنَّ وَيَحۡفَظۡنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبۡدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنۡهَاۖ وَلۡيَضۡرِبۡنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَىٰ جُيُوبِهِنَّۖ وَلَا يُبۡدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوۡ ءَابَآئِهِنَّ أَوۡ ءَابَآءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوۡ أَبۡنَآئِهِنَّ أَوۡ أَبۡنَآءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوۡ إِخۡوَٰنِهِنَّ أَوۡ بَنِيٓ إِخۡوَٰنِهِنَّ أَوۡ بَنِيٓ أَخَوَٰتِهِنَّ أَوۡ نِسَآئِهِنَّ أَوۡ مَا مَلَكَتۡ أَيۡمَٰنُهُنَّ أَوِ ٱلتَّٰبِعِينَ غَيۡرِ أُوْلِي ٱلۡإِرۡبَةِ مِنَ ٱلرِّجَالِ أَوِ ٱلطِّفۡلِ ٱلَّذِينَ لَمۡ يَظۡهَرُواْ عَلَىٰ عَوۡرَٰتِ ٱلنِّسَآءِۖ وَلَا يَضۡرِبۡنَ بِأَرۡجُلِهِنَّ لِيُعۡلَمَ مَا يُخۡفِينَ مِن زِينَتِهِنَّۚ وَتُوبُوٓاْ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تُفۡلِحُونَ {
[2]وبدن الحرة كلها عورة إلا وجهها وكفيها لقوله عليه السلام المرأة عورة مستورة واستثناء العضوين للابتلاء بإدائهما
[3]وَلَا تَقۡرَبُواْ ٱلزِّنَىٰٓۖ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ فَٰحِشَة وَسَآءَ سَبِيلا {
[4]حَدَّثَنَا مُعَاذُ بْنُ فَضَالَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عُمَرَ، حَفْصُ بْنُ مَيْسَرَةَ عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَسْلَمَ، عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ” إِيَّاكُمْ وَالْجُلُوسَ عَلَى الطُّرُقَاتِ ”. فَقَالُوا مَا لَنَا بُدٌّ، إِنَّمَا هِيَ مَجَالِسُنَا نَتَحَدَّثُ فِيهَا. قَالَ ” فَإِذَا أَبَيْتُمْ إِلاَّ الْمَجَالِسَ فَأَعْطُوا الطَّرِيقَ حَقَّهَا ” قَالُوا وَمَا حَقُّ الطَّرِيقِ قَالَ ” غَضُّ الْبَصَرِ، وَكَفُّ الأَذَى، وَرَدُّ السَّلاَمِ، وَأَمْرٌ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ، وَنَ
