Fatwa ID: 08133

Answered by: Moulana Sakib Shadman

Question:

Assalamu’alaikum, 

I have a question in regards to pardah and request for guidance in this query.

Would it be permissible for a ghayr mahram man to look at a woman in pardah? Does the law of lowering gaze only apply to when the awrah is uncovered or rather is it general as to lower gaze from the complete opposite gender, whether they’re covered or not?

Is it sinful to gaze at a woman in full pardah as a man, and does the recommendation of not looking more than once apply to women in pardah too?

Also, the women of Madinah were all in pardah, so why did the Sahabah have the obligation to lower their gaze still?

JazakAllah, Wasalam

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

Wa alaikum assalam,

In a way, you have answered your own question. The reason why the Sahabah (RA) were told to lower their gaze despite the female Sahabiyyat fully covering themselves is because it is haram for a man to look at a woman even if she is in full pardah (covering). The following narration shall illustrate this point:

Al-Hasan reported: A man saw a woman he recognized from the time of ignorance, so he talked to her and then left her. He turned back to look at her, and as he was walking, a wall collapsed on him, leaving scars upon his face. He went to the Prophet ﷺ and told him about it. The Prophet said:
“If Allah intends goodness for His servant, He hastens his punishment in the world.”

Even if a woman is fully covered, it is extremely immodest for a man to look at her. Any modest sister would be uncomfortable if a man were to look at her, even if she is fully covered. Women are priceless gems in Islam. We respect their boundaries and their desire to not be gazed at by men.

Furthermore, if a man looks at a fully covered woman, there is still fear of temptation and arousal. There is also a slim chance that the woman inadvertently becomes slightly uncovered (e.g., if she walks briskly or there is a breeze), so out of precaution, we must lower our gaze around women at all times.

Finally, looking at a woman is the first step towards zina (adultery and fornication). If the man is shameless enough to look at a woman, he may also be shameless enough to approach her, talk to her; and one thing leads to another.

No man with ghayrah (sense of honour) would be content with other men staring at his fully covered wife or mother. So, men should lower their gaze no matter what a woman wears.

Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best.
Written by: Maulana Sakib Shadman
Checked and approved by: Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham

References:

1.
عن الحسن أن رجلاً من الصحابة رأى امرأة كان يعرفها في الجاهلية فكلمها ثم تركها فجعل الرجل يلتفت وهي تمشي فصدمه حائط فأثر في وجهه، فأتى النبي ﷺ فأخبره، فقال النبي ﷺ:
“إذا أراد الله بعبد خيراً عجل عقوبته في الدنيا”
— 4/132 إحياء علوم الدين
— 5/2172 المحدث العراقي، خلاصة حكم المحدث: صحيح في تخريج الإحياء للعراقي

2.
{قُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا۟ مِنْ أَبْصَـٰرِهِمْ} [النور: 30]
— تفسير وحواشي ابن عابدين، ص373
— البحر الرائق، ص381

3.
وَقَالَ ابْنُ مَسْعُودٍ ﵄: {إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا} [النور: 31] أي الرداء والثياب
— بدائع الصنائع، ص122

4.
غض البصر واجب عن كل عضو من أعضائها
— شرح مختصر الطحاوي للجصاص، ص538

5.
قال ابن القيم: “الشارع حرم الذرائع، وإن لم يقصد بها المحرم؛ لإفضائها إليه، فكيف إذا قصد بها المحرم نفسه؟”
— الاجتهاد في مناط الحكم الشرعي، ص461

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