The Gaze, Privacy and Intermingling

Religious Opinions (Fatawa) Regarding the Gaze, Privacy and Intermingling

All praise be to Allah alone, and peace and blessings of Allah be upon His Messenger, his family and companions.

This is a collection of religious opinions (Fatawas) of some senior scholars regarding important issues, which many women need. They revolve around the gaze, the privacy, and intermingling that have overspread many Muslim countries. We ask Allah to protect our young men and women of all evil for He is All-Hearer, Ever Near (to all things by his knowledge) and Responsive.

The ruling on looking at the face of the sister in law

Q: Some advocates of modernization may give permission to look at the face of the sister in law; they infer to some of the evidence. Your eminence, how far is this valid? And what is your response to this claim and how to deter such doings?

A: The wife of the brother is like any other foreign woman. It is not permissible for a man to look at the face of the wife of his brother. The same applies to the wives of his uncles, maternal uncles, and so on. It is not allowed to sit alone with any of these wives as with any other foreign woman to him, nor is it permitted for anyone of these women to unveil her face to her husband's brother, his uncle or his maternal uncle; it is neither allowed that he travels with her alone. This ruling springs from the general rule included in the words of Allah Almighty: {And when you ask (his wives) for anything you want, ask them from behind a screen: that is purer for your hearts and for their hearts.} [Surat Al-Ahzâb 33:53],

Transliteration: waitha saaltumoohunna mataAAan faisaloohunna min warai hijabin thalikum atharu liquloobikum waquloobihinna,

This rule is generally applied to all Muslim wives and not restricted to the wives of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. It also comes from the words of Allah Almighty: {Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.). That is purer for them. Verily, Allah is All-Aware of what they do. (30) And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.) and not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent (like palms of hands or one eye or both eyes for necessity to see the way, or outer dress like veil, gloves, head-cover, apron, etc.), and to draw their veils all over Juyubihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms, etc.) and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husband's fathers, their sons, their husband's sons, their brothers or their brother's sons, or their sister's sons, or their (Muslim) women (i.e. their sisters in Islam), or the (female) slaves whom their right hands possess, or old male servants who lack vigour, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And all of you beg Allah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful} [Surat An-Nûr 24:30-31]

Transliteration: Qul lilmumineena yaghuddoo min absarihum wayahfathoo furoojahum thalika azka lahum inna Allaha khabeerun bima yasnaAAoona (30) Waqul lilmuminati yaghdudna min absarihinna wayahfathna furoojahunna wala yubdeena zeenatahunna illa ma thahara minha walyadribna bikhumurihinna AAala juyoobihinna wala yubdeena zeenatahunna illa libuAAoolatihinna aw abaihinna aw abai buAAoolatihinna aw abnaihinna aw abnai buAAoolatihinna aw ikhwanihinna aw banee ikhwanihinna aw banee akhawatihinna aw nisaihinna aw ma malakat aymanuhunna awi alttabiAAeena ghayri olee alirbati mina alrrijali awi alttifli allatheena lam yathharoo AAala AAawrati alnnisai wala yadribna biarjulihinna liyuAAlama ma yukhfeena min zeenatihinna watooboo ila Allahi jameeAAan ayyuha almuminoona laAAallakum tuflihoona

His words, Glorified and Exalted: {O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies (i.e. screen themselves completely except the eyes or one eye to see the way). That will be better, that they should be known (as free respectable women) so as not to be annoyed.} [Surat Al-Ahzâb 33:59]

Transliteration: Ya ayyuha alnnabiyyu qul liazwajika wabanatika wanisai almumineena yudneena AAalayhinna min jalabeebihinna thalika adna an yuAArafna fala yuthayna

And the Hadith of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him: "No woman should travel except with a mahram (a man to whom she is forbidden to marry)", [Agreed upon],

and the words of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him: "No man is privately alone with a woman; but their third is Satan" [Reported by At-Tirmidhi and authenticated by Al-Albani];

As unveiling the woman's face to her husband's brother or others and giving them the chance to look at her face evokes the causes of temptation and falling into what Allah has prohibited.

By Allah, these matters are the wise reason behind the obligation of the Hijâb, and the prohibition of looking at, and being alone with, a foreign woman, because the face is where the beauty of a woman is revealed. I ask Allah to guide us.
Sheikh Ibn Bâz

The ruling on looking at women

Q: Is it permissible for a man to look at a foreign woman more than the accidental glance. If it is not permissible, is it allowable for male students to attend a lecture delivered by an unveiled woman, who wears a tight dress, under the pretext of learning?

A: It is not permissible to look at her more than an accidental glance, unless it is necessary, as in the case of rescuing her from drowning, from fire or wreckage or similar cases; or in the case of medical examination or treating a disease, when there is no female physician available.
(The Standing Committee)

Q: What is the ruling of a man looking at a foreign woman and a woman looking at a foreign man while watching TV?

A: This is not permitted, because in most of the shows on TV women are dressing up and revealing some of their unallowable-to-show body parts, while men would be an example of adornment and beauty. And this is often a source of sedition and corruption.
(The Standing Committee)

The ruling on looking at pictures of women in magazines

Q: What is the ruling of looking at pictures of women in newspapers, magazines and others?

A: It is not permitted for a Muslim to look at the faces of women, nor to anything from their unallowable-to-show body parts, neither in magazines nor elsewhere, because that causes affliction. He should lower his gaze from this in pursuant to the general Islamic laws and evidence that forbid doing such an act, and for fear of sedition. He should also lower his gaze from them in the streets and elsewhere. We beseech Allah to guide us.
Sheikh Ibn Bâz

These TV series are forbidden to be watched

Q: What is the ruling regarding listening to music and songs? What is the ruling in regard to TV series in which women reveal unallowable-to-show body parts?

A: This is prohibited and should be banned, because this prevents (mankind) from the Path of Allah, and causes ailments of the heart as well as the risk of falling into what Allah Glorified and Exalted, has prohibited of Al-Fawâhish (great evil sins, every kind of unlawful sexual intercourse). Allah Almighty has said: {And of mankind is he who purchases idle talks (i.e. music, singing, etc.) to mislead (men) from the Path of Allah without knowledge, and takes it (the Path of Allah, the Verses of the Quran) by way of mockery. For such there will be a humiliating torment (in the Hell-fire). (6) And when Our Verses (of the Quran) are recited to such a one, he turns away in pride, as if he heard them not, as if there were deafness in his ear. So announce to him a painful torment.} [Surat Luqmân 31:6-7]

Transliteration: Wamina alnnasi man yashtaree lahwa alhadeethi liyudilla AAan sabeeli Allahi bighayri AAilmin wayattakhithaha huzuwan olaika lahum AAathabun muheenun (6) Waitha tutla AAalayhi ayatuna walla mustakbiran kaan lam yasmaAAha kaanna fee othunayhi waqran fabashshirhu biAAathabin aleemin

These two noble verses indicate that hearing musical instruments and singing is one of the causes of straying and perversion, mocking the verses of Allah and turning away in pride from hearing them.

Allah has threatened whosoever does such acts with degrading punishment and painful torment. The majority of scholars have interpreted 'idle talks' in the verse as singing, musical instruments, and every voice that prevents (mankind) from the Path of Allah. In Sahîh al-Bukhâri, may Allah have mercy on him, he narrated that the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has said: "From among my followers there will be some people who will consider illegal sexual intercourse, the wearing of silk, the drinking of alcoholic drinks and the use of musical instruments, as lawful."

Sexual intercourse is forbidden when in adultery, silk clothes are forbidden for Muslim men, alcoholic drinks are everything that intoxicate the body and mind and are forbidden for men and women alike, musical instruments include any instrument that produces music such as the lute, the drums, the mandolin and the like; the player is the one playing them and the one singing to their music.

It is obligatory on every Muslim male and female to avoid these evils and to beware of them, as well as to avoid watching TV series that include scenes of women revealing unallowable-to-show body parts because they involve great danger as they may lead to the ailment of their heart and the demise of their zeal of whoever watches them; this may lead to falling into what Allah has prohibited, whether the viewer is a man or a woman. I beseech Allah to guide all of us to His satisfaction and hold us safe from the causes of His wrath.
Sheikh Ibn Bâz

The Reason why it is prohibited to shake hands with foreign women

Q: Why does Islam forbid shaking hands with the women who are being permitted to get married to? Does shaking hands without lust nullify ablution?

A: Islam has forbidden that. It is a source of great sedition to touch a woman foreign to the person. It is legislated to forbid anything that may lead to temptation. Therefore, the legislator ordered Muslims to lower their gaze to ward off this evil. Touching a woman does not nullify ablution, even if there is a lustrous desire; unless there is pre-seminal fluid or spermatic fluid. In the later case, he must take a purifying bath, and he should perform ablution if it is just pre-seminal fluid with washing his male organ and testicles.
Sheikh Ibn 'Uthaymîn

The ruling on shaking the hands of the wife of the husband's brother

Q: Is it permissible for the husband's brothers to shake hands with their brother's wife without sitting alone with her but in the presence of sisters and parents, which often happens?

It is not permissible to a husband's brothers, maternal and paternal uncles or cousins to shake hands with the wives of their brothers or the wives of their maternal or paternal uncles as they are like all other foreign women for them. The brother is not non-marriageable (a mahram) for his brother's wife, likewise, the uncle is not a mahram for his nephew's wife, as well as maternal uncle is not a mahram for the wife of his sister's son. The same applies to cousins; they are not barred to marry their cousins' wives. The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has said: "I do not shake hands with women." [Authenticated by Al-Albani]

Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, said: "by Allah, the hand of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has never touched the hand of a woman, and when he accepted their pledge, he accepted it verbally." [Reported by Al-Bukhari]

This is because shaking hands with foreign women might be a means of temptation, just like looking at them or even worse. However, as for non-marriageable women, such as a sister, parental or maternal aunts, and the son's wife or the father's wife there is no sin in shaking hands with them. May Allah help us to prosper.
Sheikh Ibn Bâz

The ruling on shaking hands with foreign women from behind a screen

Q: Is it permissible to shake hands with a foreign woman if she puts a screen (gloves and the like) on her hands with giving us evidence to that, may Allah reward you? Is the rule applied to old women the same as that applied to younger ones?

A: It is not permissible to shake hands with foreign women who are not mahram, either directly or with a screen, because of the temptation arising out of that. Allah Almighty has said: {And come not near to the unlawful sexual intercourse. Verily, it is a Fahishah [i.e. anything that transgresses its limits (a great sin)], and an evil way (that leads one to Hell unless Allah forgives him).} [Surat Al-Isrâ' 17:32]

Transliteration: Wala taqraboo alzzina innahu kana fahishatan wasaa sabeelan

This verse indicates that we must leave everything leading to adultery, whether it is the complete fulfilled intercourse, which is the greatest, or otherwise. There is no doubt that touching the hand of a foreign woman may provoke desire. In addition there are many Hadiths that threaten those who shake hands with a marriageable woman, making no difference between the young and the old, because as it is said each type of women has its appeal. Meanwhile it is difficult to differentiate between young and old women as someone may see a woman as an old maid, while another may consider her as a young lass.
Sheikh Ibn 'Uthaymîn

It is permissible for a man to kiss his daughter

Q: Is it permissible for a man to kiss his daughter when she has grown up over the age of puberty, whether married or unmarried, and whether the kissing is on the cheek or mouth, or the like? And if she kisses him on the same places, what is the ruling?

A: There is no sin with a man kissing his daughter, old or little, provided that it is done without lust. However, this should be on her cheek in case she is a young woman, as it was proven that Abu Bakr As-Siddîq, may Allah be pleased with him, had kissed his daughter Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, on her cheek.

Because kissing on the mouth may lead to moving sexual desire; so to leave it is better and safer. Likewise, a girl may kiss her father on his nose or head, without lust. But kissing with lust is forbidden for everyone in order to prevent sedition and to avoid al-Fahishah (illegal sexual intercourse).
Sheikh Ibn Bâz

Sitting Alone with a foreign woman is prohibited

Q. Some people are tolerant in speaking with foreign women; for example, a man may come to the house of his friend and does not find him. The wife speaks with this man, her husband's friend, opens the sitting room for him and makes coffee and tea for him, is this permissible? Taking into consideration that there is nobody in the house, only the wife?

A: A woman should not allow a foreign man into the house of her husband in his absence, even if he is the friend of her husband, and even if he is honest and reliable. This constitutes privacy with a foreign woman, which is mentioned in the Hadith: "No man is privately alone with a woman; but their third is Satan." [Reported by At-Tirmidhi and authenticated by Al-Albani];

It is also forbidden for a man to ask the wife of his friend to let him in the house and to entertain him even if he is confident of his honesty and religion for fear that Satan should whisper to him and interfere between them. The husband should warn his wife not to allow any foreign men into the house even if they are his relatives, because the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has said: "Beware of entering upon the ladies." A man said: "O Allah's Apostle! What about Al-Hamu (the in-laws of the wife (the brothers of her husband or his nephews etc.))?" The Prophet replied: The in-laws of the wife are death itself". [Agreed upon]

If the brother in-law, who is considered the husband's brother, or his relative, are not allowed to enter so other persons would be better prevented.
Sheikh Ibn Jibrîn

The ruling regarding sexual relations before marriage

Q: What is the ruling regarding intimate relation before marriage?

A: The inquirer says: before marriage, if he meant before marriage consummation and after the marriage contract has been concluded there is no sin on that, because by contract the woman has become his wife though the marriage ceremony has not yet been done. But if the inquirer means before concluding the marriage contract, during the betrothal period, or even before that, it is forbidden and is not permissible for a man to be intimate with a woman who is a stranger to him, whether by words, looks or by being privately alone with her, except with the presence of a mahram. It has been proven that the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has said: "No man is to be privately alone with a woman except with the presence of a mahram, and no woman should travel except with a mahram." [Reported by Muslim]

The conclusion is that if this intimate relationship is after concluding the marriage contract there is no sin in that, and if that it is before the contract and after the engagement and acceptance, it is forbidden; as the man in this case is forbidden for the woman, because she is a stranger to him, until they conclude the marriage contract.
Sheikh Ibn Bâz

No woman should travel except with a mahram

Q: What is the ruling on bringing a maidservant without a mahram? Is it forbidden that the maidservant should come from her own country without a mahram or to live in the house in which she serves alone without a mahram?

A: Women should not travel without a mahram, whether servants or others because the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has said: "No woman should travel except with a mahram." [Agreed upon]

As for her presence in the house, it does not necessitate the existence of a mahram. However, no man foreign to her, should be alone with her because the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has said: "No man should sit alone with a woman except with a mahram," [Agreed upon],

And he, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has also said: "No man is privately alone with a woman; but their third is Satan." [Narrated by Imam Ahmad, with authentic chain of transmissions attributed to Ibn 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with him.]

Sheikh Ibn Bâz

The ruling on a woman's stay in a country other than hers without a mahram

Q: My question is about a woman's work and residence without a mahram in other than her own country. Taking into consideration that I am currently working in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in a place, where all employees are women. I live in the work dormitory, where all the residents are women and thanks Allah there are no intermingling or anything that causes the wrath of Allah Glorified and Exalted, whether at work or in the living quarters. I have tried to bring my brother to be my legitimate mahram, but I was not successful. So, what is the ruling regarding my current situation and my staying here without a mahram, taking into consideration that I have firstly asked a lot for the guidance of Allah Glorified and Exalted before coming here, and I have felt that Allah has facilitated many things for me. Secondly: the situation in my country, where intermingling and poor ethics in workplaces do not encourage a devout Muslim to continue in it. In the light of what I have mentioned to you, what is your opinion?

A: We ask Allah to give us and you prosperity. There is nothing wrong in what you have done, as there is no harm or sin in the residence of a woman in a country without a mahram, especially if she works with other women in a place where no men are allowed, or sleep in a dormitory for women. There is no sin in all that. What is forbidden is to travel alone. So you should not travel except with a mahram, and you should not come to the Kingdom except with a mahram. If you have come from your country without a mahram you have to repent to Allah and seek His forgiveness, and not to return to doing this again. If you want to travel then you have to find a mahram. Or you have to be patient till you find one. As it is narrated that the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has said: "No woman should travel except with a mahram." [Agreed upon]

If it is possible to find a mahram from among your relatives, or a husband, then your husband will be your mahram. The matter is in the hands of Allah. You have to do your best to find a mahram when you travel. As for your staying and working among women, it is permitted and there is no sin in that. All praise be to Allah.

There is no doubt that a woman's travel alone without a mahram is risky and dangerous and it has sedition within it; therefore I advise our Muslim sisters to beware of that, and to only travel in the accompany of a mahram. I also advise them to be cautious of intermingling and working with men, or of being alone with them. All of this must be restricted in hospitals and in other workplaces. My advice to all is that they should not bring women for work except with a mahram, and that women should not travel except with a mahram, and to avoid working with men. A woman should not be alone with men who are strangers to her, as this would be a way to sedition. The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has prevented and forbidden that; he has said: "No man is privately alone with a woman; but their third is Satan." [Reported by At-Tirmidhi and authenticated by Al-Albani];

The conclusion is that a woman and her guardians should ensure the safety of their honour and be away from the causes of sedition. As for work, there is no sin if a woman works among other women in permissible occupations that do not endanger her religion and does not cause temptation for men.
Sheikh Ibn Bâz

The ruling on entering markets that have mixed male and female shoppers

Q. Is it permissible for a Muslim male to enter a market while he knows that in the market there are women who are dressed bur appear to be naked as well as intermingling unacceptable to Allah Glorified and Exalted?

A: Such a market should only be entered by those who are enjoining Al-Ma'rûf (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm orders one to do) and forbidding Al-Munkar (polytheism and disbelief and all that Islâm has forbidden), or for dire needs with lowering the gaze and being cautious against the causes of sedition for the safety of honour and religion, and keeping away from the ways of evil. However, market inspectors and any authorized persons should enter such markets to forbid what is happening there of the evil acts. Allah Almighty has said: {The believers, men and women, are Auliya' (helpers, supporters, friends, protectors) of one another, they enjoin (on the people) Al-Ma'ruf (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam orders one to do), and forbid (people) from Al-Munkar (i.e. polytheism and disbelief of all kinds, and all that Islam has forbidden);} [Surat At-Taubah 9:71]

Transliteration: Waalmuminoona waalmuminatu baAAduhum awliyao baAAdin yamuroona bialmaAAroofi wayanhawna AAani almunkari

The Almighty has also said: {Let there arise out of you a group of people inviting to all that is good (Islam), enjoining Al-Ma'ruf (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam orders one to do) and forbidding Al-Munkar (polytheism and disbelief and all that Islam has forbidden). And it is they who are the successful.} [Surat Aal-i-Imraan 3:104]. The verses in this meaning are abundant.

Transliteration: Waltakun minkum ommatun yadAAoona ila alkhayri wayamuroona bialmaAAroofi wayanhawna AAani almunkari waolaika humu almuflihoona

The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has also said: "If people see evil and do not try to change it, they would be soon overtaken by the punishment of Allah." [Reported by Ahmad and some of the Hadith scholars, with authentic chain of transmission attributed to Abu Bakr As-Siddîq, may Allah be pleased with him]

In another Hadith the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has said: "He who amongst you sees something abominable should modify it with the help of his hand; and if he has not strength enough to do it, then he should do it with his tongue, and if he has not strength enough to do it, (even) then he should (abhor it) from his heart, and that is the least of faith." [Reported by Imam Muslim in his Sahîh]

The Hadiths in this sense are many. I beseech Allah to guide us.
Sheikh Ibn Bâz

The ruling on a woman working in an intermingling workplace

Q. Is it permissible for a woman to work in a mixed environment with men, taking into consideration that there are other women in the same workplace?

A: I think that it is not permissible to mix between men and women in government and private sector departments, or in government or private schools. Intermingling between them in such workplaces causes many evils, the least of which is the disappearance of shyness and veneration. If men and women intermingle, men will not have the veneration required from women towards them neither women will become shy of men. This (I mean intermingling between men and women) is in contradiction to what Islamic law requires, and is contrary to the behavior of the ancestors. Do you not know that the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has assigned a special place for women when they went out for the Eid prayer, where they do not intermingle with men! It is mentioned in the authentic Hadith that the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, after having delivered his sermon to the men, has come down and went to the women and preached and reminded them.

This indicates that they did not hear the Prophet's sermon, or if they heard they did not comprehend what they had heard. Do you not know that the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has said: "The best rows for men are the first rows, and the worst ones are the last ones, and the best rows for women are the last ones and the worst ones for them are the first ones." [Reported by Muslim]

And this is only because of their closeness to the rows of men, so the first rows of women are the worst, and vice versa, the farthest the rows of women from those of men the best. If that is in common acts of worship, then what about intermingling in non-acts of worship activities? It is well known that the human being in the case of performing acts of worship is as far as they could be from the sexual instinct, then how about if intermingling is without performing acts of worship?

"Satan circulates in the body of Adam's offspring as his blood circulates in it" [Reported by Al-Bukhari],

So it is not unlikely that there might occur a great sedition and evil from this intermingling. I call upon our brothers to keep away from intermingling, and let them know that it is the most harmful thing that would happen to men. The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has said: "After me I have not left any affliction more harmful to men than women." [Agreed upon]

All praise be to Allah, because we Muslims have a unique feature, which distinguishes us from others. We must thank Allah Almighty, in particular, that He has bestowed this feature upon us. We have to know that we pursue the law of Allah the All-Wise, Who knows what is reforming His servants and lands. We should know that if people deviate from the path of Allah Glorified and Exalted and His laws, then they are astray and their conditions are turning to corruption. This is why we hear that other countries whose women intermingle with men are trying as hard as they can to get rid of this habit, but how could they receive (Faith and the acceptance of their repentance by Allâh) from a place so far off (i.e. to return to the worldly life again). We ask Allah Almighty to protect our country and the Muslim world from all evils and from the harms of sedition.
Sheikh Ibn Bâz


Ibn Khuzayma House

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