Rules of Looking

2578. It is Haraam for man to look at the body of the Non-Mahram women, regardless of whether it is with the intention of pleasure or not. It is also Haraam to look at the faces and the arms, upto the wrists, of such women with the intention of pleasure, or if there is fear of falling into sinful act, and one should not look at their faces or arms even without such an intention. Similarly, it is Haraam for a woman to look at the body of Non-Mahram man, without the intention of deriving any pleasure. Also, looking at face, body and hair of a non-Baligh girl, if it is not for pleasure and it does not instigate sexual desire and there is no fear of being entrapped in any sinful act, has no harm.

2579. To look at the body of a Kafir woman who would not care for Hijab, is not Haraam, provided that it does not lead to sinful act or sexual pleasure.

2580. Woman should conceal her body and hair from a man who is non-Mahram, and as an obligatory precaution, she should conceal herself even from a Na-Baligh boy who is able to discern between good and evil, and could probably be sexually excited.

2581. It is Haraam to look at the private parts of a Baligh Muslim, even if it is seen behind the glass or reflected in the mirror, or clean water etc. As an obligatory precaution, it is also Haraam to look at the genitals of a discerning Na-Baligh child. However, wife and her husband can look at the entire body of each other.

2582. If a man and woman, who are Mahram of each other, do not have the intention of sexual pleasure, they can see the entire body of each other excepting the private parts.

2583. A man should not look at the body of another man with the intention of sexual excitement, and also, it is Haraam for a woman to look at the body of another woman with the intention of sexual excitement.

2584. If a man has to look or touch the body of a Na-Mahram woman for the sake of treatment, it has no harm. But, if he can treat her with looking and without touching, he must not touch her and vice versa.

2585. If one is obliged to look at other person’s private parts for treatment, he must look at mirror, but if there is no way but looking, then it has no harm.