Rafed English

Looking at Non-Mahram

Looking at Non-Mahram


2440. It is illegal for am to look at the body or hair of a Non-Mahran women, regardless of whether it is with the intention to pleasure or not, and whether there is a fear of falling into sinful act or not. It is also illegal to look at the faces and the arms, up to the wrists, of such women with the intention of pleasure, or if there is fear falling into sinful act, and the recommended precaution is that one shuld not look at their faces or arms even without such an intention. Similarly, it is illegal for a woman to look at the body of Non-Maharam man except the places which are customarily not covered, like, his face, hands, head, neck and feet. She can look at these parts of a man without the intention of deriving any pleasure, or if there is no fear of being entrapped in any sinful act.

2441. To look at the body of a woman who would not care for the modest, even if she were advised, is not prohibited, provided that it does not lead to sinful act or sexual pleasure, and excitement, nor is it with that intention; and in this rule, there is no distinction between a Muslim and a non-Muslim woman; and also between those parts like their faces, their hands which they normally do not cover, and other parts of their bodies.

2442. Woman should conceal her body and hair from a man who is Non-Mahram, and as an obligatory precaution, she shold conceal herself even from a mature boy who is able to discern between good and evil, and could probably be sexual excited. But she can leave her face and hands up to wrists uncovered in the presence of Non-Mahram, as long as it does not lead him to casting a sinful, evil glance or her to doing something forbidden for in both these cases, she must cover them.

2443. It is illegal to look at the private parts of a pubescent 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 illegal to look at the genital of a Non-Muslim, and of a discerning little child. However, wife and her husband can look at the entire body of each other.

2444. 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.

2445. A man should not look at the body of another man with the intention of sexual excitement, and also, it is prohibited for a woman to look at the body of another woman with the intention of sexual excitement.

2446. A man, who is acquinted with a Non-Mahram would, should not as a precaution, look at her photograph etc, provided that the woman is not a heedless, common place person.

2447. If a woman wants to give an enema to another woman, or to a man other than her husband; or to clean her/his private parts with water, she should cover her hand with such a thing that her hand would not touch the private parts of the other woman or man. And the same applies to a man who wants to give an enema to another man or a woman other than his wife, or to clean his/her private parts with water.

2448. If a woman is rendered helpless by her disease, and if the only helpful treatment to her can be given by a male physician, she can reder to him. And if that male physician must look at her to be able to treat her, or to touch her for that matter, there is no objection. However, if he can treat her by looking at her, he should not touch her body, and if he can treat her by touching her body, he should not look at her.

2449. If a person is obliged to look at the private parts of a patient for his/her medical treatment, he should on the besis of obligatory precaution, place a mirror opposite him/her and look into it. However parts there is no objection. Similarly, if the duration of regarding the genitals in the mirror would be longer than looking at them directly, the latter method is adopted.

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