If a man from among my relatives or from the environment in which I work speaks to me, is it permissible for me to look at him with a pure intention, or should I respond to him without looking at him? Please guide us.

The questioner : If a man from among my relatives or from the environment in which I work speaks to me, is it permissible for me to look at him with a pure intention, or should I respond to him without looking at him? Please guide us. May Allah reward you.

The Shaykh : Regarding what you mentioned, we must know whether she is uncovering her face before this man who spoke to her, who is not one of her mahrams, or whether she is covering her face? And did the conversation take place with seclusion (khalwah) or without seclusion? If it was with seclusion, then that is forbidden and not permissible, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: And if she is uncovering her face, that is also not permissible, because it is obligatory for a woman to cover her face from other than her husband and her mahrams. So it is not permissible for her to uncover her face before her maternal or paternal cousins, or before other people, unless they are among her mahrams. So let her look at her situation: if she has covered her face and there is no seclusion, there is no harm in speaking to this man who is one of her relatives. As for looking at him, if there is no fitnah and no desire, and it is behind a barrier, there is no harm in it. But if fitnah is feared, or if she looks at him with a look of enjoyment and pleasure, then that is forbidden. Yes.

The questioner : From a barrier, the listener sent, and she symbolized her name with the letters L F D, with this message saying in it.