What is the ruling on a non-mahram woman looking at a non-mahram man?

The questioner : May Allah reward you. A questioner asks: What is the ruling on a non-mahram woman looking at a man who does not see her, such as on television, for example?

The Shaykh : Yes, it is permissible for a woman to look at a man without desire and without enjoyment. The evidence for this is that Aisha, the Mother of the Believers (may Allah be pleased with her), used to look at the Abyssinians as they played in the mosque, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was approving of that. He himself would shield her from them, covering her from their view while she looked at them as they played in the mosque. Second, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to Fatimah bint Qays: This is clear. Also, women walk in the markets and men have their faces uncovered, is that not so? Men have their faces uncovered. If we were to say that it is forbidden for a woman to look at a man, then it would be obligatory for a man to cover his face from a woman, just as we made it obligatory for a woman to cover her face from a man. Thus, the text and analogical reasoning indicate that it is not forbidden for a woman to look at a man. However, if she takes pleasure in looking at him, meaning her chest opens up without sexual desire, then this is forbidden. Or if she looks at him with a look of sexual pleasure such that her desire is aroused, then this is also forbidden. But if a woman fixes her gaze on a man and continues to look at him, and says, "I am not looking at him for desire or enjoyment," what do we say to her? We say: She is lying. What is the reason for her fixing her gaze and continuing to look at him? Similarly, some people are afflicted with looking at young boys. You find one fixing his gaze on a young boy and continuing to look at him, saying, "I am not looking at him for desire or enjoyment." We say: If so, why do you continue to look and fix your gaze? If you did not have desire, enjoyment, and lust, you would not continue to look at him. So, what refutes her claim? The circumstances. Or does it not refute her claim that she is not looking for desire or enjoyment? The circumstances. Yes.