It is mentioned that he sits in his father's shop for selling, and some women, including young women, come to him, and he looks at them unintentionally, even though he intends not to look at them.

The questioner : This message reached us from the young man Mahmoud Raman from Jordan. His message is long; he mentions that he sits in his father's shop for selling, and some women, including young women, come to him, and he looks at them unintentionally, even though he intends not to look at them. He only looks at them in order to sell to them. What is the ruling on these glances that slip away from him? He says: Please inform us, may Allah grant you success?

The Shaykh : Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, says: So he must lower his gaze from these women who come to him. He is allowed the first glance that happens by chance without his intention, but it is not permissible for him to remain in this state of looking, because no matter how pure he is, Satan flows through the son of Adam like blood. Perhaps he may not have desire at first when his gaze falls on a woman, but then desire arises in him during the looking, and at that time harm and fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) occur. He may perhaps talk to her excessively without need, but taking pleasure in her speech and finding comfort in it, and this is among the forbidden matters.

The questioner : Yes.

The Shaykh : Yes.