What is the ruling on a man looking at a non-mahram woman during transactions involving buying and selling?
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The questioner : What is the ruling on a man looking at a non-mahram woman during transactions involving buying and selling?
The Shaykh : Looking at a non-mahram woman is forbidden, whether during buying and selling or in any other situation, due to the generality of the evidence. A man should not go too far in speaking to her when buying, and a woman should not speak in a soft, seductive manner when buying and selling with a man, because Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Ahzab 33:32].
As for what some women do, which is talking extensively with shopkeepers and stall owners, this is contrary to what is prescribed, and it contains a great trial.
Likewise, what we see of some people bringing their wives to tailors or the like, then remaining in the car and letting the woman speak to the tailor or shopkeeper without listening to what passes between them. This is, in reality, a lack of jealousy in this man. Otherwise, how can he allow himself to remain in the car while the woman speaks to the shopkeeper, whether a tailor or otherwise?
It would have been better for him, if the woman’s presence was necessary, to stand with her while she speaks to the man. However, there is a more complete situation than this: the woman asks her guardian, such as her husband or another, for what she wants to buy. He then goes himself, after taking the specifications from the woman, to the shopkeeper or tailor and agrees with him on what the woman described, while she remains in her home. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) informed us that the homes of women are better for them, even better than attending the mosques. I ask Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) to keep us all away from the causes of evil and trial. Indeed, He is capable of all things.
The Shaykh : Looking at a non-mahram woman is forbidden, whether during buying and selling or in any other situation, due to the generality of the evidence. A man should not go too far in speaking to her when buying, and a woman should not speak in a soft, seductive manner when buying and selling with a man, because Allah the Exalted said:
then do not be soft in speech [to men], lest he in whose heart is disease should covet
فلا تخضعن بالقول فيطمع الذي في قلبه مرضAs for what some women do, which is talking extensively with shopkeepers and stall owners, this is contrary to what is prescribed, and it contains a great trial.
Likewise, what we see of some people bringing their wives to tailors or the like, then remaining in the car and letting the woman speak to the tailor or shopkeeper without listening to what passes between them. This is, in reality, a lack of jealousy in this man. Otherwise, how can he allow himself to remain in the car while the woman speaks to the shopkeeper, whether a tailor or otherwise?
It would have been better for him, if the woman’s presence was necessary, to stand with her while she speaks to the man. However, there is a more complete situation than this: the woman asks her guardian, such as her husband or another, for what she wants to buy. He then goes himself, after taking the specifications from the woman, to the shopkeeper or tailor and agrees with him on what the woman described, while she remains in her home. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) informed us that the homes of women are better for them, even better than attending the mosques. I ask Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) to keep us all away from the causes of evil and trial. Indeed, He is capable of all things.