Continuation of the mention of the conditions for the permissibility of looking at the woman to whom a marriage proposal has been made.
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The Shaykh : In her intercourse, until it is said that she appears adorned, beautified, curled, and hennaed. This is what a woman does with her husband to invite him to intercourse. But this is not the case here, because there is no doubt that this involves fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). Is the original ruling that it is haram (forbidden) or halal (lawful)?
The questioner : Forbidden.
The Shaykh : It is haram (forbidden) because she is a non-mahram (a relative one may not marry) to him. Furthermore, her appearing in this state of beauty brings about harm for her, resulting in a negative reaction. If he marries her and finds her not as beautiful as he had been accustomed to, yes, he will lose interest in her and his view of her will change. This is especially so because Shaytan (Satan) beautifies for a person what is not lawful for him more than he beautifies his wife. Therefore, you will find some people, may Allah protect us from that, who have a wife who is among the most beautiful, most charming, and best of women, yet they look at an ugly, deformed woman, yes, because Shaytan beautifies her in his eye since she is not lawful for him. If it happens that Shaytan beautifies her and she also beautifies herself, increasing her beauty and improvement, and then after the marriage he finds her not as he had imagined, there will be a bad outcome. All of these are conditions for what? For the suitor’s looking at his prospective bride.
The questioner : Forbidden.
The Shaykh : It is haram (forbidden) because she is a non-mahram (a relative one may not marry) to him. Furthermore, her appearing in this state of beauty brings about harm for her, resulting in a negative reaction. If he marries her and finds her not as beautiful as he had been accustomed to, yes, he will lose interest in her and his view of her will change. This is especially so because Shaytan (Satan) beautifies for a person what is not lawful for him more than he beautifies his wife. Therefore, you will find some people, may Allah protect us from that, who have a wife who is among the most beautiful, most charming, and best of women, yet they look at an ugly, deformed woman, yes, because Shaytan beautifies her in his eye since she is not lawful for him. If it happens that Shaytan beautifies her and she also beautifies herself, increasing her beauty and improvement, and then after the marriage he finds her not as he had imagined, there will be a bad outcome. All of these are conditions for what? For the suitor’s looking at his prospective bride.