Mentioning the conditions for the permissibility of looking at a woman to whom a marriage proposal has been made.
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The Shaykh : And it is recommended that the suitor look at the woman to whom he has proposed, but with conditions. First, he should look only at what is usually visible, such as the face, neck, hands, feet, head, and hair, and the like. He should not look at anything beyond this.
Second, the second condition is that there be no seclusion, as he stated later, "without seclusion". However, with seclusion, it is not permissible, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said,Sahih Muslim 1341a This indicates that its prohibition is emphasized.
The third condition is that he should be confident that his proposal will be accepted, meaning the acceptance of his marriage proposal. If he knows that he will not be accepted, there is no benefit in looking, as the original ruling is that looking is forbidden. An example of this is if the suitor is a poor, obscure man who wants to propose to the daughter of a king. What is the most likely outcome? Rejection or acceptance?
The questioner : Rejection.
The Shaykh : Rejection. We say, do not look, because your looking has no justification, since rejection is the most likely outcome.
The fourth condition is that his looking not be for the sake of desire. If he looks for the sake of desire, meaning he repeatedly looks at this woman with pleasure, this becomes forbidden, because the purpose of looking is to inquire, not to enjoy. Inquiring means that he learns about this woman's beauty, her body, and the like, not to enjoy. If he looks with a look of enjoyment, it becomes forbidden for him, because the woman remains forbidden to him; she is not his wife.
The fifth condition, which is addressed to the woman, is that she should not appear in a state of displaying her adornment, or wearing perfume, or wearing makeup, or using kohl, or the like of beautification. Because the purpose is not to make a man desire intercourse with her, such that it is said that she appears displaying her adornment, beautified, wearing makeup, and using kohl. This is what a woman does with her husband to invite him to intercourse, but this is not the case here.
Second, the second condition is that there be no seclusion, as he stated later, "without seclusion". However, with seclusion, it is not permissible, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said,
No person should be alone with a woman
لا يخلونّ رجل بامرأةThe third condition is that he should be confident that his proposal will be accepted, meaning the acceptance of his marriage proposal. If he knows that he will not be accepted, there is no benefit in looking, as the original ruling is that looking is forbidden. An example of this is if the suitor is a poor, obscure man who wants to propose to the daughter of a king. What is the most likely outcome? Rejection or acceptance?
The questioner : Rejection.
The Shaykh : Rejection. We say, do not look, because your looking has no justification, since rejection is the most likely outcome.
The fourth condition is that his looking not be for the sake of desire. If he looks for the sake of desire, meaning he repeatedly looks at this woman with pleasure, this becomes forbidden, because the purpose of looking is to inquire, not to enjoy. Inquiring means that he learns about this woman's beauty, her body, and the like, not to enjoy. If he looks with a look of enjoyment, it becomes forbidden for him, because the woman remains forbidden to him; she is not his wife.
The fifth condition, which is addressed to the woman, is that she should not appear in a state of displaying her adornment, or wearing perfume, or wearing makeup, or using kohl, or the like of beautification. Because the purpose is not to make a man desire intercourse with her, such that it is said that she appears displaying her adornment, beautified, wearing makeup, and using kohl. This is what a woman does with her husband to invite him to intercourse, but this is not the case here.