Ruling on looking at women in commercial exhibitions
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
A message was sent by one of the listening brothers, saying: I am the questioner from Hadramawt, Ahmad Jamaan Dahdah. He says: I work in one of the exhibitions, and during Ramadan the work becomes intense for us. Sometimes women enter, some of whom are tabarruj (displaying their adornment) and some who are not. Some customers ask about the place of manufacture of a certain product, so we answer them that it was made in such-and-such a country, although we are not certain of that. Due to the crowd, we were unable to inspect the product. Do we bear sin for this? And is frequent looking at women forbidden, since our work requires it? May Allah reward you with good.
Answer: It is not permissible for you to inform people except with certainty. Otherwise, inform them based on assumption. Say: “We assume it is in such-and-such a place.” Do not be definitive unless you know that it was made in such-and-such a place. As for if you are not definitive, say: “We assume” or “It is most likely that it was made in such-and-such a country,” so that you are safe from lying.
Looking at women who are not mahram (relatives one may not marry) is not permissible. Deliberately looking at them with desire and pleasure is not permissible. Likewise, if one fears fitnah (trial, discord or temptation), it is not permissible. As for looking at them incidentally, without desire, but for reasons that necessitate it, it does not harm, if Allah wills. A person is commanded to lower his gaze, but if necessity calls for looking, such as when one walks in the markets and looks in the mosques without intending fitnah or intending pleasure, it does not harm him. This applies to both the woman and the man. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) permitted Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) to look at the people playing in the mosque with the dart and the spears.
So the conclusion is that the worker’s look, which is not accompanied by desire, is not what is intended by the prohibition. What is intended by the prohibition is the look that is intended for pleasure or from which fitnah is feared. This is prohibited and forbidden, due to the saying of the Exalted and Majestic is He: [Surat al-Nur: 30-31]. And when a person lowers his gaze except for a necessity that calls for it, without pleasure or fear of fitnah, but rather an incidental look without intention. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Answer: It is not permissible for you to inform people except with certainty. Otherwise, inform them based on assumption. Say: “We assume it is in such-and-such a place.” Do not be definitive unless you know that it was made in such-and-such a place. As for if you are not definitive, say: “We assume” or “It is most likely that it was made in such-and-such a country,” so that you are safe from lying.
Looking at women who are not mahram (relatives one may not marry) is not permissible. Deliberately looking at them with desire and pleasure is not permissible. Likewise, if one fears fitnah (trial, discord or temptation), it is not permissible. As for looking at them incidentally, without desire, but for reasons that necessitate it, it does not harm, if Allah wills. A person is commanded to lower his gaze, but if necessity calls for looking, such as when one walks in the markets and looks in the mosques without intending fitnah or intending pleasure, it does not harm him. This applies to both the woman and the man. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) permitted Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) to look at the people playing in the mosque with the dart and the spears.
So the conclusion is that the worker’s look, which is not accompanied by desire, is not what is intended by the prohibition. What is intended by the prohibition is the look that is intended for pleasure or from which fitnah is feared. This is prohibited and forbidden, due to the saying of the Exalted and Majestic is He:
(30) Tell the believing men to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what they do. (31) And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts
قُلْ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ ذَلِكَ أَزْكَى لَهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ وَقُلْ لِلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّHe was asked (peace and blessings be upon him) about the sudden glance, and he said: “Avert your gaze.”
سئل ﷺ عن نظر الفجأة قال: اصرف بصركThe presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.