Source: Ahkām wa Masā’il: Kitāb-o-Sunnat kī Roshnī mein by Shaykh Mubashir Ahmad Rabbānī
Can a man look at another man in a naked state while he is changing clothes? Similarly, can a woman look at another woman in a naked state while changing?
It is prohibited for a man to look at the ʿawrah (private parts) of another man, and likewise, it is haram for a woman to look at the ʿawrah of another woman.
❖ Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"لَا يَنْظُرُ الرَّجُلُ إِلَى عَوْرَةِ الرَّجُلِ، وَلَا تَنْظُرُ الْمَرْأَةُ إِلَى عَوْرَةِ الْمَرْأَةِ، وَلَا يُفْضِي الرَّجُلُ إِلَى الرَّجُلِ فِي ثَوْبٍ وَاحِدٍ، وَلَا تُفْضِي الْمَرْأَةُ إِلَى الْمَرْأَةِ فِي الثَّوْبِ الْوَاحِدِ."
“A man must not look at the private part of another man, and a woman must not look at the private part of another woman. A man must not lie with another man under one garment (naked), and a woman must not lie with another woman under one garment.”
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim – Book of Menstruation, Chapter: Prohibition of Looking at Private Parts – Ḥadīth: 338
From this authentic ḥadīth, it becomes clear that:
✔ It is forbidden for men to look at the private areas of other men.
✔ Similarly, it is forbidden for women to look at the private areas of other women.
Imām Ibn al-Qaṭṭān al-Fāsī رحمه الله writes:
“It is impermissible for a man to look at the private part of another man — this is a matter beyond any doubt and there is no scholarly disagreement on it.”
He cites the above ḥadīth as evidence. He also affirms, in another section, that a woman looking at the private area of another woman is likewise ḥarām, citing the same narration as proof.
Whether male or female, it is prohibited (ḥarām) to look at the private parts of someone of the same gender, even in situations such as changing clothes. The teachings of the Prophet ﷺ strictly forbid such exposure or viewing, and this ruling is agreed upon by scholars without any difference of opinion.
❖ Question:
Can a man look at another man in a naked state while he is changing clothes? Similarly, can a woman look at another woman in a naked state while changing?
✿ Answer:
It is prohibited for a man to look at the ʿawrah (private parts) of another man, and likewise, it is haram for a woman to look at the ʿawrah of another woman.
❖ Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"لَا يَنْظُرُ الرَّجُلُ إِلَى عَوْرَةِ الرَّجُلِ، وَلَا تَنْظُرُ الْمَرْأَةُ إِلَى عَوْرَةِ الْمَرْأَةِ، وَلَا يُفْضِي الرَّجُلُ إِلَى الرَّجُلِ فِي ثَوْبٍ وَاحِدٍ، وَلَا تُفْضِي الْمَرْأَةُ إِلَى الْمَرْأَةِ فِي الثَّوْبِ الْوَاحِدِ."
“A man must not look at the private part of another man, and a woman must not look at the private part of another woman. A man must not lie with another man under one garment (naked), and a woman must not lie with another woman under one garment.”
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim – Book of Menstruation, Chapter: Prohibition of Looking at Private Parts – Ḥadīth: 338From this authentic ḥadīth, it becomes clear that:
✔ It is forbidden for men to look at the private areas of other men.
✔ Similarly, it is forbidden for women to look at the private areas of other women.
Imām Ibn al-Qaṭṭān al-Fāsī رحمه الله writes:
“It is impermissible for a man to look at the private part of another man — this is a matter beyond any doubt and there is no scholarly disagreement on it.”
He cites the above ḥadīth as evidence. He also affirms, in another section, that a woman looking at the private area of another woman is likewise ḥarām, citing the same narration as proof.
Conclusion:
Whether male or female, it is prohibited (ḥarām) to look at the private parts of someone of the same gender, even in situations such as changing clothes. The teachings of the Prophet ﷺ strictly forbid such exposure or viewing, and this ruling is agreed upon by scholars without any difference of opinion.
