This excerpt is taken from the book 500 Questions and Answers for Women, which is based on the fatwas of the scholars of Haramain. The translation was done by Hafiz Abdullah Saleem.
"Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Surely, Allah is All-Aware of what they do."
(Surah An-Nur 24:30)
This ruling applies to all women, regardless of whether they appear as images in print, on television screens, or in any other form.
— (Shaykh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah bin Baz رحمه الله)
However, this argument is incorrect because:
Additionally, when a woman watches a battlefield or war scenario, she is unlikely to be tempted by sinful thoughts, making it a permissible exception.
Thus, this Hadith does not contradict the command in the Qur’an:
"Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their private parts."
(Surah An-Nur 24:30)
"And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their private parts."
(Surah An-Nur 24:31)
"O Ali! Do not follow one glance with another, for the first glance is forgiven, but the second is against you."
(Hasan: Sunan Abu Dawood, Hadith No. 2149)
This means that if a man or woman deliberately looks again, it is a whisper from Shaytan leading towards sin.
Al-Fadl began gazing at the woman, and she looked at him in return. The Prophet ﷺ turned Al-Fadl’s face away, indicating that even an indirect glance between non-mahram men and women can lead to temptation.
"Hasten to turn away the gaze, so that Satan does not intervene."
✔ Repeated gazes at women are prohibited for both men and women.
✔ The only exception where a man is allowed to look at a woman is when he intends to propose (for marriage).
— (Shaykh Muhammad Nasiruddin al-Albani رحمه الله)
Question:
What is the ruling for men watching actresses and female singers on television, cinema, video screens, or even looking at printed images of women?Answer:
In all the mentioned cases, looking at such images is prohibited (ḥarām) because it leads to temptation (fitnah). Allah commands in the Qur’an:"Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Surely, Allah is All-Aware of what they do."
(Surah An-Nur 24:30)
This ruling applies to all women, regardless of whether they appear as images in print, on television screens, or in any other form.
— (Shaykh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah bin Baz رحمه الله)
Response to Those Who Argue for the Permissibility of Watching Women on TV
Some people justify watching women on television or in magazines by citing the Hadith where Sayyidah Aisha (رضي الله عنها) watched the Abyssinians playing.However, this argument is incorrect because:
- Seeing an image is similar to seeing a real person—both can lead to temptation.
- Islamic scholars have prohibited looking at women’s pictures to prevent fitnah.
- Fuqaha (Islamic jurists) have ruled against it due to the fear of temptation, which applies equally to looking at a woman's image or seeing her in real life.
Clarification of Sayyidah Aisha’s (رضي الله عنها) Hadith
When Aisha (رضي الله عنها) watched the Abyssinians perform, she was not staring at the men themselves, but rather observing the war game they were playing. This was a special concession (rukhsah) for her, which does not extend to other women.Additionally, when a woman watches a battlefield or war scenario, she is unlikely to be tempted by sinful thoughts, making it a permissible exception.
Thus, this Hadith does not contradict the command in the Qur’an:
"Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their private parts."
(Surah An-Nur 24:30)
"And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their private parts."
(Surah An-Nur 24:31)
The Ruling on Repeated Glances
The Prophet ﷺ instructed Ali (رضي الله عنه):"O Ali! Do not follow one glance with another, for the first glance is forgiven, but the second is against you."
(Hasan: Sunan Abu Dawood, Hadith No. 2149)
This means that if a man or woman deliberately looks again, it is a whisper from Shaytan leading towards sin.
Example from the Sunnah
A woman from the Khath’am tribe once came to the Prophet ﷺ to ask about performing Hajj on behalf of her elderly father. She stood before the Prophet ﷺ while his cousin, Al-Fadl ibn Abbas (رضي الله عنه), was sitting behind him on a camel.Al-Fadl began gazing at the woman, and she looked at him in return. The Prophet ﷺ turned Al-Fadl’s face away, indicating that even an indirect glance between non-mahram men and women can lead to temptation.
"Hasten to turn away the gaze, so that Satan does not intervene."
Conclusion
✔ It is not permissible for men to watch actresses, singers, or women in magazines, television, cinema, or any other medium if it involves desire or temptation.✔ Repeated gazes at women are prohibited for both men and women.
✔ The only exception where a man is allowed to look at a woman is when he intends to propose (for marriage).
— (Shaykh Muhammad Nasiruddin al-Albani رحمه الله)