Is It Sinful to Look at Women Who Are Not Dressed in Jilbab or Khimar?
Question
Ahlan ya sheikh.
Is it sinful to look at women who are not dressed in jilbab or khimar, such as women in Western dress, news presenters, non Muslim friends or neighbors, or even Muslim women who do not cover their hair and necks?
I do not have to watch the news, nor be friends with them, nor interact with female neighbors beyond necessity and without touching.
Am I sinful if I look at them, watch TV shows or movies with no nudity but women who are not fully covered?
Should I try to avoid looking at any of them altogether and stop watching movies and TV shows entirely?
JazakAllahu khairan.
Answer
Alhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain.
This question touches on an important balance in Islam between guarding the gaze, living in a mixed society, and avoiding unnecessary hardship or extremism. The Sharia ruling must be explained carefully, without adding obligations that Allah did not impose.
1. The Shar‘i Context
Islam commands believers to guard their gaze, not to eliminate vision altogether. The command is about intentional, lustful, or prolonged looking, not unavoidable or ordinary sight.
Allah says:
“Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Indeed, Allah is aware of what they do.”
Surat an Nur 24:30
Lowering the gaze does not mean blindness. It means controlling desire and intention, and avoiding looks that provoke temptation.
2. What Type of Looking Is Sinful
The scholars differentiated between:
- A first, unintentional glance, which is excused
- A deliberate, repeated, or lustful gaze, which is sinful
The Prophet said:
“The first glance is for you, but the second is against you.”
Reported by Abu Dawud and others
3. Women Who Are Not Properly Covered
Seeing women in daily life, on the street, at work, on the news, or on television is often unavoidable, especially in Western societies. This falls under general sight, not sinful looking.
However:
- Staring
- Fixating
- Seeking enjoyment
- Following with the eyes
is sinful, regardless of whether the woman is Muslim or non Muslim, covered or uncovered.
4. Media, TV, and Movies
Watching news, documentaries, or shows where women appear dressed modestly by societal standards, without nudity or sexualization, is not automatically haram.
It becomes sinful when:
- The content provokes desire
- The viewing is for enjoyment of appearance
- It leads to repeated lustful gazing
Islam does not require a person to isolate themselves completely from society or media unless harm to faith is clearly occurring.
5. Relevant Usul Principles
ما لا يمكن التحرز منه فهو معفو عنه
What cannot reasonably be avoided is excused.
Living in a society where uncovered women are present is a reality. Sharia does not impose impossible standards.
At the same time:
سد الذرائع
Blocking the means to sin.
If a person knows that certain media or environments consistently lead them to desire or sin, then avoiding those specific triggers becomes necessary for that individual.
Final Ruling
It is not sinful to see women who are not wearing jilbab or khimar in daily life, on the street, at work, or in media, as long as the looking is not intentional, lustful, or prolonged.
The sin lies in deliberate gazing with desire, not in unavoidable sight.
Watching news or shows without nudity or sexual content is permissible in principle, but avoiding content that stirs desire is obligatory.
You are not required to cut yourself off entirely from society or media. Rather, you are required to guard your gaze, control intention, and avoid what you know leads you personally toward sin.
And Allah knows best.