Question: What is the ruling concerning a woman looking at men on television or casual looks in the streets?
Response: A woman looking at a man must be one of two cases, regardless of whether it be on television or otherwise.
First is a look with lust. This is forbidden as it contains evil and temptation.
Second is a simple look free of any kind of lust and desire. There is no harm in that kind of look according to the correct opinion of the scholars.
It is permissible because it is confirmed in the Saheehs of al-Bukhaaree and Muslim that ‘Aa.ishah watched the Abbysinians doing their war dance. The Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) was concealing her from them and he approved of what she was doing. Furthermore, women walk in the streets and they look at men although they are wearing hijaab.
A woman may look at a man even though he does not see her. However, this is conditional that the look not be accompanied with lust, desire or temptation. If it is a look of lust or temptation, then it is forbidden regardless of whether it be on television or otherwise.
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen
Fataawa al-Mar.ah fatwaonline.com
