Looking at a Woman who is asked in Marriage, and an Explanation of what may not be seen - Section 1

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Abu Huraira said that a man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and told him he had contracted to marry a woman of the Ansar, to which he replied, “Then look at her, for there is something in the eyes of the Ansar.”* * Meaning that some of them have features which cause aversion. Muslim transmitted it.

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Ibn Mas'ud reported God’s Messenger as saying, “A woman must not come in close contact with another and then describe her to her husband, for that is as if he were looking at her.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

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Abu Sa'id reported God’s Messenger as saying, “A man must not look at a man’s private parts or a woman at a woman’s, and a man must not come close to a man in one garment or a woman to a woman in one garment.” Muslim transmitted it.

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Jabir reported God's Messenger as saying, “A man must not spend the night in the house of a woman who has been married unless he is her husband or a close relative.” Muslim transmitted it.

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‘Uqba b. ‘Amir reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Avoid going in where women are.” A man said, “Messenger of God, tell me about the relatives of a woman’s husband,” to which he replied, “The relatives of a woman’s husband are death.”* *The word "death” is used to indicate a strong prohibition, the idea being that they are a cause of temptation to a man’s wife. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

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Jabir said that Umm Salama asked permission of God’s Messenger to be cupped and he ordered Abu Taiba to cup her. He said he thought he was her foster-brother, or a lad who had not reached the age of puberty. Muslim transmitted it.

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Jarir b. ‘Abdallah said:

I asked God’s Messenger about an accidental glance and he ordered me to turn my eyes away. Muslim transmitted it.

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Jabir reported God’s Messenger as saying, “A woman advances in the form of a devil and retires in the form of a devil. When one of you is charmed by a woman and she affects his heart he should go to his wife and have intercourse with her, for that will repel what he is feeling.” Muslim transmitted it.

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Jabir reported God’s Messenger as saying, “When one of you asks a woman in marriage, if he is able to look at what will induce him to marry her, he should do so.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

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Al-Mughira b. Shu'ba said:

I asked a woman in marriage and God’s Messenger asked me whether I had looked at her. When I replied that I had not, he said, “Then look at her, for it is better that there should be love between you.” Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Nasa'i, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it.

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Ibn Mas'ud said that God’s Messenger saw a woman who charmed him, so he went to Sauda who was making perfume in the company of some women. They left him, and after he had satisfied his desire he said, “If any man sees a woman who charms him he should go to his wife, for she has the same kind of thing as the other woman.” Darimi transmitted it.

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He reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, “A woman should be concealed, for when she goes out the devil looks at her.”* * The basic idea is to lift up the eyes to look at something. Here it is explained as meaning either that the devil makes her attractive to men, or that he looks at her to seduce her and to seduce people by her. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

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Buraida reported God's Messenger as saying to ‘Ali, “Do not give a second look, ‘Ali, for while you are not to blame for the first you have no right to the second.” Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Darimi transmitted it.

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‘Amr b. Shu'aib, on his father’s authority, told that his grandfather reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, “When one of you marries his slave to his slave girl he must not look at her private parts.” A version has, “he must not look at what is below the navel and above the knee.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

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Jarhad reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, "Do you not know that the thigh is a private part?” Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

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‘Ali told that God’s Messenger said to him, "Do not uncover your thigh, ‘Ali, and do not look at the thigh of anyone alive or dead.” Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

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Muhammad b. Jahsh told that God’s Messenger came upon Ma'mar when his thighs were uncovered and said, "Cover your thighs, Ma'mar, for the thighs are private parts.” It is transmitted in <i>Sharh as-sunna</i>.

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Ibn ‘Umar reported God’s Messenger as saying, "Avoid being naked, for with you are those who never leave you (the recording angels) except when you are relieving yourselves and when a man has intercourse with his wife; so observe modesty before them and honour them.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

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Umm Salama said:

I was with God’s Messenger along with Maimuna when Ibn Umm Maktum approached and came in to visit him, so he told us to veil ourselves. I said, "Messenger of God, is he not blind and unable to see us?” He replied, "Are you blind and unable to see him?” Ahmad, Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

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Bahz b. Hakim, on his father’s authority, told that his grandfather reported God’s Messenger as saying, "Cover your private parts, except from your wife or your female slave,” and said he asked him to tell him what a man might do when alone. He replied, "God has most right to modesty from you.” Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

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‘Umar reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, "Whenever a man is alone with a woman the devil makes a third.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

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Jabir reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, "Do not visit women whose husbands are away from home, for the devil circulate in you like your blood.” He was asked if this applied to him also and said, "To me also, but God has helped me against him so that I may be safe.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

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Anas said that when the Prophet (ﷺ) brought Fatima a slave whom he presented to her she was wearing a garment which did not reach her feet when she put it over her head, and did not reach her head when she covered her feet with it. Noticing her predicament, God’s Messenger said, “There is nothing to worry about. It is only your father and your slave.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

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Umm Salama told that once when the Prophet (ﷺ) was with her there was in the house a hermaphrodite who said to Abdallah b. Abu Umayya, Umm Salama's brother, “If God conquers at-Ta'if for you tomorrow, I shall lead you to the daughter of Ghailan who has four folds of fat in front and eight behind.” Thereupon the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Do not let these people visit you.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

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Al-Miswar b. Makhrama said:

While I was walking along carrying a heavy stone my garment fell off and I was unable to get it. God’s Messenger saw me and said to me, “Put on your garment and do not go naked.”* * "Put on” is singular and “do not go” is plural, indicating that the first part of the sentence is addressed to al-Miswar and that the second is a general injunction. Muslim transmitted it.