What Is the Ruling of Watching TV Where a Woman’s Nakedness (Awra) Is Revealed?
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
I wanted to know what the ruling is watching News channels or anything on a screen where a woman’s nakedness (‘awra) is revealed, for example, the hair of women or forearms, etc.?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate
As a general rule, looking at members of the opposite sex is prohibited if one has a fear of desire that can lead to preliminaries and intercourse. [Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar; Nahlawi, al-Durar al-Mubaha]
One has to bear in mind when talking and looking at the opposite sex the following commands of Allah Most High and Prophetic teachings. If one has to lower their gaze, one should do so to be protected from any desire.
Allah Most High says, “˹O Prophet! ˺ Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their chastity. That is purer for them. Surely Allah is All-Aware of what they do. And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their chastity, and not to reveal their adornments except what normally appears.” [Quran, 24:30-31]
The Prophet (may Allah bless him and give peace) said: “Allah has recorded the choices every son of Adam makes for his share of zina, which he will inevitably commit. The zina of the eyes is looking. The zina of the tongue is speaking. A person would wish and desire, and the private parts either confirm or deny it.” [Bukhari; Muslim]
Check these links as well:
A Detailed Exposition of the Fiqh of Covering One’s Nakedness (awra) – SeekersGuidance
Unveiled Woman on TV – SeekersGuidance
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SeekersAcademy (seekersguidance.org)
I pray this helps with your question.
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied within UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, and Turkey.
He started his early education in UK. He went onto complete hifz of Qur’an in India, then enrolled into an Islamic seminary in UK where he studied the secular and Alimiyyah sciences. He then travelled to Karachi, Pakistan.
He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for a number of years. He has taught hifz of the Qur’an, Tajwid, Fiqh and many other Islamic sciences to both children and adults onsite and online extensively in UK and Ireland. He was teaching at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences.
He currently resides in UK with his wife. His personal interest is love of books and gardening.
