Is It Permissible to Look at Women’s Faces Adorned with Make-Up? – Ustadha Shazia Ahmad

Answered by Ustadha Shazia Ahmad

Question

I read that looking at the face of a woman directly who doesn’t wear hijab without looking at `awra is permissible. But what if the face is adorned, is there any consensus of the scholars that looking at an “adorned” face (like with Kohl, makeup) in this case is haram even without any fear of shahwa (lust), or is it for the fear of it? 

If that’s the case, then honestly if one does not gauge any temptation, can they look at the adorned face (of the young and old woman) directly and at all times keeping the `awra in peripheral vision without fear of any preponderant fitna or looking with scrutiny? If you provide some resources, it will be great! 

Answer

Thank you for your question. May Allah reward you for seeking to be careful with your gaze in following the Quranic injunction.

Adorned or not

What I have learned from my teachers is that in the absence of desire, it is superior (sunna) to avoid looking at a woman’s face, and impermissible to look with desire, adorned or not. What is seen by peripheral vision is pardoned due to the difficulty in averting it. Providing sources is not within the scope of this service.

Please see these links for more details:

Is It Permissible to Look at the Face of a Beautiful Woman without Desire?

Is It Permissible to Look at Women Who Don’t Wear Hijab?

Can I Watch Videos In Which Women Are Present?

May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.

[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad 
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Irshaad Sedick

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria, for two years, where she studied Aqidah, Fiqh, Tajweed, Tafseer, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Master’s in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan, where she studied Fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She recently moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.