What is the ruling on writing descriptions of women (such as hair and skin color and height) in stories and novels, and what is the evidence for it?
Describing women's bodies in novels and stories is prohibited if the description is of a specific, known woman, due to what has been reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him) prohibiting a man from describing a woman to her husband as if he were looking at her, and prohibiting an effeminate man from describing a specific woman. This is also due to the forbidden amorous poetry (tashbeeb) about women that such descriptions entail. However, if the description is of an imaginary and unspecific woman, it is permissible if it is in a permissible context that does not mention bodily details or arouse desires. Otherwise, it would be considered forbidden falsehood and a gateway to temptation.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 21396
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy