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How can a young man see the beauty of his fiancée while she is wearing the khimar, given the Prophet's saying, "A woman is married for four reasons... and for her beauty"?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

The Lawgiver (Allah) has permitted a suitor to look at the woman he intends to propose to if he desires her, so that he may proceed with marrying her. This does not necessarily mean she must be unveiled, or that the young man must have already seen her. Indeed, desire may arise for other reasons, such as social standing or reputation. In such a case, he is permitted to look at her face and hands, so that he may be clear about his choice. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "If Allah Almighty casts into a man's heart a desire to propose to a woman, there is no harm in him looking at her." It is not Islamically permissible for a man to let his gaze roam freely among women to merely observe them and choose the most beautiful.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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