Is looking at a woman's face forbidden (haram)? And is that considered a form of zina (adultery/fornication) and a debt that a person does not die until they have encountered it?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
Looking at the face of a non- woman is forbidden, even if it is without lust, unless there is a need that permits looking. Adultery is a debt that may be repaid in this world, or Allah may forgive it by His grace. Lesser acts than adultery, such as looking and touching, carry the same ruling. Ismail Haqqi narrated a story about a water carrier who touched a woman's hand, and Allah decreed that her husband would do the same act. Then, both of them repented, and the wife explained that Allah had retaliated against the husband in this world.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/153264
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 153264
- 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