Does "lowering the gaze" mean not looking at all? And is looking at passersby from a vehicle window, or a quick, unintentional glance, or looking at a doctor while he is explaining in order to understand the lesson, considered forbidden?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
Lowering the gaze is obligatory concerning what is unlawful. A sudden glance is pardoned because it is unintentional, based on the Prophet's (peace and blessings be upon him) saying: "O Ali, do not follow up one glance with another, for you are allowed the first, but not the second." And also based on his saying: "Avert your gaze." As for a woman intentionally looking at a non- man without desire or fear of temptation, some scholars have deemed it permissible.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/160676
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 160676
- 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