What did the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, mean by his saying: "Look at her" in the hadith: "Have you looked at her? He said: No. So the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said to him: Look at her, for it is more likely to bring harmony between you two," in the context of the permissibility of looking at a woman before marriage without a hijab and in non-modest clothing?

It is permissible for a man who intends to propose to a woman, and expects his proposal to be accepted, to look at her so that his marriage is based on insight. This is based on what Al-Tirmidhi narrated from Al-Mughirah ibn Shu'bah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said to him when he proposed to a woman: "(Look at her, for it is more likely to create affection between you)." And due to the saying of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him: "(When one of you proposes to a woman, if he is able to look at what would encourage him to marry her, then let him do so)."

Scholars have differed regarding what the suitor is permitted to look at: The majority of scholars went with the face and hands, and the Hanafis added the feet. The Hanbalis went with what is normally visible, such as the face, hands, head, neck, and feet, and this is the preferred view. Dawud al-Zahiri and Ahmad, in one narration, went with her entire body except for the grave 'awrah, but this is not correct.

The conditions for the permissibility of looking are six: without seclusion (khalwah), without lust, with the strong expectation of acceptance, that he looks at what is normally visible, that he intends to propose, and that the woman does not appear adorned or perfumed.