Mishkat al-Masabih

Looking at a Woman who is asked in Marriage, and an Explanation of what may not be seen - Section 1

Jabir reported God’s Messenger as saying, “A woman advances in the form of a devil and retires in the form of a devil. When one of you is charmed by a woman and she affects his heart he should go to his wife and have intercourse with her, for that will repel what he is feeling.” Muslim transmitted it.

Looking at a Woman who is asked in Marriage, and an Explanation of what may not be seen - Section 2

Jabir reported God’s Messenger as saying, “When one of you asks a woman in marriage, if he is able to look at what will induce him to marry her, he should do so.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Looking at a Woman who is asked in Marriage, and an Explanation of what may not be seen - Section 2

Al-Mughira b. Shu'ba said: I asked a woman in marriage and God’s Messenger asked me whether I had looked at her. When I replied that I had not, he said, “Then look at her, for it is better that there should be love between you.” Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Nasa'i, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it.

Looking at a Woman who is asked in Marriage, and an Explanation of what may not be seen - Section 2

Ibn Mas'ud said that God’s Messenger saw a woman who charmed him, so he went to Sauda who was making perfume in the company of some women. They left him, and after he had satisfied his desire he said, “If any man sees a woman who charms him he should go to his wife, for she has the same kind of thing as the other woman.” Darimi transmitted it.

Looking at a Woman who is asked in Marriage, and an Explanation of what may not be seen - Section 2

He reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, “A woman should be concealed, for when she goes out the devil looks at her.”* * The basic idea is to lift up the eyes to look at something. Here it is explained as meaning either that the devil makes her attractive to men, or that he looks at her to seduce her and to seduce people by her. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Looking at a Woman who is asked in Marriage, and an Explanation of what may not be seen - Section 2

Buraida reported God's Messenger as saying to ‘Ali, “Do not give a second look, ‘Ali, for while you are not to blame for the first you have no right to the second.” Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Darimi transmitted it.

Looking at a Woman who is asked in Marriage, and an Explanation of what may not be seen - Section 2

‘Amr b. Shu'aib, on his father’s authority, told that his grandfather reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, “When one of you marries his slave to his slave girl he must not look at her private parts.” A version has, “he must not look at what is below the navel and above the knee.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Looking at a Woman who is asked in Marriage, and an Explanation of what may not be seen - Section 2

Jarhad reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, "Do you not know that the thigh is a private part?” Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Looking at a Woman who is asked in Marriage, and an Explanation of what may not be seen - Section 2

‘Ali told that God’s Messenger said to him, "Do not uncover your thigh, ‘Ali, and do not look at the thigh of anyone alive or dead.” Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Looking at a Woman who is asked in Marriage, and an Explanation of what may not be seen - Section 2

Muhammad b. Jahsh told that God’s Messenger came upon Ma'mar when his thighs were uncovered and said, "Cover your thighs, Ma'mar, for the thighs are private parts.” It is transmitted in Sharh as-sunna.

Looking at a Woman who is asked in Marriage, and an Explanation of what may not be seen - Section 2

Ibn ‘Umar reported God’s Messenger as saying, "Avoid being naked, for with you are those who never leave you (the recording angels) except when you are relieving yourselves and when a man has intercourse with his wife; so observe modesty before them and honour them.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Looking at a Woman who is asked in Marriage, and an Explanation of what may not be seen - Section 2

Umm Salama said: I was with God’s Messenger along with Maimuna when Ibn Umm Maktum approached and came in to visit him, so he told us to veil ourselves. I said, "Messenger of God, is he not blind and unable to see us?” He replied, "Are you blind and unable to see him?” Ahmad, Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Looking at a Woman who is asked in Marriage, and an Explanation of what may not be seen - Section 2

Bahz b. Hakim, on his father’s authority, told that his grandfather reported God’s Messenger as saying, "Cover your private parts, except from your wife or your female slave,” and said he asked him to tell him what a man might do when alone. He replied, "God has most right to modesty from you.” Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Looking at a Woman who is asked in Marriage, and an Explanation of what may not be seen - Section 2

‘Umar reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, "Whenever a man is alone with a woman the devil makes a third.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Looking at a Woman who is asked in Marriage, and an Explanation of what may not be seen - Section 2

Jabir reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, "Do not visit women whose husbands are away from home, for the devil circulate in you like your blood.” He was asked if this applied to him also and said, "To me also, but God has helped me against him so that I may be safe.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Looking at a Woman who is asked in Marriage, and an Explanation of what may not be seen - Section 2

Anas said that when the Prophet (ﷺ) brought Fatima a slave whom he presented to her she was wearing a garment which did not reach her feet when she put it over her head, and did not reach her head when she covered her feet with it. Noticing her predicament, God’s Messenger said, “There is nothing to worry about. It is only your father and your slave.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Looking at a Woman who is asked in Marriage, and an Explanation of what may not be seen - Section 3

Umm Salama told that once when the Prophet (ﷺ) was with her there was in the house a hermaphrodite who said to Abdallah b. Abu Umayya, Umm Salama's brother, “If God conquers at-Ta'if for you tomorrow, I shall lead you to the daughter of Ghailan who has four folds of fat in front and eight behind.” Thereupon the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Do not let these people visit you.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Looking at a Woman who is asked in Marriage, and an Explanation of what may not be seen - Section 3

Al-Miswar b. Makhrama said: While I was walking along carrying a heavy stone my garment fell off and I was unable to get it. God’s Messenger saw me and said to me, “Put on your garment and do not go naked.”* * "Put on” is singular and “do not go” is plural, indicating that the first part of the sentence is addressed to al-Miswar and that the second is a general injunction. Muslim transmitted it.

Looking at a Woman who is asked in Marriage, and an Explanation of what may not be seen - Section 3

‘A'isha said, “I never looked at (or, I never saw) God’s Messenger’s private parts.” Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Looking at a Woman who is asked in Marriage, and an Explanation of what may not be seen - Section 3

Abu Umama reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, “If any Muslim happens to look at a woman’s beauties and then lowers his eyes, God will produce for him an act of worship whose sweetness he will experience.” Ahmad transmitted it.

Looking at a Woman who is asked in Marriage, and an Explanation of what may not be seen - Section 3

Al-Hasan told in mursal form that he heard God’s Messenger had said, “God curse the one who looks and the one who is looked at!” Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu'ab al-iman.

The Guardian in Marriage, and asking the Woman’s consent - Section 1

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “A woman without a husband* must not be married till she is consulted, and a virgin must not be married till her permission is asked.” When asked how her permission was indicated he replied that it was by her saying nothing. * Ayyim. This means a woman who has no husband. It may mean a woman who has not been married, whether a virgin or not, or a woman previously married who has no husband. See n. 2. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

The Guardian in Marriage, and asking the Woman’s consent - Section 1

Ibn ‘Abbas reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, “A woman without a husband has more right to her person than her guardian, and a virgin’s permission must be asked about herself, her permission being her silence.” In a version he said, “A woman who has been previously married* has more right to her person than her guardian, and a virgin must be consulted, her permission consisting in her saying nothing.” In another version he said, “A woman who has been previously married has more right to her person than her guardian” and a virgin’s father must ask her permission about herself, her permission being her silence.” * Thayyib. This means a woman previously married who has no husband. In view of the context it is argued that ayyim is used above in this sense. Muslim transmitted it.

The Guardian in Marriage, and asking the Woman’s consent - Section 1

Khansa’ daughter of Khidham told that when her father married her when she had previously been married and she disapproved of that, she went to God's Messenger and he revoked her marriage. A version by Ibn Majah has “the marriage [arranged by] her father.” Bukhari transmitted it.

The Guardian in Marriage, and asking the Woman’s consent - Section 1

‘A’isha said that the Prophet (ﷺ) married her when she was seven, she was brought to live with him when she was nine bringing her toys with her, and he died when she was eighteen. Muslim transmitted it.