Nazar (looking) and its rulings

Nazar, in the lexicon, is the sense of sight or considering a thing with the eye; it can also mean keeping or contemplating, and ru'ya (seeing) is narrower. ^{1 2} Its rulings vary with the person looked at, the one who looks, the purpose and whether desire is involved.

For a young foreign woman, looking at her private parts is forbidden by agreement. On the face and hands the jurists differ in four views: permitted when there is no desire and no fear of temptation (Hanafis and Malikis); all of the body forbidden (the sounder Shafi'i view and the Hanbali school); the rest forbidden with the face and hands disliked; and the face, hands and feet permitted. ^{2 9 10 11 3} For an old woman who is not desired, the majority of Hanafis, Malikis and Hanbalis permit the face and hands; the settled Shafi'i view forbids them. ^{12 4}

Looking at a girl with desire is forbidden at any age; without desire, all of her body except the private parts is allowed by the jurists. ⁴ With mahrams, looking with desire is forbidden, looking between navel and knee is forbidden in all cases, and places of adornment may be seen without desire. ⁵ Men without need (eunuchs, castrated men, effeminate men and the impotent) are debated: the Hanafis, Shafi'is and Hanbalis differ on whether they count as mahrams. ^{5 13 14} An adolescent is treated as an adult by most jurists; a child who cannot distinguish nakedness has no veil before the women. ^{15 16}

A part detached from a woman: most jurists forbid looking at what was forbidden before separation; the Malikis permit it for a part severed in life. ^{16 17} Looking at a woman in a mirror or water is not forbidden, according to Ibn Abidin and al-Ramli; some Shafi'is forbid it. ¹⁷ A dead woman is treated as when alive, except in necessity. ¹⁸ A man may not look at another man's private parts without a reason; looking with desire at a beardless youth is forbidden, and in the Hanafi and Shafi'i view it is a greater sin than looking at a woman with desire. ^{18 19}

A woman looking at a foreign man is forbidden with desire; without desire, four views are reported, including permission above the navel and below the knee and a view that she may look as a man does. ^{19 20 21 22} A woman may look at another woman, without desire, outside the part between navel and knee according to most jurists. ^{23 24} On a non-Muslim woman looking at a Muslim woman, the sounder Hanafi, Maliki and Shafi'i view treats her like a foreign man; others treat her like a Muslim woman. ^{24 25 26} The hermaphrodite is treated with caution: as a man among women and as a woman among men. ⁶

Spouses may look at each other's whole body, with views on the private parts. ^{27 28} Looking at one's own private parts without need is disliked. ⁶

A sudden glance is forgiven; the sin lies in continuing it. ^{6 7} Looking at a woman to propose is recommended. ⁷ Treatment is allowed under conditions: a real need, looking only as far as needed, no seclusion, and no same-sex practitioner available. ^{7 29 30 31} Judging, testimony, dealing and teaching allow looking to the extent of the need, with views on the witness and the teacher. ^{31 8 32 33}