Non-maḥrams’ Pictures and Films: What’s the Ruling on Viewing Images of Unveiled Non-Maḥram Women?
Practical Laws of Islam as per the teachings of Imam Khamenei
Non-maḥrams’ Pictures and Films: What’s the Ruling on Viewing Images of Unveiled Non-Maḥram Women?
English:
Question #1176:
What is the ruling in the matter of looking at pictures of non-maḥram women who are not wearing ḥijāb? What is the view on viewing women appearing on television? Is the ruling different whether these women are Muslims or non-Muslims and whether or not it is a live broadcast?
Answer #1176:
The rule of looking at the picture of a non-maḥram woman is different from the rule of looking at the woman herself. Accordingly, there is no objection to it unless looking is accompanied by lust, there is fear of falling victim to temptation, or the picture belongs to a Muslim woman and looking at her picture amounts to disrespecting her.
As a matter of obligatory caution, one should not watch non-maḥram women on television that are broadcast live. As for that which is not broadcast live, there is no problem in it provided it is done without ill intentions and the fear of falling in ḥarām.