Question:
Asalamu alaikum. My question is, if a woman adorns herself and goes out in public where a non mahram Male looks at her and finds her attractive, is she sinful? Also, Will their be a difference if her intention is to adorn herself for her husband even though she is going in public?
Answer:
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Allah Ta’ālā says in Surah al-Ahzāb, verse 53:
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُلْ لِأَزْوَاجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَاءِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِنْ جَلَابِيبِهِنَّ
O prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers that they should draw down their jilbāb (shawls) over them.
Allah Ta’ala mentions in this Ayaah the command of Hijaab and the obligation for women to conceal themselves when they have a need to leave their house. The jilbāb here actually refers to a piece of clothing large enough that it covers the entire body from head to toe.
Thus, from this ayah and many other Ayaats and Ahadith it is Haraam for a female to expose her beauty to non Mahram males, regardless of her intention.
Rasûllullah (Sallahu alaihi wasallam) said:
“A woman is an object of concealment. Thus, when she emerges (from her home) Shaitaan surreptitiously pursues her”. (And he lies in wait to create mischief & fitnah by leading her astray and others astray through her). (Tirmidhi)
You may further read The Issue of the Hijab of Women and its Boundaries
https://fatwa-tt.com/index.php/the-hijab-of-women-its-boundaries/91/
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mufti Arshad Ali
Darul Iftaa, Jaamia Madinatul Uloom (Trinidad)
