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His look at his own unmarriageable female relatives, at a girl of nine, or at a slave-woman whom he does not own—or one whom he owns only in part; and the look of a man who feels no desire, such as an impotent1 or elderly man; or of a discerning boy who does feel desire2; or of a slave who is neither partially emancipated nor jointly owned; as well as a slave-woman’s look at her master3: in all these cases it is permitted to look at the face, neck, hands, feet, head, and lower leg.
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When the look is for medical treatment,4 it is permissible to view only the specific area5 that requires attention.
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His look at a slave-woman who is forbidden to him,6 at a free girl who can discern but is under nine, a woman’s look at another woman or at an unrelated man, the look of a discerning child who feels no desire at a woman, and a man’s look at another man—even a beardless youth: all of these are allowed with the exception of what lies between the navel and the knee.
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His look at his wife or at a slave-woman who is lawful to him, even7 with desire, and the mutual look of two children under seven: in each case it is permissible to look at the whole body of the other.
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It is forbidden to look at anyone mentioned above with lust, or when one fears lust may be aroused. Touching follows the same ruling as looking—and is even more strictly prohibited. It is likewise unlawful to take sensual pleasure from the voice of a non-mahram woman, even if she is reciting Qur’an.