or when he intends to marry her, since the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, permitted this and said: “That is more likely to foster harmony between them.”
The disagreement concerns only whether a man intending to marry her may look at her unawares through an opening in the wall. Mālik disapproved of this and did not permit it, whereas Ibn Wahb and others permitted it on the basis of the reports transmitted concerning it. Among these is the hadith of Jābir, who said that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “If one of you proposes marriage to a woman and can see something of her that pleases him, let him do so.” Jābir said: “I sought to marry a woman from Banū Salima and would conceal myself among the bases of the palm trees until I saw something of her that pleased me. I then proposed to her and married her.” Mālik had not heard this report, nor had its authenticity been established to his satisfaction; that is why he disapproved of this, and Allah knows best. Or perhaps he disapproved of it for fear that the man might see some part of her naked body. Those who permitted it on the basis of the transmitted reports permitted it only when there was no risk of that.
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A male slave may see of his mistress what a man permanently forbidden to marry her may see, because Allah, Mighty and Majestic, says:
“Or those whom your right hands possess.” [al-Nisā’: 3]
An exception is made if he has an attractive appearance: in that case, it is disliked for him to see anything of her other than her face. She may eat with him if he is a lowly, insignificant fellow from whom there is no fear of his taking sensual pleasure in her, unlike a young man from whom that cannot be ruled out.
There is disagreement concerning the men without sexual desire whom Allah Most High intended. Some say this means a foolish, mentally impaired man who understands nothing of matters concerning women. Others say it means a sexually incapable, impotent man who cannot have an erection with women. A eunuch falls within the same meaning.
The first view is the one adopted by Mālik. It is supported by the Prophet’s words, peace and blessings be upon him, to his wives concerning the effeminate man who used to be with Umm Salama: “Do not let such men enter your presence.”
Arising