What is the extent of permissible viewing for a suitor?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Marriage
Primary text
The suitor is permitted to view the woman's face, as the face is not part of the private areas (*awrah*) and is the collection point of beauty and the primary focus of sight. He may repeat the viewing and examine her features, as the intended purpose necessitates this. He must not look with sensual pleasure or suspicion. The consensus confirms viewing the face because it is not *awrah* and is the seat of beauty, and because the permission to view is limited by necessity.
Supporting text
There are differing reports concerning parts of the body other than the face that usually appear, such as hands and feet. One narration states that viewing these is not permitted because the woman is entirely *awrah*, and necessity is met by viewing the face. Another narration from Ahmad permits viewing what encourages the marriage, such as the hand or the general body structure. Al-Shafi'i permits viewing the face and hands. The permissibility of viewing what commonly appears is justified because the Prophet's permission to view, even without her knowledge, implies permission to view all that is habitually uncovered, as the face cannot be singled out for viewing when other parts are similarly uncovered.