Is looking at an elderly woman who is past the age of desiring marriage permissible?

General Chapter

Al-Mughni

Book of Marriage

Book 35 · Issue 4 · Bab 1

Open in Qurani

Primary text

There is no harm in looking at the parts of an elderly woman's body that customarily appear, specifically those for whom desire for marriage is absent. This is supported by the verse: "As for women past childbearing, who no longer hope for marriage..." (Quran 24:60). Ibn Abbas stated that the command for believing men and women to lower their gaze was subsequently abrogated and specifically exempted by this verse concerning elderly women not seeking marriage. The same ruling applies to a woman who is physically unattractive and not desired.