Lawful Looks of Master and Slave

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a slave’s looking at the hairs of the mistress. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful.’”

“Once we, about thirty people, were with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), when my father came and abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), welcomed him, gave him a place just next to himself and turned to him (for speaking) for a long time. Then abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), said, ‘Abu Mu‘awiyah needs privacy, if you please provide us relief.’ We all got up and my father said to me, ‘O Mu‘awiyah, come back.’ I turned back and abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), asked, ‘Is this your son?’ He replied, ‘Yes, and he thinks that people of al-Madinah do something unlawful.’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘What is it?’ I then said, ‘The woman of Quraysh or of Banu Hashim when riding, places her hand on the head of the black (slave) and her arms on his neck.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), said, ‘Son, have you not read al-Quran?’ I replied, ‘Yes, I read it.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Read this verse, ‘. . . it is not unlawful for them about their fathers, sons, and whomever their right hands possess.’ (33:55) He (the Imam) then said, ‘It is not unlawful if a slave looks at one’s hairs and legs (below the knees).”’

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a slave’s looking at the hairs and leg of his mistress. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is not lawful for a slave to look at any part of the body of his mistress except her hairs unintentionally.’” In another Hadith it is said that it is not unlawful to look at her hairs if it is safe (from sinful feelings).