The parts of the body of a woman which a suitor is permitted to look at when proposing for marriage

The selection of a spouse is a significant decision within Islam. While compatibility and religious values are crucial, physical attraction also plays a role. Islamic guidelines acknowledge this by allowing a potential husband (suitor) to look at the physical appearance of a potential wife (non-Mahram) under specific circumstances. 

One such circumstance is during the process of proposing marriage. Before committing to such a significant life step, Islam permits a man to see the natural beauty of the woman he is considering. This allows him to assess if there is a level of physical attraction that would contribute to a fulfilling and lasting marriage. The Prophet (pbuh) said : 

اذا خطب احدکم المراة فان استطاع فان ینظر منها الی ما یدعوه الی نکاحها فلیفعل  (مسند احمد، ٣/٣٣٤)

“When one of you proposes to a woman for marriage, then if he is able to look at those (parts of) woman which induces one towards nikah, he should do so.” (Musnad Ahmad). 

When a man considers proposing to a woman, Islamic guidelines acknowledge the importance of physical attraction in a potential spouse. He is allowed to look at a woman's zeenah to assess this attraction. The zeenah includes her hair, facial features, body shape, and curves. The purpose is to determine if there's a natural level of attraction that could contribute to a fulfilling marriage. It's important to note that some scholars, like Allama Ibn Abidin, permits a suitor to look at a potential wife with desire or shahwah. This signifies that experiencing a degree of physical attraction while looking is not considered sinful in the context of marriage proposal.  

The majority of Islamic scholarship focuses on allowing the suitor to see a woman's zeenah. Some scholars, including Dawood Zahiri (815-883 AD) and Ibn Hazm (994-1064 AD), hold a less widely adopted opinion. Their interpretation allows a suitor to see the entire naked body of the potential wife, including her private parts (genitals and anal area).

According to Imam al-Awzai (707-774 AD) and few others, a suitor can see the entire body of the woman excluding her two private parts. Imam al-Awzai stated that a suitor can see "مواضع اللحم" the places of meat/fat on women's body possible referring to breasts, buttocks, thighs and claves.

Imam Ahmad in one of his narrations said that it is permissible for suitor to look at the whole body of the woman, except for her "العورة المغلظة" (i.e. vulva and anus), and in another narration he said that it is permissible to look at all of her body.

According to Hanbali scholars like Ibn Qudaamah , Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah , Ibn Hajar  etc, the suitor is permitted to see what one can see of a Mahram woman i.e. her hair, face, neck, chest, calves etc. Jarir ibn ‘Abdullah said concerning his wife, “(Before marriage) I used to hide under a tree to see her.”   This anecdote highlights the practice of seeking a glimpse beyond the immediate public sphere, suggesting a level of visual interaction beyond just the face and hands was considered acceptable in the context of pre-marital evaluation. 

The concept of a potential husband seeing a woman's "natural zeenah" (adornment) before marriage is a practice rooted in Islamic legal discussions. However, due to prevailing cultural practices, particularly regarding modesty, seeing a woman's natural zeenah is not widely accepted. Traditionally, women would only reveal their hair and face to a potential spouse. In some religious families, there might be more openness to showing the neck or chest area, potentially even foregoing the scarf that conventionally conceals the figure. It's important to note that these are exceptions, and the specific customs can vary depending on family and social background.