Is it haram for a woman to see another woman's breasts?

In Islamic teachings, a woman is fully permitted to expose her breasts to another Muslim woman, provided the intention is not driven by lust or sexual desire. The awrah for a woman in the presence of another Muslim woman is restricted to her vulva, anus, and the surrounding areas, specifically the perineum and pubis—essentially, the regions normally covered by underwear. These areas constitute her awrah when among other Muslim women and must remain concealed.

A woman is permitted to touch what she is permitted to look at on another woman's body. This means a Muslim woman may touch another Muslim woman's breasts, provided the touch is not motivated by sexual desire. For example, a Muslim woman can inspect and palpate the breasts for any unusual changes, or can massage them for relaxation and to promote well-being.A Muslim woman, such as a tailor or seamstress, may need to touch another woman’s breasts to take measurements or adjust clothing, such as for a bra or a fitted dress.Some pre-wedding rituals involve the application of traditional beauty pastes (e.g., ubtan in South Asian cultures) to the bride's skin for a radiant appearance. These treatments may extend to the upper chest and breast area. A Muslim woman assisting with this process would touch the breasts while applying these products.

In light of Qur’an 24:31, which instructs women to guard their modesty, a Muslim woman is not permitted to uncover her hair in front of non-Muslim women, let alone her breasts, unless the non-Muslim woman is her slave. Thus, the permissions regarding exposure and touch apply exclusively between Muslim women, and the same leniency does not extend to non-Muslim women under these guidelines. The same verse permits a male slave to view the zeenah of his mistress ¹, which, by extension, includes her breasts. This allowance stems from the unique status of male slaves in historical Islamic contexts, where they were regarded as extensions of the family. Male slaves were often privy to the private spaces and modesty of the Muslim women in the household, entrusted with responsibilities such as guarding the home and its occupants. As trusted members of the family, they were granted access to certain intimacies that were otherwise restricted. In contrast, non-Muslim women are explicitly barred from seeing a Muslim woman’s zeenah, including her breasts, as per the guidelines of Qur’an 24:31. The reasoning behind this prohibition lies in the perception of non-Muslim women as potentially untrustworthy individuals in this context. There was a concern that they might share details of a Muslim woman’s zeenah—her physical adornments or private attributes—with their non-Muslim husbands or others outside the trusted circle, thereby compromising the Muslim woman’s modesty and privacy. Thus, the permissions for exposure and touch remain strictly limited to interactions between Muslim women.

Endnotes and References

1-The Prophet (ﷺ) brought Fatimah a male slave which he donated to her. Fatimah wore a garment which, when she covered her head, did not reach her feet, and when she covered her feet by it, that garment did not reach her head. When the Prophet (ﷺ) saw her struggle, he said: There is no harm to you: Here is only your father and slave. [Sunan Abi Dawud 4106 - Clothing (Kitab Al-Libas) - كتاب اللباس - Sunnah.com - Sayings and Teachings of Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم)]