I want to know how is it permissible for a Muslim man to smile at a non-Mahram (marriageable) woman if there is no fear of any potential temptation, while even looking at her face is impermissible? I have found in some books the detailed description of the woman’s body and looks at the time of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. How could this be possible while Niqaab (face cover) was obligatory and no Muslim man was able to see a bare-faced woman at the time of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

Allaah The Exalted commanded pious Muslims to lower their gazes and commanded Muslim women to adhere to their due Hijab (Islamic covering); therefore, it is impermissible for a Muslim man to look at a non-Mahram woman unnecessarily, not to mention the prohibition of smiling at her and other such behavior.

However, as for what some books cited about the description of some women, they might date back to the time before Hijab was mandatory on Muslim women, and it is well-known that Hijab was only obligatory on the fifth year A.H. Moreover, they might be reported on the authority of other women. What proves this is what ‘Aa’ishah said while relating the incident of Ifk (falsehood), “Safwaan ibn Al-Mu‘attil As-Sulami was behind the Muslim army … he approached me and recognized me while I was asleep; for he had seen me before Hijab was obligatory.”

Allaah Knows best.