In some cases, it is forbidden to touch what one is allowed to look at

2-4-2006 | IslamWeb

Question:

If it is forbidden for a woman to look at what Allaah has forbidden her to look at in another woman with the exception of the arms, legs, neck and head, so is it permissible for a her to look at the body of another woman when she is having a bath and she asks her to scratch her back?

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Answer:

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 is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

 

We have already issued the limits of a woman looking at another woman in Fatwa 84062, so please refer to it. Therefore, what is permissible to look at is permissible to touch, and what is forbidden to look at is forbidden to touch. However, in some cases, it is forbidden to touch what is not forbidden to look at, like the man touching the face of a marriageable woman, because even if he is permitted to look at her face (according to some scholars) he is forbidden to touch her face, as touching arouses sexual desires more than when just looking at her. Therefore, it is permissible for a woman to touch what she is permitted to look at in a woman’s body, but she is not permitted to touch what she is not permitted to look at, except for a necessity, like for the purpose of treatment and the like. 

Allaah Knows best.