Looking at the Woman One Intends to Marry, and How Far It Extends
What is the ruling on a suitor looking at the woman he seeks to marry before the contract, and what may he look at?
It is recommended that a suitor look at the woman he seeks to marry, and the looking is confined to the face and the hands: the face shows her beauty, and the hands whether her body is full or spare.
It is recommended to look at the face and hands only of the woman one seeks to marry, before the contract, with her knowledge or her guardian's; looking at her unawares is disliked, and nothing else of her body is looked at.
It is a sunnah for a suitor to look at the woman before making his offer, even without her leave, and the looking is confined to the face and the hands as far as the wrists, since these are not ʿawrah and by them her good qualities are judged.
It is a sunnah for a suitor to look at the woman he seeks to marry, even without her leave, and he may look at what ordinarily shows of her — the face, the neck, the hands and the feet.