Question:
May Allah bless you. This questioner is a student at the Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt. She asks: What are the limits of lowering the gaze? And must I avoid looking at any man specifically if circumstances require me to deal with a man? I hope for your guidance, virtuous Shaykh.
Answer:
Lowering the gaze means limiting the sight so that it does not extend to what is not permissible to look at. There is no harm in a woman seeing a man, as women during the time of the Prophet ﷺ used to go out to the mosque and the markets, and they would naturally see men because they wore the niqab. However, if she looks at a man with pleasure or desire, then that is forbidden for her. In that case, she must divert her gaze. As for what necessity requires, necessity is a different matter altogether.