Is it permissible for a woman to be examined by a male doctor?

In Sharia, it is forbidden for a non-mahram to look at another person’s awrah (private parts). Allah says in the Qur’an:

قُلْ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ.

“(O Muhammad ﷺ) Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their private parts (from illicit acts)” [1].

وَقُلْ لِلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ.

“And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their private parts (from illicit acts)” [2].

However, in cases of necessity, it is permitted for a doctor to examine the area of illness [3]. This is based on the fiqh principles: “Necessity makes prohibited things permissible” and “Necessity is limited to its extent” [4].

The Hanafi scholar al-Mawsuli states:

“A doctor should teach women how to treat other women, because it is less problematic for a woman to look at another woman than for a man to look at a woman, and it avoids temptation. If this is not possible, then the male doctor should lower his gaze as much as possible. Even a midwife assisting a pregnant woman should do her best to lower her gaze” [5].

Therefore, a woman should first seek a competent Muslim female doctor. If one is not available, she should look for a trustworthy and experienced female doctor of another faith. Only if none are available should she consult a trustworthy Muslim male doctor, and in this case, her mahram (close male relative) or a trustworthy person should be present.

Sharia and Fatwa Department of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Kazakhstan

• [1] Surah An-Nur, 30.

• [2] Surah An-Nur, 31.

• [3] Marghinani, “al-Hidaya Sharh Bidayat al-Mubtadi bi Sharh Abdulhay al-Lakhnawi”, 7/191.

• [4] Ibn Nujaym, “al-Ashbah wa al-Nazair”, 73.

• [5] al-Mawsuli, “al-Ikhtiyar li Ta’lil al-Mukhtar”, 4/109.