Praise be to Allaah.

Firstly: 

The Muslim woman has to cover her entire body in front of non-mahram men, and it is especially not permissible for her to show her adornment such as her hair, chest and forearms. 

In the answer to question no. 11774 you will find the ruling on women covering their faces, with detailed evidence. 

At the end of that question we mentioned the evil effects that result from showing the face to non-mahrams, which include: self admiration because of her own beauty, loss of modesty and men being tempted by her. 

If this is the ruling with regard to showing the face, and these are some of the effects of her showing it before non-mahram men, then what would the ruling on showing the chest and hair as well be? What would be the effects that result from that? 

We are saddened by the fact that women accept to become a cheap product that is traded by sick and evil people. Can a woman be chosen to work as a broadcaster on a satellite channel if she is not beautiful? This is the first quality that is sought, so that viewers may enjoy looking at her and thinking of her. How can a woman agree to be the focus of millions who are staring at her and thinking of her? Would she be a noble woman who guards her chastity and modesty in their view, when they see her adorning herself for her viewers in a way that she does not adorn herself for her husband? 

Secondly: 

With regard to a man looking at the face, chest and hair of a non-mahram woman, it is not permissible to doubt that this is haraam. 

Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: 

It is haraam for an adult man to look at the ‘awrah of a free adult non-mahram woman, and her face and hands, if there is the fear of fitnah, and even if there is no such fear, according to the correct view. End quote. 

Ibn Shihaab al-Deen al-Ramli (may Allaah have mercy on him) said, commenting on the words of al-Nawawi:  

The consensus of the ummah is that it is forbidden for women to go out with their faces uncovered, because looking is the cause of fitnah and provocation of desire.  

Nihaayat al-Muhtaaj ila Sharh al-Minhaaj (6/187, 188) 

Dr. Muhammad Ismaa’eel al-Muqaddam said: 

The scholars – including the imams of the four madhhabs – are all unanimously agreed that it is obligatory for a woman to cover her entire body before non-mahram men, whether they think that the face and hands are ‘awrah or they do not. But it is obligatory to cover them in these times, because most people  are corrupt and weak in religious commitment, and they do not take care to avoid looking in a haraam way at the face of the woman which is the site of her charms, the standard of her beauty and the indicator of her physical well being. 

‘Awdat al-Hijaab (p. 432) 

In al-Mawsoo’ah al-Fiqhiyyaah (26/269) it says: 

If the woman is free and a non-mahram, it is not permissible to look at her with desire at all or when there is the fear of fitnah, and there is no difference of opinion among the fuqaha’. End quote. 

In (26/270) it says: 

The fuqaha’ are unanimously agreed that looking at a woman with desire is haraam, whether she is a mahram or a non-mahram, except for his wife and the one who is permissible for him. 

It is also forbidden for a non-mahram woman to look at a non-mahram man, if it is with desire. End quote. 

The kind of looking at a non-mahram woman that is excused in sharee’ah is the unintentional glance. If that happens, then one is required to look away; it is not permissible to keep looking. The comments of the scholars on this matter refer to looking at the face; as for looking at her chest or hair – as in the case of these female TV presenters – no one would doubt that this is haraam, and there should be no difference of opinion concerning that. 

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts). That is purer for them. Verily, Allaah is All‑Aware of what they do”

[al-Noor 24:30] 

The general meaning of lowering the gaze that is enjoined in this verse includes the ‘awrah which it is not permitted to show to anyone but the husband, and the parts of the body which may only be shown before other women and mahrams, and the face, concerning which there is a difference of opinion among the scholars. 

Ibn Katheer (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: 

This is a command from Allaah to His believing slaves to lower their gaze and avoid looking at that which is forbidden for them, so they should not look at anything but that which it is permissible for them to look at, and they should lower their gaze and avoid looking at haraam things. If it so happens that the gaze falls upon something haraam unintentionally, then he should quickly look away. 

Because the gaze leads to corruption of the heart, as one of the salaf said – the gaze is a poisoned arrow to the heart – Allaah has commanded us to guard our chastity and also guard our gaze which may lead to that, and He says: “Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts).”  

Tafseer Ibn Katheer (6/41, 42). 

It was narrated that Jareer ibn ‘Abd-Allaah said: I asked the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) about an accidental glance and he ordered me to avert my gaze.

 Narrated by Muslim (2159). 

It was narrated from Buraydah ibn al-Husayb that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to ‘Ali: “O ‘Ali, do not follow once glance with another. The first is permitted to you but not the second.” 

Narrated by al-Tirmidhi (2777) and Abu Dawood (2149); classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi.

 Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: 

A sudden, accidental glance is the first glance that happens unintentionally, and that which is accidental will not be punished. But if he looks deliberately then he is sinning, so the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) told him to look away if he sees something accidentally, and not to keep on looking, because continuing to look is like looking a second time. 

Rawdat al-Muhibbeen (p. 96) 

Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: 

If a man sees a woman when she is uncovered, then he must lower his gaze and look away. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was asked about an accidental glance and he said: “Avert your gaze” and “You are allowed the first but not the second” meaning, there is no sin on you for the first look which was accidental and unintentional, such as if you happened to see her coming out of a door when you were entering the same door, or on the street, in which case he should look away and not follow it with a second glance, rather he must lower his gaze. 

Fataawa Ibn Baaz (22/208). 

In the answer to question no. 22917 there is a discussion of the benefits of lowering the gaze. 

To sum up: 

1.     The Muslim woman must cover all of her body, and the correct view is that she must cover her face and hands.

2.     It is not permissible for her to show before non-mahrams that which she shows before women and mahram relatives.

3.     It is haraam for a woman to work as a broadcaster or presenter on a TV or satellite channel because this work involves showing her face and hair etc. in most cases, and the fact that viewers will be continuously looking at her, which is contrary to the command to lower the gaze.

4.     The prohibition applies more emphatically to the one who goes out before people with her hair, chest and forearms uncovered. Such a woman – usually – is not free of other haraam things such as plucking the eyebrows, using makeup and wearing perfume in front of non-mahram men.

5.     It is not permissible for a non-mahram man to look at the female presenter, and he is not allowed anything but the first glance that happens by accident.

6.     It makes no difference whether the woman appears as a presenter of a news broadcast or scientific program, or in movies and soap operas, as far as looking is concerned. 

And Allaah knows best.