The Ruling on a Man Looking at the Face of His Sister-in-Law

Question :

There are some among those who call to "civilization" who claim that it is permissible for a man to look at the face of his sister-in-law and they cite some evidences for this. How correct is this and how does Your Eminence reply to this and counter it?

Answer:

The brother's wife is like any other unrelated woman; it is not permissible for his brother to look at her, like the wife of the paternal uncle or the maternal uncle. And it is not permissible to be alone with any of them, as is the case with all unrelated women, nor may one of them reveal herself to her husband's brother, or his paternal uncle or maternal uncle or to travel or be alone with them, based upon the generality of the Words of Allah, Most Glorified:
"And when you ask for anything you want, ask them from behind a screen: that is purer for your hearts and for their hearts'

And it is general for the wives of the Prophet and other women, according to the most correct opinion of the scholars and His Words:
"Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.). That is purer for them. Verily, Allah is All- Aware of what they do. And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.) and not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent and to draw their veils all over Juyubihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms, etc.) and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands, or their fathers, or their husband's fathers, or their sons, or their husband's sons, or their brothers or their brother's sons, or their sister's sons, or their (Muslim) women (i.e. their sisters in Islam), or the (female) slaves whom their right hands possess, or old male servants who lack vigor, or small children who have no sense of feminine sex"

And the Words of Allah, Most High:
"O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies (i.e. screen themselves completely except the eyes or one eye to see the way). That will be better, that they should be known (as free respectable women) so as not to be annoyed.

And the words of the Prophet:
"A woman may not travel except with a Mahram."

And the words of the Prophet:
"A man should not be alone with a woman, for verily Satan makes a third."

(It is also forbidden) due to the fact that when she shows her face to her husband's brother, it is a cause of temptation (Fitnah) and means to that which Allah has forbidden (i.e. adultery). And these matters - Allah knows best - are the wisdom behind the obligation of the Hijab and the prohibition of looking and seclusion, because the face is the where beauties and charms are concentrated. And Allah is the Granter of success.