Due to the ongoing conflict with Islamists in Egypt, some of the wackier Salafi Fatwas are being highlighted by Egyptian media. One example of that was the “sea adultery” fatwa. This is arguably creepier.

A Salafist preacher in Egypt found himself in hot water this week when a video surfaced of him issuing a fatwa allowing men to secretly watch a woman shower… if he intends to marry her, that is.

“If you were really honest and wanted to marry that woman, and you were able to hide and watch her in secret, see the things that she wouldn’t usually let you see before marrying her, then it is acceptable as long as your intentions are pure,” said Usama al-Qawsi, according to an al-Arabiya translation.

“One of the Prophet’s companions did that. Some disapproved and told him: ‘How do you do that when you’re one of the Prophet’s companions?’ The Prophet answered: ‘If you can see something that would make you want to marry her, then go ahead and do it.’”

The significance of this is obvious. Modesty is an obligation on women. Not on men. The Burka came into existence when one of Mohammed’s companies spied on one of his wives answering a call of nature. Mohammed promptly ordered up a Burka.

This is why the vast majority of Saudi men are polled as blaming women for sexual harassment.

Usama however is citing actual precedents within Islam.

Book 11, Number 2077: Narrated Jabir ibn Abdullah:

The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: When one of you asked a woman in marriage, if he is able to look at what will induce him to marry her, he should do so. He (Jabir) said: I asked a girl in marriage, I used to look at her secretly, until I looked at what induced me to marry her. I, therefore, married her.

According to another report he said, ‘a young woman of Bani Salamah. I used to hide from her, until I saw that which encouraged me to go ahead and marry her, so I did so.” (Saheeh Abi Dawood, no. 1832, 1834)

Ibn Hazm said that only the face and hands can be shown to one interested in marriage (see ‘al-Muhalla’; ⁹⁄₁₆₁).

Dawud adh-Dhahiri is the one who said that the entire body (except her private parts) can be seen, and Ibn ‘Aqil also narrated this opinion from Ahmad bin Hambal.

But then it gets really weird…

“From Anas ibn Maalik (may Allaah be pleased with him)” ‘The Prophet wanted to marry a woman, so he sent another woman to look at her and said, “Smell her mouth and look at the back of her ankles.”

That seems more like the way someone would pick out a camel. Apparently Mohammed was the original feminist. That’s what I keep hearing from liberals anyway.