Section: As for the young slave-boy, as long as he is a child who has not attained discernment, it is not obligatory to veil from him in any respect. If he has attained discernment, there are two narrations regarding him. The first: his ruling is that of a mahram (unmarriageable kin) in terms of looking. The second: it is permissible for him to look at what is above the navel and below the knee, because Allah the Exalted said: {Let those whom your right hands possess and those among you who have not reached puberty ask your permission} up to His saying: {There is no blame on you or on them beyond these, for they are attendants upon you, some of you to others} up to His saying: {And when the children among you reach puberty, let them ask permission as those before them asked permission} (50), which indicates the distinction between the one who has reached puberty and the one who has not. Abu Abd Allah (Ahmad) said: Abu Taybah performed cupping on the wives of the Prophet - peace and blessings of Allah be upon him - while he was a young boy (51). The basis for the first narration is the verse: {or children who have not yet attained knowledge of the private parts of women} (52). It was said to Abu Abd Allah: When should a woman cover her head from the young slave-boy? He said: When he reaches ten years of age.
Section: It is permissible (53) for each of the spouses to look at the entire body of their partner (54) and to touch it, including the private parts, because of what Bahz ibn Hakim narrated from his father, from his grandfather, who said: I said: O Messenger of Allah, what should we do with our private parts, and what should we leave? He replied: "Guard your private parts, except from your wife (55) and what your right hands possess." Narrated by al-Tirmidhi (56), who said: This is a hasan (good) hadith. Furthermore, since the private parts are permissible for him to enjoy, it is permissible to look at them and touch them, just like the rest of the body. It is disliked, however, to look at the private parts, for Aishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said: I never saw the private part of the Messenger of Allah - peace and blessings of Allah be upon him - ever. Narrated by Ibn
(50) Surah al-Nur 59. (51) See: what Muslim recorded in: The Chapter on every disease having a remedy and the recommendation of seeking treatment, from the Book of Salutations. Sahih Muslim 4/1730; and Abu Dawud in: The Chapter on the slave looking at the hair of his mistress, from the Book of Clothing. Sunan Abi Dawud 2/383; and Ibn Majah in: The Chapter on Cupping, from the Book of Medicine. Sunan Ibn Majah 2/1151, 1152; and Imam Ahmad in: al-Musnad 3/350. (52) Surah al-Nur 31. (53) In A, B, and M: "and it is permissible". (54) In B: "the other". (55) In the original and B: "your wife". In the original there is an addition: "and your servant", but it is not in the sources of verification. (56) Its documentation was mentioned previously in: 1/305.
