Answer: Not looking is a much safer option. However, there is a case in which this is permissible, but before she looks at him, she should seriously take a very long look at the state of her heart to know whether this glance might push her into a pit of sin. Stating the scenario of permissibility, the honourable jurists رَحِمَهُمُ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَالٰی stated: The rule for a woman looking at a non-Maḥram man is the same as the rule for one man looking at another man, but this is applicable when the woman is certain that she will not feel lust by looking at him. If she even doubts about feeling lust, then she must not look at him. (Baĥār-e-Sharī’at, part 16, pp. 86; ‘Ālamgīrī, vol. 5, pp. 327)
Question: Is a woman allowed to accept a non-Muslim midwife’s assistance in the countries where non-Muslims are in the majority?
Answer: No. Muslims who live in such countries should already get information about such hospitals where Muslim female doctors, nurses and midwives are all available. If there is an emergency and a Muslim midwife is unavailable, and there is no alternative either, then in case of necessity, the services of a non-Muslim midwife may be sought. Ṣadr-ush-Sharī’aĥ, Badr-uṭ-Ṭarīqaĥ, ‘Allāmaĥ Maulānā Muftī Muhammad Amjad ‘Alī A’ẓamī عَـلَيْهِ رَحْـمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ الۡـقَـوِی says: It is not permissible for a Muslim woman to expose her ‘Satr’ in front of a non-Muslim woman (i.e. a Muslim woman must observe veil with a non-Muslim woman just as she must do with any non-Maḥram man. All parts of her body that must remain covered in front of a non-Maḥram man, must remain covered in front of a non-Muslim woman). It is not uncommon these days for non-Muslim women to enter Muslims’ homes and Muslim women appear with parts of their Satr exposed just as they appear in front of Muslim women. It is necessary for them to avoid this. Most midwives are non-Muslims