Did the jurists cite the permissibility of looking without lust from an action of Aisha, may God be pleased with her, when she used to look at those playing with spears, or how was her looking at strangers?

Scholars differ on the ruling concerning a woman looking at non-mahram men when there is no fear of temptation (fitna) and no desire (shahwa). One group of scholars held it permissible, citing the hadith of Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) in the Two Sahihs. They also quoted Qadi Iyad and Al-Bukhari as permitting women to look at the actions of non-mahram men as long as there is no pleasure (istildhadh) or suspicion (riba).

They further supported their view by noting the continuous practice of women going out to mosques and markets, wearing niqabs so that men would not see them, unlike men who were not commanded to wear niqabs so that women would not see them. This indicates a difference in ruling between the two.

They responded to the hadith of Umm Salama, "Are you two blind?" by saying that this ruling was specific to the wives of the Prophet (peace be upon him), or that it is possible to reconcile the two hadiths by assuming the incident occurred earlier, or that there was something about the incident of Ibn Umm Maktum that prevented women from seeing him.

Another group of scholars held it impermissible, which is the sounder view among the Shafi'is. They argued for the prohibition of looking with desire by consensus, differing only on looking without desire. They responded to Aisha's hadith by saying that she was young, not yet having reached puberty, or that it was before the verses of hijab were revealed. However, this response was refuted by stating that the incident occurred after the hijab was enjoined and Aisha was an adult.