Assalamualaykum. I'm a male medical student in a non-islamic country. During classes, sometimes we have to see other's awrah and expose our own awrah. For example we have to see female's private parts during examinations, practicals. And female students too, vice versa. 2 main questions - 1. Is it permissible for us to see other's awrah? 2. Is it permissible to expose our own awrah? Next dilemma, is about touching between male-female non mahram. Sometimes, we have to touch each other (to palpate, percuss). In most cases, we can wear gloves, but in some cases gloves are not allowed. Therefore, is it permissible to touch each other without syahwat, only for the sake of studying?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

It is forbidden in Islam to see the 'Awrah (parts of the body that must be covered in Islam) of another person. Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri narrated that the Prophet said: "A man should not look to the 'Awrah of another man, and a woman should not look to the 'Awrah of another woman." [Muslim]

The scholars stated that the narration indicates that it is forbidden with greater reason to look to the ‘Awrah of the opposite sex with the exception of the spouses.

If what is meant in the question is that this matter happens between the students that some of them look to the 'Awrah of each other, then this is very serious and a great means of corruption as there is no necessity or need to do so. The necessity or need for studying does not make this permissible because some other means could be taken instead for this purpose.

As regards looking at the 'Awrah of a patient for the necessity of medical examination, then this is permissible. However, the 'Awrah should only be revealed to the extent of necessity, because necessity is valued according to its proper value as stated by the jurists . For more benefit, please refer to Fataawa 81316 and 85492.

Similarly, it is not permissible for a non-Mahram man to touch a non-Mahram woman and vice-versa; for more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 82318. But if there is a necessity or a need for such a matter, like touching the body of a patient for diagnosis or for studying, then this is permissible.

Finally, if the religious requirements are not observed in such studies, then it is not permissible to continue it especially that the studies are mixed. Indeed, there are universities in Muslim countries where a Muslim may study while avoiding these prohibitions. For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 87469.