The Limits of What a Woman May Reveal of Her Body Before Muslim Women
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The questioner:
In her final question, she says: May Allah reward you. We have heard that it is not permissible for a woman to reveal anything before women except her face, hair, neck, arms, and legs down to the middle of the calves. If she reveals other parts, such as her forearm, her leg down to the knee, or part of her back, is she sinful? Her argument is that she is among women or in her home. Also, is it permissible for a woman to reveal her breasts before women if she is nursing her child, for example? And what is the extent of the area for a necklace that is excused?
The Shaykh:
It is permissible for a woman to reveal before women whatever is customary for modest women to reveal, such as the face, hands, feet, and hair of the head. This is whatever is customary among Muslim women to reveal of themselves to one another. It is not permissible to reveal more than that, because there is no need for it, and because it trains women to be lax about the hijab. Yes.
The questioner:
When you say "it is customary among Muslim women," which Muslim women do you mean, if I may ask?
The Shaykh:
Those who are strict in their observance. The characteristics of those who are strict in their hijab, and what is needed to be revealed for work or profession. This is before women. As for before non-mahram men, it is not permissible for a woman to reveal anything of her body, not her face, not her hands, not her feet, and nothing else of her body. Rather, she is required to have complete covering before men who are not mahram. Yes.
In her final question, she says: May Allah reward you. We have heard that it is not permissible for a woman to reveal anything before women except her face, hair, neck, arms, and legs down to the middle of the calves. If she reveals other parts, such as her forearm, her leg down to the knee, or part of her back, is she sinful? Her argument is that she is among women or in her home. Also, is it permissible for a woman to reveal her breasts before women if she is nursing her child, for example? And what is the extent of the area for a necklace that is excused?
The Shaykh:
It is permissible for a woman to reveal before women whatever is customary for modest women to reveal, such as the face, hands, feet, and hair of the head. This is whatever is customary among Muslim women to reveal of themselves to one another. It is not permissible to reveal more than that, because there is no need for it, and because it trains women to be lax about the hijab. Yes.
The questioner:
When you say "it is customary among Muslim women," which Muslim women do you mean, if I may ask?
The Shaykh:
Those who are strict in their observance. The characteristics of those who are strict in their hijab, and what is needed to be revealed for work or profession. This is before women. As for before non-mahram men, it is not permissible for a woman to reveal anything of her body, not her face, not her hands, not her feet, and nothing else of her body. Rather, she is required to have complete covering before men who are not mahram. Yes.
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، 5428- حدود ما تكشفه المرأة من جسمها أمام النساء المسلمات - الشيخ صالح الفوزان — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.