What are the limits of a woman's awrah (the part of the body that must be covered) in the presence of men and in the presence of women?
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The questioner : The question, O honorable Shaykh.
The Shaykh : All right, from where, from where are you speaking?
The questioner : Buraydah.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : He says:The questioner : O honorable Shaykh, what are the limits of a woman's awrah (the part of the body that must be covered) in the presence of men and in the presence of women?
The Shaykh : Yes. Read the saying of Allah (Mighty and Majestic):[An-Nur 24:31]. It becomes clear to you that women's clothing is a covering garment that reaches the ankles, because His saying: [An-Nur 24:31] is evidence that the garments reached the lower part of the leg, because what is hidden of the adornment is the anklet and the like.
A woman's awrah (the part of the body that must be covered) in the presence of a man, if he is one of her mahram (a relative one may not marry), is what is usually exposed, such as the face, the hands, the forearms, the head, the neck, and the legs. There is nothing wrong with a man looking at these. This does not mean that a woman should wear short clothing, because there is a difference between clothing and looking. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said:Sunan Ibn Majah 661Sahih (Darussalam). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not say: "It is permissible for a woman to wear only what covers between the navel and the knee." It is inconceivable that the women of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) would sit with one another while a woman wears nothing but a pair of pants from the navel to the knee. No sane person, let alone a scholar who knows the guidance of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), could say this. Then we say: This claim necessitates that a woman expose her breast. Even women in the West do not do this; rather, they place bras on their breasts so that they are not seen. Is it conceivable that the women of the Companions would be more immodest than women in the West? Then, even if this were intended, meaning that it is permissible for a woman to wear this in front of another woman, is it fitting to publicize this at a time when people are not inclined toward covering, but rather the opposite? If the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said to Mu'adh: so that it would not be seen. Is it conceivable that the women of the Companions would be more immodest than women in the West? Then, even if this were intended, meaning that it is permissible for a woman to wear this in front of another woman. Is it fitting to publicize this at a time when people are not inclined toward covering, but rather the opposite? If the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said to Mu'adh: , even though the matter is one of belief and worship Sahih Muslim 30b, . How can we now tell people: "A woman looks at everything except what is between the navel and the knee." And we tell the other: "Wear what covers the navel and the knee." How can we say this? This opens the door to a very serious evil. Therefore, many women have criticized this understanding. It is a wrong understanding, because we have two women: the one looking and the one being looked at. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) addressed whom? Answer all of you. The one looking was not addressed to the one being looked at. It is well known that the one being looked at has covered her entire body, so much so that when Umm Salamah mentioned her going out to the market, she said: . So the important point is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) did not address the one being looked at, but rather addressed the one looking. The one looking might look at her sister's awrah (the part of the body that must be covered) if, for example, she is reciting dhikr (the remembrance of Allah), if she is relieving herself, if she has removed her garment for one reason or another. It is not permissible to look at her awrah (the part of the body that must be covered). As for telling the one being looked at: "Wear only what covers between the navel and the knee," this is a mistake, a mistake regarding the hadith. This is not the meaning of the hadith. Yes. Yes. Al-Khudra.
The questioner : Peace be upon you.
The Shaykh : Peace and the mercy of Allah.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : May Allah give you a good evening.
The Shaykh : All right, from where, from where are you speaking?
The questioner : Buraydah.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : He says:The questioner : O honorable Shaykh, what are the limits of a woman's awrah (the part of the body that must be covered) in the presence of men and in the presence of women?
The Shaykh : Yes. Read the saying of Allah (Mighty and Majestic):
And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests and not expose their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, their brothers' sons, their sisters' sons, their women, that which their right hands possess, or those male attendants having no physical desire, or children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of women. And let them not stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment
وَقُلْ لِلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلاَّ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَى جُيُوبِهِنَّ وَلا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلاَّ لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَائِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَاءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَائِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَاءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ إِخْوَانِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِي إِخْوَانِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِي أَخَوَاتِهِنَّ أَوْ نِسَائِهِنَّ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُنَّ أَوْ التَّابِعِينَ غَيْرِ أُوْلِي الإِرْبَةِ مِنْ الرِّجَالِ أَوْ الطِّفْلِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يَظْهَرُوا عَلَى عَوْرَاتِ النِّسَاءِ وَلا يَضْرِبْنَ بِأَرْجُلِهِنَّ لِيُعْلَمَ مَا يُخْفِينَ مِنْ زِينَتِهِنَّAnd let them not stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment
وَلا يَضْرِبْنَ بِأَرْجُلِهِنَّ لِيُعْلَمَ مَا يُخْفِينَ مِنْ زِينَتِهِنَّA woman's awrah (the part of the body that must be covered) in the presence of a man, if he is one of her mahram (a relative one may not marry), is what is usually exposed, such as the face, the hands, the forearms, the head, the neck, and the legs. There is nothing wrong with a man looking at these. This does not mean that a woman should wear short clothing, because there is a difference between clothing and looking. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said:
No woman should look at the nakedness of another woman, and no man should look at the nakedness of another man.
لا تنظر المرأة إلى عورة المرأة ولا الرجل إلى عورة الرجلDo you know what is the right of Allah upon the servants, and what is the right of the servants upon Allah? He said: Allah and His Messenger know best. He said: The right of Allah upon the servants is that they worship Him and do not associate anything with Him.
أتدري ما حق الله على العباد، وما حق العباد على الله؟ قال: الله ورسوله أعلم، قال: حق الله على العباد أن يعبدوه ولا يشركوا به شيئاًDo you know what is the right of Allah upon the servants, and what is the right of the servants upon Allah? He said: Allah and His Messenger know best. He said: The right of Allah upon the servants is that they worship Him and do not associate anything with Him, and the right of the servants upon Allah is that He does not punish whoever does not associate anything with Him. Mu'adh said: O Messenger of Allah! Should I not give the people good news? He said: Do not give them good news so that they become negligent.
أتدري ما حق الله على العباد، وما حق العباد على الله؟ قال : الله ورسوله أعلم. قال : حق الله على العباد أن يعبدوه ولا يشركوا به شيئاً وحق العباد على الله ألا يعذب من لا يشرك به شيئاً، قال معاذ : يا رسول الله! أفلا أبشر الناس؟ قال: لا تبشرهمHe (the Holy Prophet) said: Do not tell them this good news, for they would trust in it alone.
قال : لا تبشرهم فيتكلواDo not give them good news so that they become negligent.
لا تبشرهم فيتكلواO Messenger of Allah! The feet are exposed, so the Prophet granted the woman permission to lower her garment to the forearm.
يا رسول الله! تنكشف الأقدام، فرخص للمرأة تنزل ثوبها إلى ذراعThe questioner : Peace be upon you.
The Shaykh : Peace and the mercy of Allah.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : May Allah give you a good evening.