Are a woman's feet considered 'awrah (the part of the body that must be covered) that must be covered in prayer?

The questioner : Are a woman's feet considered 'awrah (the part of the body that must be covered) in prayer that must be covered?

The Shaykh : Answer: The scholars have two opinions regarding a woman's feet. One is that they are 'awrah (the part of the body that must be covered), and this is the correct view. The other is that they are not 'awrah (the part of the body that must be covered), and this is the weaker position. As for the evidence that a woman's feet are 'awrah (the part of the body that must be covered), it is derived from the statement of Allah—Blessed and Exalted is He—: ; this is an explicit text indicating that the women of the Companions used to cover their legs. They did so only in response to acting upon the generality of the statement of Allah—Blessed and Exalted is He—: . The jilbab (the outer garment) is the garment that is like the abaya, which a woman throws over her head, covering her entire body, including her feet. Therefore, Allah—Exalted is He—said, addressing those among women in whom Satan might enter: they cover their legs, but Satan may whisper to some of them to strike with their feet so that men can hear the sound of their anklets. Thus, the first verse, together with the other verse, is clear evidence that a woman's feet are 'awrah (the part of the body that must be covered) absolutely. This is confirmed by what came in some hadiths in "Sunan Abu Dawud" and others: "When a woman stands to pray, she should throw over herself a dir'—that is, a wide shirt—that covers the backs of her feet." From this, this hadith confirms what the verse indicated regarding the obligation of a woman covering her feet. The only point is that there may be leniency if something of the soles of a woman's feet becomes visible during her prayer. However, the tops of the feet must be covered, implementing the evidence we have mentioned.