The Woman's 'Awrah (Part of the Body That Must Be Covered) Before Her Mahrams (Relatives One May Not Marry) and in the Company of Women
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
His Eminence the Shaykh: What is the limit of what a woman is permitted to expose of her hands before her mahrams (relatives one may not marry) and in the company of women?
The forearm, the lower leg, the neck, the head, and the face; all of this is permissible.But this does not mean: A woman should not wear clothes that end at the knee or the elbow; no, she must wear clothing that is protective and covering. However, if it happens that she exposes her forearms for the sake of work, and there are only women or mahrams (relatives one may not marry) around her, there is no harm. Or if she lifts her garment for a reason and her lower leg is exposed, and there are mahrams (relatives one may not marry) or women present, there is no harm. For this reason, we must know the difference between clothing and what may be seen; a woman's clothing must be protective and covering. Even when the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) permitted women to let their garments hang down one shibr (a hand's span) to the ground so that their feet would be covered, they said: "O Messenger of Allah! Then our feet will be exposed." So he permitted them to let them hang down to the ankles. This indicates that clothing is one thing, and looking is another.
The questioner: What if she wears clothes that end at the elbow and the knee?The Shaykh: We see that this is not permissible; because a woman must cover herself, and the fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) of women is great.And I tell you: If we permitted a woman to wear clothes ending at the elbow in front of women, do you know what would happen? In a short time, it would be down to the shoulder, and how quickly women are to abandon covering themselves. So we prohibit this in the context of sadd al-dhara'i' (blocking the means to harm).
The forearm, the lower leg, the neck, the head, and the face; all of this is permissible.But this does not mean: A woman should not wear clothes that end at the knee or the elbow; no, she must wear clothing that is protective and covering. However, if it happens that she exposes her forearms for the sake of work, and there are only women or mahrams (relatives one may not marry) around her, there is no harm. Or if she lifts her garment for a reason and her lower leg is exposed, and there are mahrams (relatives one may not marry) or women present, there is no harm. For this reason, we must know the difference between clothing and what may be seen; a woman's clothing must be protective and covering. Even when the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) permitted women to let their garments hang down one shibr (a hand's span) to the ground so that their feet would be covered, they said: "O Messenger of Allah! Then our feet will be exposed." So he permitted them to let them hang down to the ankles. This indicates that clothing is one thing, and looking is another.
The questioner: What if she wears clothes that end at the elbow and the knee?The Shaykh: We see that this is not permissible; because a woman must cover herself, and the fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) of women is great.And I tell you: If we permitted a woman to wear clothes ending at the elbow in front of women, do you know what would happen? In a short time, it would be down to the shoulder, and how quickly women are to abandon covering themselves. So we prohibit this in the context of sadd al-dhara'i' (blocking the means to harm).