The Shaykh’s clarification of the meaning of the 'awrah (the part of the body that must be covered) alone, and what is permissible to expose of it versus what is not permissible.

The Shaykh : I must pause briefly on the word 'awrah (the part of the body that must be covered) here. Linguistically, the word 'awrah indicates ugliness or indecency. However, it must be noted that this indecency is sometimes innate (fitrah) and sometimes based on the Shari'ah (Islamic sacred law). For example, it is against the innate disposition for a man to expose his major 'awrah, let alone a woman. A man exposing his major 'awrah in front of another man is an innate 'awrah. But if a man exposes what is above his knee, such as his toes, this is not like exposing the two private parts. However, the Shari'ah established boundaries and stated: "The 'awrah of a man is what is between the navel and the knee." Similarly, if a woman exposes her two private parts in front of her female sister, this is also an innate indecency, just as a man’s major 'awrah is in front of a man. But if a woman exposes her lower leg in front of her Muslim sister, or exposes her upper arm, this does not appear to be an innate 'awrah. However, the Shari'ah designated it as an 'awrah. Once we understand this distinction—that there is an innate 'awrah and a Shari'ah-based 'awrah—then a person must always adhere to the Shari'ah. Therefore, those who say that a woman’s face is an 'awrah do not mean that it is innately indecent, like exposing the private parts! No, rather, they mean that harm follows from it. That is why they say: "The wise Lawgiver commanded covering the face." If she exposes her face, she has exposed her 'awrah. Why? Because exposing the innate 'awrah is a cause of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). Likewise, they say that exposing the face causes the same harm, which is fitnah.