What is the extent of the hands that a woman is permitted to show before her mahrams and in gatherings of women?
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The questioner : O esteemed Shaykh, what is the limit of what a woman is permitted to show of her hands in the presence of her mahrams and in gatherings of women?
The Shaykh : The forearm, the lower leg, the neck, the head, and the face; all of this is permissible. However, this does not mean that a woman should wear clothes that reach only to the knee or the elbow. No, she must wear covering, loose-fitting garments. But if it happens that she uncovers her forearms for a task, for example, and there are only women or mahrams 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 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 loose and covering. Indeed, when the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) permitted women to let their garments hang down a shibr 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 forearm. This indicates that clothing is one thing and looking is another. Yes.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : It is never permissible. We hold that it is not permissible, because a woman must cover herself, and the fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) of women is great. I tell you, if we permitted a woman to wear short clothes up to the elbow in front of women, do you know what would happen? In a short time, it would be up to the shoulder. Women are quick to abandon covering. So we prohibit this in order to block the means to harm. Yes.
The Shaykh : The forearm, the lower leg, the neck, the head, and the face; all of this is permissible. However, this does not mean that a woman should wear clothes that reach only to the knee or the elbow. No, she must wear covering, loose-fitting garments. But if it happens that she uncovers her forearms for a task, for example, and there are only women or mahrams 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 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 loose and covering. Indeed, when the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) permitted women to let their garments hang down a shibr 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 forearm. This indicates that clothing is one thing and looking is another. Yes.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : It is never permissible. We hold that it is not permissible, because a woman must cover herself, and the fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) of women is great. I tell you, if we permitted a woman to wear short clothes up to the elbow in front of women, do you know what would happen? In a short time, it would be up to the shoulder. Women are quick to abandon covering. So we prohibit this in order to block the means to harm. Yes.