Exegesis of the saying of Allah the Exalted: << And the women who have passed the age of childbearing [al-qawa'id] who do not hope to marry, there is no blame on them if they put off their garments, not displaying adornment, and that...

Then Allah the Exalted said: "They have ceased menstruation and childbirth due to their old age.

who have no desire for marriage

اللاتي لا يرجون نكاحا

[An-Nur 24:60]

Therefore, there is no blame on them if they put off their garments, such as the jilbab, the rida', the niqab, and the khimar,

not displaying adornment

غير متبرجات

displaying hidden adornment like a necklace, bracelet, and anklet, and that they should be chaste." to the end. Al-qawa'id is the plural of qaidah. His saying "from the women" is an explanation of al-qawa'id, because the alif-lam in al-qawa'id is a relative pronoun, because when the alif-lam enters a derived noun, whether it is a passive participle or an active participle, it becomes a relative pronoun. So al-qawa'id means "those who have ceased." His saying "from the women" is an explanation of al-qawa'id. But they ceased from what? The author says: "from menstruation and childbirth." The meaning of al-qawa'id is those who do not give birth and do not menstruate due to their old age. It was said that al-qawa'id are those who stay in their homes due to their old age, because they do not go out due to weakness and frailty, so they are al-qawa'id. It was also said that al-qawa'id is a general term for old women, just as we say "old woman" (ajuz), derived from "weakness" (ajz). We also say "qaidah" meaning one who is unable to stand, go, and return. Now, his saying: "who do not hope" is a description of al-qawa'id, or of the women? It is a description of al-qawa'id, because if you said "from the women who do not hope to marry," it would imply that there are al-qawa'id from the women who do hope to marry, and that is not the case. So his saying is a description of al-qawa'id. And his saying "do not hope"—how do they not hope, when they are feminine and "rajun" is a masculine verb?
The student: ...

The Shaykh : Yes, the waw is the waw of the verb and the nun is the nun of the women. The meaning of "do not hope to marry" is that they do not expect it, and that is due to their old age, because a man does not seek marriage from old women... There is no doubt that the intended meaning of his saying is not all garments, meaning that they remain naked. This cannot be said. So what is the intended meaning of the garments? The outer garments that are customary to wear, such as the jilbab. The author says, and the rida', the niqab, and the khimar. These are the outer things. So it is permissible for the old woman to wear a simple dress and show her hands, head, face, feet, and legs, but on the condition that she does not display adornment, "not displaying adornment." If she displays adornment desiring marriage, showing herself in the position of young women, wearing a bracelet and an anklet, and sitting ostentatiously before people, but this is on the condition that she is not in that state. If she is in that state, it is not permissible. But if the matter is natural, it is permissible for her to put off her garments.
The student: Even if she is with a non-mahram?

The Shaykh : Yes, even if she is with a non-mahram, because she does not seek marriage... We begin to mention the benefits.
The student: ...?

The Shaykh : Because there is no display except with adornment. I say this is an explanation of the reality.