What is The Awrah of a Muslim Woman in a Front of Non-Mahram
C.J Ahmed-15.05.2023
The awrah of a woman who has attained puberty in front of non-mahram male is to cover her body except for her face, hands and legs. This is the genral requirement but it differs based on the situation, condition and necessity.
The Narrations proving that only the private parts is the awrah for woman
Narrated Abu Sa'id al-Khudri:
The Prophet (sal) said: A man should not look at the private parts of another man, and a woman should not look at the private parts of another woman. A man should not lie with another man without wearing lower garment under one cover; and a woman should not be lie with another woman without wearing lower garment under one cover.
(Abu Dawud-Authenticated by Albani)
Abd al-Rahman, the son of Abu Sa'id al-Khudri, reported from his father:
The Messenger of Allah (sal) said: A man should not see the private parts of another man, and a woman should not see the private parts of another woman, and a man should not lie with another man under one covering, and a woman should not lie with another woman under one covering.
(Sahih Muslim)
Some scholars say by using the above hadiths that the awrah of a woman is between the naval and the knee but this is not what is mentioned in these hadiths. It’s only the private parts that are mentioned. Sheikh Salih Al Uthaymin said:
"With regard to her mahram what she may uncover is the same as that which she may uncover in front of other women, so she may uncover her head, neck, feet, hands, forearms and calves, etc. But she should not make her clothes short".
(Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 12/276, 277)
The above fatwa of Imam Uthaymin is only his opinion and there is no evidence from the Quran and the Sunnah to prove that a woman cannot wear a short dress in front of other women.
The awrah for a woman in front of mahram men such as father,brother etc.
As for what need to be shown for a women among the mahram men such as her father,brothers etc, Allah says n the Quran
'and not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent , and to draw their veils all over Juyoobihinna and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands, or their fathers, or their husband’s fathers, or their sons, or their husband’s sons, or their brothers or their brother’s sons, or their sister’s sons, or their (Muslim) women”
(24:31).
based on the above verse a women can show her adornment to her mahram men. the word Juyubihinna in the above verse means to cover the bossoms.
There is debate on upto which part she can show her body to her mahram. But there is a hadith which clarifies this below.
Narrated by Muawiah ibn Haydah,
" I said : Apostle of Allah, from whom should we conceal our private parts and to whom can we show? He replied : conceal your private parts except from your wife and from whom your right hand possesses (concubines). I then asked: Apostle of Allah, (what should we do), if the people are assembled together? He replied: If it is within your power then no one will look at it, then you should try that no one can look it. I then asked: Apostle of Allah, if one of us is alone? He replied: Allah is more entitled than people that bashfulness should be shown to him (feel shy more to Allah than to people)."
(Abu Dawud and Tirmidihi and others and authenticated by Albani)
A Woman Can Uncover Her Awrah in Front of a Non-Mahram Under Necessity
Under necessity, a woman can efinitely uncover her awrah in front of a npon-mahram male and the necessity falls under several reasons such as medical, occupational, fear, whether etc. Necessity dictates exceptions.
Allah (Swt) says in the Quran,
Say (O Muhammad (Sal): “I find not in that which has been revealed to me anything forbidden to be eaten by one who wishes to eat it, unless it be Maytah (a dead animal) or blood poured forth (by slaughtering or the like), or the flesh of swine (pork); for that surely, is impure” (6: 145)
"He hath only forbidden you dead meat, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that on which any other name hath been invoked besides that of Allah. But if one is forced by necessity, without wilful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits,- then is he guiltless. For Allah is Oft-forgiving Most Merciful." (Al-Quran 2:178)
He has only forbidden you dead meat, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and any (food) over which the name of other than Allah has been invoked. But if one is forced by necessity, without wilful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits,- then Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
(Al Quran-16:115)
Forbidden to you (for food) are: dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which hath been invoked the name of other than Allah
(Al Quran-5:3)
The above verses in the Quran only mention the prohibition of eating the flesh of pigs which is known as pork and there is no evidence from the Quran or authentic Sunnah of the prophet (sal) prohibiting the touching of pigs. Some try to argue that the flesh of a pig is filthy and touching them is forbidden. This kind of analogy has no basis in Islam. Let us take the example of touching dogs which is detested by most ignorant Muslims thinking that touching a dog is haram in Islam but . There is clear evidence proving that the prophet (sal) did not forbid touching dogs.
"Narrated Anas (Rali):
The Prophet (sal) allowed `Abdur-Rahman bin `Auf and Az-Zubair bin Al-`Awwam to wear silk because they were suffering from an itch" .
(Sahih Al Bukhari)
In this hadith, the prophet(Sal) allowed Abdur Rahman bin auf and Zubair bin Awwam to wear silk because they had an itch. Generally wearing silk is haram for men except for embroidary or in smaller quantity but the prophet (Sal) allowed silk for the two sahaba due to a reason. When it comes to force and fear, the next reason is rape. The prophet (Sal) said,
"Allah has forgiven my nation for mistakes and forgetfulness, and what they are forced to do."
(Ibn Majah- Graded Sahih by Albani in Sahih Sunan Ibn Majah and narrated by Baihaqi and others and graded Hasan Sahih by Albani)
The awrah of a woman who has attained puberty in front of non-mahram male is to cover her body except for her face, hands and legs. This is the genral requirement but it differs based on the situation, condition and necessity.
The Narrations proving that only the private parts is the awrah for woman
Narrated Abu Sa'id al-Khudri:
The Prophet (sal) said: A man should not look at the private parts of another man, and a woman should not look at the private parts of another woman. A man should not lie with another man without wearing lower garment under one cover; and a woman should not be lie with another woman without wearing lower garment under one cover.
(Abu Dawud-Authenticated by Albani)
Abd al-Rahman, the son of Abu Sa'id al-Khudri, reported from his father:
The Messenger of Allah (sal) said: A man should not see the private parts of another man, and a woman should not see the private parts of another woman, and a man should not lie with another man under one covering, and a woman should not lie with another woman under one covering.
(Sahih Muslim)
Some scholars say by using the above hadiths that the awrah of a woman is between the naval and the knee but this is not what is mentioned in these hadiths. It’s only the private parts that are mentioned. Sheikh Salih Al Uthaymin said:
"With regard to her mahram what she may uncover is the same as that which she may uncover in front of other women, so she may uncover her head, neck, feet, hands, forearms and calves, etc. But she should not make her clothes short".
(Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 12/276, 277)
The above fatwa of Imam Uthaymin is only his opinion and there is no evidence from the Quran and the Sunnah to prove that a woman cannot wear a short dress in front of other women.
The awrah for a woman in front of mahram men such as father,brother etc.
As for what need to be shown for a women among the mahram men such as her father,brothers etc, Allah says n the Quran
'and not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent , and to draw their veils all over Juyoobihinna and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands, or their fathers, or their husband’s fathers, or their sons, or their husband’s sons, or their brothers or their brother’s sons, or their sister’s sons, or their (Muslim) women”
(24:31).
based on the above verse a women can show her adornment to her mahram men. the word Juyubihinna in the above verse means to cover the bossoms.
There is debate on upto which part she can show her body to her mahram. But there is a hadith which clarifies this below.
Narrated by Muawiah ibn Haydah,
" I said : Apostle of Allah, from whom should we conceal our private parts and to whom can we show? He replied : conceal your private parts except from your wife and from whom your right hand possesses (concubines). I then asked: Apostle of Allah, (what should we do), if the people are assembled together? He replied: If it is within your power then no one will look at it, then you should try that no one can look it. I then asked: Apostle of Allah, if one of us is alone? He replied: Allah is more entitled than people that bashfulness should be shown to him (feel shy more to Allah than to people)."
(Abu Dawud and Tirmidihi and others and authenticated by Albani)
A Woman Can Uncover Her Awrah in Front of a Non-Mahram Under Necessity
Under necessity, a woman can efinitely uncover her awrah in front of a npon-mahram male and the necessity falls under several reasons such as medical, occupational, fear, whether etc. Necessity dictates exceptions.
Allah (Swt) says in the Quran,
Say (O Muhammad (Sal): “I find not in that which has been revealed to me anything forbidden to be eaten by one who wishes to eat it, unless it be Maytah (a dead animal) or blood poured forth (by slaughtering or the like), or the flesh of swine (pork); for that surely, is impure” (6: 145)
"He hath only forbidden you dead meat, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that on which any other name hath been invoked besides that of Allah. But if one is forced by necessity, without wilful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits,- then is he guiltless. For Allah is Oft-forgiving Most Merciful." (Al-Quran 2:178)
He has only forbidden you dead meat, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and any (food) over which the name of other than Allah has been invoked. But if one is forced by necessity, without wilful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits,- then Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
(Al Quran-16:115)
Forbidden to you (for food) are: dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which hath been invoked the name of other than Allah
(Al Quran-5:3)
The above verses in the Quran only mention the prohibition of eating the flesh of pigs which is known as pork and there is no evidence from the Quran or authentic Sunnah of the prophet (sal) prohibiting the touching of pigs. Some try to argue that the flesh of a pig is filthy and touching them is forbidden. This kind of analogy has no basis in Islam. Let us take the example of touching dogs which is detested by most ignorant Muslims thinking that touching a dog is haram in Islam but . There is clear evidence proving that the prophet (sal) did not forbid touching dogs.
"Narrated Anas (Rali):
The Prophet (sal) allowed `Abdur-Rahman bin `Auf and Az-Zubair bin Al-`Awwam to wear silk because they were suffering from an itch" .
(Sahih Al Bukhari)
In this hadith, the prophet(Sal) allowed Abdur Rahman bin auf and Zubair bin Awwam to wear silk because they had an itch. Generally wearing silk is haram for men except for embroidary or in smaller quantity but the prophet (Sal) allowed silk for the two sahaba due to a reason. When it comes to force and fear, the next reason is rape. The prophet (Sal) said,
"Allah has forgiven my nation for mistakes and forgetfulness, and what they are forced to do."
(Ibn Majah- Graded Sahih by Albani in Sahih Sunan Ibn Majah and narrated by Baihaqi and others and graded Hasan Sahih by Albani)