Question :
What is the ‘awra of a woman when she is in the company of other women? Is it between the navel and the knee?
Fatwa in Brief: The ‘awra of a woman in
front of other women is not between the navel and the
knee. It was mentioned that the legislated ‘awra
of the woman is to cover herself, from the palms of the
hands to the heels, and if required, she can cover
between the knee and the upper arm.
Shaykh Ibn al-‘Uthaymin, 1414/11/20
Response:
Jurists agree that the ‘awra of a woman in front
of other Muslim women is between the navel and the knee.
There is no difference of opinion among them on this
matter. What is mentioned in this fatwa runs
counter to the consensus of Muslim scholars.
Commentary:
The ‘awra of a woman in front of Muslim women is
the same as men in front of other men. That is to say,
she is expected to cover the [skin between her] navel
and knees. In turn, it is permitted to look at her
entire body, except the area that lies between these two
places. This applies when women are in the company of
other women, and there is no sexual desire. However, it
is prohibited is there is sexual desire [on anyone’s
part]; and, thus, if there is fear of fitnah.
Scholars unanimously agree on this opinion. The above
fatwa runs counter to the consensus of Muslim
scholars.
In the Hanafi text, Bid‘a Asani’, 124/5, the
author observes that a woman is permitted to look at the
entire body of a woman, except that which lies between
the navel and the knee. In the Maliki text Sharh
Mukhtasir, Khalil Kharshi, 247/1 observes that, in
terms of what may be looked at, the ‘awra of a
free woman with another free woman, a slave woman, or a
disbelieving woman lies between the navel and the knee.
In the Shaf‘i text, Asna Al-Matalib, 11/3, it is
written that: “when (women) look at other (women) what
is permitted to see is [what lies] above the navel and
what is below the knee. For this [area] is not ‘awra,
in front of other women”.
[Last] According to the Hanbali text, Sharh Muntaha
Al-Iradat 626/2, it is permitted to look at
everything, except that which lies between the navel and
the knee. This applies to a woman looking at another
woman, even if she is not Muslim; and to a man looking
at another man, even if he is a young boy [and thus may
be found attractive by some men]).
On the basis of these texts, the scholars agree that it
is permitted to look at these parts. This is on the
condition that [this look] does not lead to desire or
discord (fitna); and if these things are present,
such a look is prohibited.
And God knows best.
Dr. Yassir ‘Abd al-‘Azim