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Q & A --> Family and Gender Relations --> The Ruling on the ‘Awra of Women in the Company of Other Women

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