Shortened Question:

What is the awrah of a woman?

Question:

From all the Ulama e Haqq, I came to know that women must cover their whole body including face, hands and feet, but one of your fatwa says the following:

Fatwa#: 28504

The awrah of a Muslim woman in front of a non-Muslim woman is like that of a non-Mahram  man, i.e. the whole body must be covered besides the hands, face and the feet.

I am really confused after reading this. Can you please explain?

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

We have reviewed Fatwa 28504, and have given the reference for our ruling as follows:

وَإِنَّمَا قَيَّدْنَا بِالْمُسْلِمَةِ؛ لِأَنَّ الذِّمِّيَّةَ كَالرَّجُلِ الْأَجْنَبِيِّ فِي الْأَصَحِّ إلَى بَدَنِ الْمُسْلِمَةِ كَمَا فِي الْمُجْتَبَى) مجمع الأنهر في شرح ملتقى الأبحر (2/ 539( (

The awrah of a Muslim woman in front of a non-Muslim woman is like that of a non-Mahram man, i.e. the whole body must be covered besides the hands, face and the feet

Also refer to additional reference from Hidayah in the footnotes.[1]

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Mufti Saeed Ahmed Golaub

Islamic Solutions

Jamaica

[1]” وبدن الحرة كلها عورة إلا وجهها وكفيها ” لقوله عليه الصلاة والسلام ” المرأة عورة مستورة ” واستثناء العضوين للابتلاء بإبدائهما.

قال رضي الله عنه: وهذا تنصيص على أن القدم عورة ويروى أنها ليست بعورة وهو الأصح ” فإن صلت وربع ساقها أو ثلثه مكشوف تعيد الصلاة ” عند أبي حنيفة ومحمد رحمهما الله “  الهداية في شرح بداية المبتدي (1/ 45)