Part 57

(Gaheeh Sunan An-Nassaaee: 2399). Ahmad (6656) and Ibn Maajah (3605) also related it, and it is found with Bukhaaree Ta'leeqan, in the beginning of "The Chapter Of Attire.”

for embellishment and addition. It is from the most important of Islamic manners for one to cover his ‘Auraa. Men and women have been prohibited from looking at one another's ‘Auraas because of the evil that would otherwise result. The word ‘Auraa comes from the word ‘Aur, which means something that one should be ashamed about; the ‘Auraa of a person’s body, therefore, is something that one should be ashamed to expose or see.

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“Let no man look at the ‘Auraa of another man, nor a woman at the ‘Auraa of another woman. And let no man be [naked] with another man under a single Thaub (garment or cloth); and let no woman be [naked] with another woman under a single Thaub.”"1)

Miswar Ibn Makhramah 4 said, “I advanced, carrying upon me a heavy stone, and upon me was a light lower garment. My lower garment then became unraveled, and I still had the stone; I could not have put it down until I reached its place. The Messenger of Allah # then said,

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Bahz Ibn Hakeem related the following hadith from his father, who related it from his father. Bahz’s grandfather said, “’I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, the private areas of our body - what of them

"1 Related by Muslim (338), Ahmad (11207), At-Tirmidhee (2793), and Ibn Maajah (661). "1 Related by Muslim (341) and Abu Daawood (4016).

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may we come [forth] with and what of them should we leave?’ The Prophet #¢ said,

“Preserve the private areas of your body (i.e., don’t let anyone see them) except from your wife or what your right hand owns (i.e., any slaves you own).’

I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, if people are mixed together [all the time (ie., if people are together all the time and it is difficult to keep some private body parts - such as one’s upper legs ~ hidden all the time)]?’ He #% said,

“If you are able to make sure that no one sees them (the private areas of your body), then make sure that no one sees them.’

I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, what about when one of us is alone (Le, in that case, may we keep some of our private areas exposed)?’ He #% said,

“Allah is more deserving of [people being] shy of Him than people [are deserving of others being shy of them].’”")

The question that now arises is this: what is the ‘Auraa (private areas that no one else may see) of a man? And what is the ‘Auraa of a woman? A man’s ‘Auraa, which he may show to no one save his wife and female slave, is from the navel to the knee. A woman’s ‘Auraa is - except from her husband ~ her entire body. As for her Mahrams (e.g., her father, brother, son, etc.), they may see from her what normally appears from her body when she is in her home: her face, her hands, her hair, her neck, etc. And a woman’s ‘Auraa when she is among other women is from her

" Related by Ahmad (19530); At-Tirmidhee (2794), who said, “This hadith is Hasan”; Abu Daawood (4017), and in grading his narration, AlAlbaanee said, “Hasan”; and Ibn Maajah (1920).

navel to her knee. Question: Is a man’s thigh a part of his ‘Auraa?

Answer: The Permanent Council (of Scholars in Saudi Arabia) issued the following answer: The majority of jurists maintain that the thigh of a man is a part of his ‘Auraa, the area of his body that he must keep hidden from others (other than his wife and female slave). Yet not a single hadith that those jurists cite to support their view is free from criticism concerning its chain - either that it is disconnected or that some of its narrators are weak. Nonetheless, the different narrations [which state that a man’s thigh is a part of a man’s ‘Auraa] strengthen one another, so that as a group, they are valid and binding proofs. Maalik related one of those proofs in Al-Muwattah; Ahmad, Abu Daawood, and AtTirmidhee related it as well: Jarhad Al-Aslamee said, ‘The Messenger of Allah #% passed by, and at the time I was wearing a gown. My thigh was exposed, and so the Prophet # said,

“Cover your thigh, for the thigh is ‘Auraa.’”

At-Tirmidhee declared this narration to be Hasan, and AlAlbaanee declared that Abu Daawood’s narration of the hadith is authentic.) Another group of scholars hold that a man’s thigh is not a part of his ‘Auraa. They cite a narration related by Anas

, in which the Prophet's lower garment was raised to the point where one could see his thigh. Anas # said, “Until I was indeed looking at the whiteness of his thigh.” (Ahmad and Bukhaaree related this hadith.) Imam Bukhaaree said, ‘The hadith of Anas # has a better chain, and [to follow] the hadith of Jarhad 4 is the more careful and safe {thing to do].” The view of the majority in this issue is in fact safer, because the first hadith clearly mentioned the ruling for the issue in question, whereas the hadith of Anas can be interpreted in different ways.”!

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Question: Some women wear clothing that reveals the beauty of their physique. For example, one of them will wear transparent clothing or tight clothing or clothing that reveals her back or thigh. This is the argument you might hear from one of them: “A woman’s ‘Auraa among women is from the navel to the knee, and I wear such clothing among women only.” How do we respond to this argument?

Answer: No doubt, a woman's ‘Auraa when she is in the company of women is from her navel to her knee; yet the condition for this is that there is no fear of Fitnah (trial and temptation). These days especially, we must keep in mind that women are put to trial and are tempted by other women. It is common knowledge that some women become tempted in the company of a woman who displays her beautiful figure. This being the case, women should not use women gatherings as an excuse to wear whatever they want. If a womans attire leads to Fitnah, it becomes Haram (prohibited) for her to wear it, even if she is among women only. Ibn ‘Uthaimeen said, “It is Haram (prohibited) to wear tight clothing, which reveals the figure and shape of a woman, for the Prophet #% said,

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“Two categories from the dwellers of Hell I have not yet seen: men who have with them whips that are like the tails of cows; they strike people with them - i.e., wrongfully and unjustly; and women who are dressed yet naked, who are Maailaat and Mumeelaat (one interpretation: who are misguided and who misguide others; another interpretation: they walk’ with a swagger, swinging their shoulders, so as to attract the attention of others and plunge them into misguidance).’"1

Related by Muslim (2128), Ahmad (8451), and Maalik (1694). The completion of the narration is with Muslim: “Their heads (perhaps.

Various interpretations have been given for the Prophet's saying, “and women who are dressed yet naked.” One interpretation is that they wear short clothing, which does not cover those parts of their bodies - their ‘Auraa - that must be covered; another interpretation is that they wear transparent clothing, which does not prevent others from looking through and seeing their skin; yet another interpretation is that they wear tight clothing that covers their bodies but nonetheless reveals the contours and shape of their physique. At any rate, a woman is not permitted to wear any of these kinds of clothing except in the presence of her husband, for there is no such thing as an ‘Auraa - areas of the body that must be kept hidden - between a husband and wife. Allah 3€ said:

“And those who guard their chastity (i.e, private parts from illegal sexual acts), Except from their wives or (the captives and slaves) that their right hands possess, ~ for then, they are free from blame} (Qur‘an 23:5,6)

And ‘Aaisha % said, “I used to take a bath with the Prophet from a single container..." Therefore, between a man and his wife, there is no ‘Auraa; each may see from the other whatever he or she wants. As for when a woman is with other Mahrams (e.g., her father, brother, son, etc.), then she must cover her private areas, and she must avoid wearing tight clothing in their presence; similarly, she must avoid wearing extremely tight clothing, clothing that reveals the enticing contours of her body, when she is in the company of women,’]

referring to the hair on their heads) are like the humps of leaning AlBukht (camels with long necks). They will neither enter Paradise nor find (smell) its odor, and verily, its odor can be found from such and such distance (i.e., a very far distance).”

{11 Related by Bukhaaree (261), Muslim (316), and others.

1 Fataawa Shaikh Muhammad Ibn ‘Uthaimeen (2/825-826)

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Related Issue: It is considered good manners with Allah 3 for one to keep himself concealed when he is taking a shower, especially when he is in a wide-open space, where there is nothing - such as trees or the like - to cover him. Ya’laa reported that the Messenger of Allah #% saw a man taking a shower in an open space of land, and he was not wearing a lower garment. The Prophet #% then climbed the pulpit, praised and extolled Allah 3%, and then said,

“Verily, Allah ‘Azza Wa-Jall (the Possessor of Might and Majesty) is Hayeeun (i.e., He 3 loves modesty and shyness) and Sitteer (He 88 loves for His slaves to cover themselves): He 3 loves Al-Hayaa (modesty) and As-Sitr (for His slaves to cover themselves). So if one of you takes a shower, then let him cover himself")