AWRAH (BODY PARTS WHICH MUST BE COVERD FROM OTHERS)

Bismillah ir-rahman ir-rahim

Assalam alaykum warahmatullah wabarakatu

In Surah Al-Araf (Q7:26), “O children of Adam! Indeed We have sent down to you a garment which covers your shame and provides protection and adornment. But the finest of all is the garment of piety. That is one of the signs of Allah so that they may take heed.” By referring to the important aspect of Adam and Hawa’s story, the attention of the people of Arabia were drown to the influence of Shaytan upon their lives and begun to see dress merely as a shield of protection against inclemencies of the weather and as a means of adornment. Immodesty however was not an exclusive character of the people of Arabia, many nations indulged in it in the past as many continue till now. Hence the message, ‘O Children of Adam’ addressing the entire mankind.

Which brings us to Awrah, intimate parts of the body which must be covered or rather every part a person covers out of dignity or modesty; it goes for both men and women. According to the scholars, everything that is haram for man or woman to uncover is awrah. And majority define that the limits of a man is what is between his navel and knees. There are many proofs to support this such as the Hadeeth by Imam Ahmad, Abu Dawood, and al-Daruqutni reported with a good chain that the Prophet of Allah said, “What is between the navel and knee is Awrah.” And he also said, “Don’t unveil you thigh, and do not look at the thigh of the living and the dead.” Awrah must be covered when in public and private as well as during prayer. But also the fact that a man’s awrah is from the navel to the knees does not mean it is permissible for a man to show his chest in front other men, let alone in font of women. It should be noted that if something permissible will result to evil such as fitnah (temptation), then it is not allowed.

For a woman it’s more complicated but clear issue and changes accordingly. Allah says in Surah Al-Ahzab (Q33:59), “O Prophet! Tell your wives and daughters, and the believing women, that they should cast their outer garment over their persons (when abroad): that is most convenient, that they should be known (as such) and not molested. And God is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.” This was the wives of the Prophet, his daughters and all the believing (Muslim) women that’s us. A woman’s dressing should draw over and let down an outer-garment so that no evil person may dare to harm, assault, abuse or molest them. As well as express chastity and purity of character so that people with ill intentions do not cherish any false hope when they see a woman, a Muslim woman. Subhana Allah!! I think is already clear.

Therefore a woman’s awrah that should be covered during prayers is her entire body including her feet excluding her face and hand from the wrists to the tip of her fingers. She should also cover her forehead and the area under her chin. In private, it is recommended to cover her sexual organs even in private with exception in the shower or visiting the washroom. Among women, the scholars have agreed it is between the navel and the knees, whether the woman is her mother, sister or not in any relation. It is not permissible to look at the area between the navel and knee of another woman, except in cases of necessity such as medical attention and the like. But this doesn’t mean that a woman may sit among other women with her body uncovered except what is mentioned. Rather the way she dresses among women should be clothes that cover properly and expresses her modesty and dignity. With her mahrams, that is the father, brothers, small children and if married, the husband, the husband’s father, their sons, their husband’s sons, their brother’s sons, their sister’s sons or she is free to uncover her face, head, neck, hands, forearms, feet and calves while the rest of her body is covered. Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’la) says in Surah An-Nur (Q24:31), “And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands’ fathers, their sons, their husbands’ sons, their brothers or their brother’s sons, or their sisters’ sons, or their women, or the slaves whom their right hands possesses, or male servants free of physical needs, or small children who have no sense of shame of sex; and they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And O belivers! Your turn all together toward God, that you may attain Bliss.” Al-Baghawi said: The words of Allah, “and not show off their adornment”, meant that they should not show their adornment to a non-mahram (who is everyone not mentioned in the ayat including all your cousins). Here are two types of adornments, hidden and apparent. They include the anklets, henna on the feet, bracelets and bangles on the wrist, earrings and necklaces. It is not permissible for a woman to show these off or for a non-mahram to look at them. As for what is meant by adornment is the place where the adornment is worn and whatever of artificial adornment. End quote. As for non-mahram men the entire body should be covered, except her face and hands the same as the body that should be covered during prayer and in public. Other scholars insist including her face but this is for niqabis In Sha Allah we will look into this in depth.

Awrah can fall into several categories:

• Minimum ‘awrah - This is for male between the ages of seven and ten, the awrah is the two private parts only, front and back. For a female she should be covered as females are more delicate except her head, neck, fore arms and feet.
• Moderate ‘awrah - This is the awrah of boy who has reached ten and above, between the navel and knee.
• Maximum 'awrah - This is the awrah  of an adult, for a man its still, between the navel and knee as for a woman, her entire body is awrah.

Abu Hurairah (RA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Two are the types amongst the denizens of Hell whom I have never seen, the one possessing whips like the tail of an ox, and they flog people with them. (The Second one) women kasiyatun ‘aariyaat who would be naked in spite of their being dressed, who are inciting gait (to wrong paths) and inciting others with their hair high like humps. These women would not get into Paradise or smell its fragrance, although its fragrance can be detected from such and such a distance.” (Ahmad and Muslim) Al-Nawawi said concerning al-kasiyatun al-aariyat translated to “clothed yet naked” means they will uncover parts of their bodies to show their beauty, so they will be clothed, yet naked.

And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "No man should look at the awrah of another man, and no woman should look at the awrah of another woman." (Muslim)

Note that there is a difference between covering and wrapping and there is not awrah between a husband and wife.

And Allah knows best.