Covering Awrah (Nakedness)
A non-Muslim woman’s looking at a Muslim woman
Question:
What is the 3awrah of a muslim woman in front of a non-muslim woman? I know that there are at least two positions in shafi3i madhab: 1) it is the same as non-mahram male 2) it is what is shown when working. Which position is the most reliable – mu3tamad? Jazaakum allah.
Country: Denmark
Answer:
Wa alaykum salam wa rahamtuLlahi wa barakatuHu,
The relied-upon opinion maintains that a Muslim woman may not expose herself to a non-Muslim woman. Others authorities in our School have also maintained that they are both merely considered as women; thus, belonging to a different religion does not restrict the issue of looking. A ruling along these lines is related from Ghazzali in Wasit and also given credence by Ruyani in his Bahr. This difference of opinion is referred to by the phrase, al-asahh, in Minhaj. What is related here from Ghazzali and Ruyani is not the relied-upon opinion; the relied-upon is the first.
Are the thighs of men awrah?
Question: Are the thighs [of men] ‘awrah [in Salah and in front of non-Mahrams]?
Country: UK
Answer:
Imam An-Nawawi states in his Tahqiq, “The ‘awrah (nakedness) of the man is what is between his navel and his knees…” (pg 182, Dar Al Jil) The same was repeated by Ibn Naqib Al Misri in ‘Umdat As Salik, translated as “Reliance of the Traveller” (page 121), a book necessary for every Shafi’i who speaks English to purchase and to study. Therefore the verdict of the Shafi’i Madhhab is that the thighs are ‘awrah in Salah and in front of non-mahrams. It should also be noted that the navel and knees are not ‘awrah – only what is between.
Read MoreWearing a Turban
Question:
Assalam ‘Alaykum,
What is the position of the Shafi’i Madhhab in regards to wearing an ‘Amaamah [Turban]?
Country: Canada
Answer:
Wa alaykum salam wa rahmatuLlahi wa barakatuHu,
Ibn Hajar mentions that wearing a turban is sunnah in prayer. (Tuhfat al-Muhtaj v. 3, p. 36-37)
Imams Muslim, Abu Dawud, and others related that the Prophet Muhammad entered Makkah while wearing a turban. (Sahih Muslim v. 9, p. 1641; Sunan Abi Dawud v. 3, p. 1748)
There are also hadith that mention that the Prophet Muhammad entered Makkah wearing a helmet. Qadi ‘Iyad reconciled between the two hadith – the one of the Prophet Muhammad wearing a helmet on entering Makkah and the one of him wearing a turban – by explaining that the Prophet Muhammad wore a helmet upon first entering Makkah. Then after conquering it, he took off the helmet and wore a turban. (Sharh Muslim v. 9, p. 1642)
Therefore, wearing a turban is found in the sunnah.
And Allah knows best.
Shafiifiqh.com Fatwa Dept.
Read MoreIs a Woman’s Voice Part of Her Awrah?
Question:
Assalamualikum,
Is a woman’s voice part of her ‘awrah?
Country: United States
Answer:
Wa alaykum salam wa rahmatuLlahi wa barakatuHu,
A woman’s voice is not part of her ‘awrah [nakedness]. (Sharh al-Muhadhdhab v. 3, p. 390)
And Allah knows best.
Shafiifiqh.com Fatwa Dept.
Read MoreA question on a man teaching women
Question:
My wife teaches in an Islamic evening school. The institute is formed of a management committee which is made up of two scholars and one mufti. Most recently, the management decided that they felt, for reasons unknown to anyone, that the female teachers are lacking in their tajweed, and thus, this is reflected in the teaching as lower school pupils pick it up incorrectly.
The management decided that a twice weekly session would run for the female teachers for 10 weeks. The lessons would be conducted by the mufti and all the female teachers (eight of them) would attend. The female teachers naturally said that they would rather have a female tajweed teacher. The management rejected the idea. They are adamant that only the mufti will conduct the classes.
Also bear in mind that all the female teachers would be wearing their abayas and a niqab.
In the original plan, the seating was set up which all the females disagreed with. In the end, the management decided on the seating system which I have also included.
What I would like to know is, in the Shafii Madhab, is a male teacher allowed to conduct a class of females only, without a physical barrier in place? Is the seating plan which has been included a valid set up in the Shafii Madhab?
Answer:
Wa alaykum salam wa rahmatuLlahi wa barakatuHu,
In respect to looking at a member of the opposite sex for teaching, Ibn Hajar mentioned,
يظهر فيما يجب تعلمه وتعليمه كالفاتحة وما يتعين فيه ذلك من الصنائع المحتاج إليها بشرط فقد جنس ومحرم صالح وتعذر من وراء حجاب ووجود مانع خلوة أخذا مما مر في العلاج
“It is clear in what is obligatory to teach and learn, like Surah al-Fatihah, and what is specific to needed occupations, with the condition that there is no member of the same sex or a pious relative, and that there is a difficulty from behind a partition, and that there is present one who prevents unlawful seclusion; extrapolating from what came previously under receiving medical treatment.” (Tuhfat al-Muhtaj v. 7. p. 204)
Therefore, if there is a female tajwid teacher available, or one of the women has a relative who can teacher her, then either should be given preference. If not, then the classes must be conducted from behind a partition, unless that entails undue difficulty. There must never be unlawful seclusion with a member of the opposite sex.
And Allah knows best,
Shafiifiqh.com Fatwa Dept.
Read MoreIs it Permissible to Pray with Niqab On?
Question:
Is it permissible for a woman to cover her face during Salah? I accept the position of the school, but can you please provide an evidence for this? It is a question that has surfaced in our community and a clear evidence would really help me keep some problems from developing
Answer:
Wa alaykum salam wa rahmatuLlahi wa barakatuHu,
It is disliked [makruh] for a woman to pray wearing niqab [a face covering], except for when she is praying in the company of others who might look at her face. In this instance, it is impermissible for her to lift her niqab. Khatib Shirbini stated,
ويكره أن يصلي…والمرأة منتقبة إلا أن يكون في مكان وهناك أجانب لا يحترزون عن النظر إليها فلا يجوز لها رفع النقاب
“It is disliked when he prays…and the woman wearing niqab, except for when in a place where there are strange men who do not guard their gazes; then, it is not permissible for her to lift her niqab.” (Iqna’ 2/111)
The disliked nature of a woman wearing niqab in prayer (and in tawaf according to some) is related from various Tabi’in, like Hasan al-Basri, Tawus, and Jabir b. Zayd. (Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 2/347-48) Hafiz Busayri related that Aishah did make tawaf wearing niqab. (Ithaf al-Khayrat al-Maharah 3/201) Ibn Abd al-Barr related a consensus [ijma] that a woman does not need to pray with her face veiled. (Tamhid 6/365)
In light of the above, a woman does not need to pray with her face veiled, and it is disliked. If a woman fears that she will be peeped at by strange onlookers, then she should keep her face covered.
And Allah the Exalted knows best.
Shafiifiqh.com Fatwa Dept.
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