Awrah

The intimate parts ( ', , ') of the human body must, according to Islam, be covered by clothing. Most modern Islamic scholars agree that the '''awrah'' of a man is the area between the navel and the knees, and the '''awrah'' of a woman is the entire body except the face and hands . Exposing the '''awrah'' of the body is against Islamic law.

The Quran addresses the concept of awrah'' several times. Islamic scholars have used the relevant surahs and the hadiths to elaborate the concept of '''awrah'' which is used in fatwas.

Etymology

In Arabic, the term '''awrah'' or '''awrat'' (), with the root ‘-w-r, means "defectiveness", "imperfection", "blemish," or "weakness". The most common English translation of ''awrah'' is "nakedness". In Arabic, the word 'awrah is used in reference to both men and women.

In Persian and Kurdish, the word'' 'awrat'' (, ) derived from the Arabic'' 'awrah'', had been used widely to mean "nakedness."

In modern-day Iran, using the two word '' 'awrah'' to refer to women is uncommon and is considered sexist language. In Turkish, ''avrat'' is an often derogatory term for 'woman' or 'wife'. However, in Urdu the word 'aurat' refers to a woman, especially when showing politeness or respect.

In the Quran

The term '''awrah'' as it is used in the Quran is confined neither to women nor to the body. The Quran uses the term in various passages in Surah An-Nur and Surah Al-Ahzab. For example:

... etthose of you who are still under age ask for your permission to come in at three times: before dawn prayer, when you take off your outer clothes at noon, and after the late evening prayer. These are three times of privacy for you. Other than these times, there is no blame on you or them to move freely, attending to one another. ()

Another passage using the term '''awrah'' (in this case, to mean "vulnerable") is in Surah Al-Ahzab, where it concerns fleeing from battle:

And remember when a group of them said, “O people of Yathrib! There is no point in you staying here, so retreat!” Another group of them asked the Prophet’s permission to leave, saying, “Our homes are vulnerable,” while in fact they were not vulnerable. They only wished to flee. ()

'' 'Awrah'' is also found in the story of creation of Adam and Eve:

O children of Adam! We have provided for you clothing to cover your nakedness and as an adornment. However, the best clothing is righteousness. This is one of Allah’s bounties, so perhaps you will be mindful. ()

Another word with an almost identical meaning to '' 'awrah'' is the word ''farj'' () or the plural ''furuj'' (). Another quote concerning covering the '' 'awrah'' is:

O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves artof their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful. ()

The Quran admonishes Muslim women to dress modestly and cover their private areas.Martin et al. (2003), Encyclopedia of Islam & the Muslim World, Macmillan Reference, It explicitly states that "O wives of The Prophet, you are not like anyone among women" and as such has separate rules specifically for the wives of Muhammad. The Quran tells the male believers to talk to the wives of Muhammad from behind a hijab (curtain or veil). This passage is as follows:

While the meaning of ''khimār'' is debated, it is often believed to be a head covering that pre-Islamic Arab women wore as an adornment. Part of the people mentioned in the surah above are those among a woman's mahram.

In the Hadith

This hadith is frequently cited by Islamic scholars to support their definition of the female 'awrah:

" Asma, daughter of Abu Bakr, entered upon the Apostle of Allah (Peace be upon him) wearing thin clothes. The Apostle of Allah (Peace be upon him) turned his attention from her. He said: O Asma’, when a woman reaches the age of menstruation, it does not suit her that she displays her parts of body except this and this, and he pointed to her face and hands." Abu Dawud 4104

A hadith prohibits looking at private parts. According to Abu Saʽid al-Khudri, Muhammad said,

"A man should not look at the private parts of another man, and a woman should not look at the private parts of another woman. A man should not lie with another man without wearing lower garment under one cover; and a woman should not be lie with another woman without wearing lower garment under one cover." (Sahih Muslim 338a)

Differences between men and women

Men

In Sunni interpretations, the'' 'awrah'' of a man refers to the part of the body from the navel to the knees. The Maliki, Shafi'i, Hanafi, and Hanbali schools of thought observe that there is a difference on whether the navel and the knee itself are included. In particular, these observations generally require that the cloth not be too thin, that it is not pale to the extent the color of the skin can be seen, that a man ensures extra covering if his genitals' shape is discernible, and stipulate that the modesty of adulthood applies once a boy becomes ten years old.Lee, Nazirah, and Zanariah Noor. "Islam or progress of the nation?: An assessment of the aurat issue in Malay newspapers and magazines in the 1930s." Geografia-Malaysian Journal of Society and Space 12.6 (2017).

Women

Most modern Islamic scholars agree that, in public, a woman must cover the entire body except the face, hands, and feet.

The covering of the female'' 'awrah'' changes according to the situation:

*In ritual prayer: A woman should cover her entire body excluding her entire face and her hands to the wrist. However, the Hanafis solely differ on this matter, as they consider that feet, including the ankles, also can be excluded. The area between the throat and the chin is generally accepted to be excluded as well, although different scholars have different opinions on this. A woman should cover her hair and body while performing the ritual prayer, whether she is praying in presence of her husband or she is praying alone in her chamber, as the basis for covering in prayer is different from the basis for covering in front of people; as ''salat'' is the daily communion with Allah, a Muslim is required to show modesty while communing with God.

*In front of her husband: There is no restriction in Islam on what body parts a woman may show to her husband in private; the husband and wife can see any part of each other's body, especially during sexual intercourse.

*Among other women: The'' 'awrah'' of a woman amongst other women is the same as the '''awrah'' of men (from her navel to her knees). '' 'Awrah'' in front of non-Muslim women is a point of debate. Some scholars say that women should cover all but the hands and face, while according to the most preferred opinion, a Muslim woman can reveal in front of a non-Muslim woman as much as she would in front of other Muslim women.

* In front of a mahram: There are three Sunni opinions, representing the four major schools of thought in Sunni Islam:
#The Maliki and Hanbali schools of thought opine that the female '' 'awrah'' must be covered from the shoulders and neck down (or navel) to below the knees.
#The Shafi'i school of thought opines that the female '' 'awrah'' must be covered from the navel to the knees and everything in between it.
#The Hanafi school of thought opines that the female '' 'awrah'' must be covered from the navel to the knees and stomach and the part of the back parallel to the stomach.
* In front of male children: If the child understands what the '''awrah'' is, then it is not considered permissible for a woman to uncover her '' 'awrah'' in front of him.
* In front of non-mahram men: There is a difference of opinion on which body parts a woman should cover in front of men who are not her mahram. In the contemporary world, there is a general agreement that the body of a woman (except for her face and her hands up to her wrists/forearms) is '''awrah'' and therefore must be covered not only during prayer but also in public and in front of all non-mahram men. The Hanafis view the feet (including the ankles) to be excluded from '''awrah'' as well.

Other non-dominant views also exist, notably the more relaxed view that a woman must cover her '' 'awrah'' only during salah and ihram, rather than almost all the time, and the opposite view that a woman must cover her '' 'awrah'' all the time except in front of her husband.

Historically, the awrah for a slave woman during the era of slavery in the Muslim world, who per Islamic law was a non-Muslim, was different than that of the awrah of a free Muslim woman. The awrah of a female slave was defined as being between her navel and her knee. Consequently, slave women during the era of slavery in the Muslim world did not wear hijab and could also be displayed with a bare chest.
In accordance with this definition, Umar ibn al-Khattab once reproached a slave girl for wearing a hijab with the words: “Remove your veil and do not imitate free women!”

In the contemporary world, some Muslims insist that a woman's '' 'awrah'' in front of unrelated men is her entire body including her face and hands, which must be covered at all times in front of non-mahram men. Others disagree and claim it is permissible to show the face and hands. Marfuqi, Kitab ul Mar'ah fil Ahkam, pg 133

Debates, deliberations and activism

In modern times, the concepts of '''awrah'', Haya (Modesty), various levels of seclusion of Muslim women, and the extent to which Muslim restrain their exposure of bodily aspects and association vis a vis Islamic clothing were not only contested by non-Muslims and ex-Muslims but also continuously been matter of discussions, deliberations, debates, and movements. It has also been part of advice literature, within Muslim societies including that of common Muslim individuals, various traditional schools scholars, intelligentsia, numerous political dispensations and also at times contested by individuals and groups of cultural Muslims; liberals and progressives, modernists and Islamic feminists.
In the 1930s just after Turkish reformations under Kemal Atatürk, Malaysians debated adherence to traditional Islamic social restraints over '' 'awrah'' and modesty in contemporary Islamic clothing and whether Western modernism is really essential and beneficial.

See also

* Haya (Islam)
* Hijab
* Islam and clothing
* Namus (Honor)
* Niqab
* Purdah
* Sartorial hijab
* Tzeniut- similar doctrine in Judaism
* Islamic toilet etiquette
* Gender segregation and Muslims

Notes

References

{{Nudity

Hijab
Islamic female clothing
Modesty in Islam