Question:

Asalamualakum,

First I would like to appreciate you taking the time to answer everyone’s questions, Jazakullah.

My question is how much Pardah is necessary in front of the same gender? Some women will change their clothes in presence of other women. Some women will wear sleeveless dress or short dresses in a women’s only gathering. Is this allowed?

Answer:

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

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

In principle, it is necessary for a female to cover only the area from the navel to the knees (including the knees) in the presence of other Muslim women. It is not sinful to expose any other portion of the body in the presence of other Muslim women.[1] However, it is the demand of Imaan that a female should dress modestly at all times.

Note: The above-mentioned ruling is in regards to Muslim women. In the presence of non-Muslim women, a Muslim woman is required to cover her entire body with the exception of her face, hands, and feet.[2]

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

(Mufti) Abdul Azeem bin Abdur Rahman

Disclaimer:

The Shar’a ruling herein given is based specifically on the question posed and should be read in conjunction with the question.

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This answer may not be used as evidence in any Court of Law without prior written consent of Darul Iftaa Texas.

[1]  (وَتَنْظُرُ الْمَرْأَةُ الْمُسْلِمَةُ مِنْ الْمَرْأَةِ كَالرَّجُلِ مِنْ الرَّجُلِ) وَقِيلَ كَالرَّجُلِ لِمَحْرَمِهِ وَالْأَوَّلُ أَصَحُّ سِرَاجٌ (الدر المختار مع رد المحتار، ج 6، ص 371، سعيد)

فَكُلُّ مَا يَحِلُّ لِلرَّجُلِ أَنْ يَنْظُرَ إلَيْهِ مِنْ الرَّجُلِ يَحِلُّ لِلْمَرْأَةِ أَنْ تَنْظُرَ إلَيْهِ مِنْ الْمَرْأَةِ وَكُلُّ مَا لَا يَحِلُّ لَهُ، لَا يَحِلُّ لَهَا، فَتَنْظُرُ الْمَرْأَةُ مِنْ الْمَرْأَةِ إلَى سَائِرِ جَسَدِهَا إلَّا مَا بَيْنَ السُّرَّةِ وَالرُّكْبَةِ لِأَنَّهُ لَيْسَ فِي نَظَرِ الْمَرْأَةِ إلَى الْمَرْأَةِ خَوْفُ الشَّهْوَةِ وَالْوُقُوعِ فِي الْفِتْنَةِ كَمَا لَيْسَ ذَلِكَ فِي نَظَرِ الرَّجُلِ إلَى الرَّجُلِ (بدائع الصنائع، ج 5، ص 124، دار الكتب العلميّة)

Aap Kay Masaail Aur Un Kaa Hall, Vol. 8, p. 115, Maktabah Ludhyanwi

[2]  (وَالذِّمِّيَّةُ كَالرَّجُلِ الْأَجْنَبِيِّ فِي الْأَصَحِّ فَلَا تَنْظُرُ إلَى بَدَنِ الْمُسْلِمَةِ) مُجْتَبًى (الدر المختار مع رد المحتار، ج 6، ص 371، سعيد)

Aap Kay Masaail Aur Un Kaa Hall, Vol. 8, p. 65, Maktabah Ludhyanwi