Question:

 

1) If a woman's husband wants her to wear half-sleeved clothing in the house, is it preferable for her to do so for her husband's sake/pleasure, or should she try to avoid something that is against mustahab/sunnah?

 

2) Should the husband not command her to do so unnecessarily, or does he have the right to see her in an outfit that he wants (which may be exposing) provided that she does not leave the house in that outfit?

 

3) What is the fardh of covering in front of her husband and other mahrams? (what can be exposed without being sinned, and what must be covered at all times)?

 

Jazakumullah Khayr.

 

Answer:

 

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم

 

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

 

1) There is nothing wrong in wearing half sleeved clothing in the house for the husband. If the husband wants the wife to wear such clothing in the house, she should do so.

 

2) He has the right to ask his wife to be in an outfit that he wants, provided that there is no objection in wearing such an outfit from the perspective of Shariah.

 

3) In front of her husband, a woman is not obliged to cover any part of her body.

 

In front of her mahram, a woman may expose her face, head, neck, chest, legs and arms, provided that there is no fear of fitna. She must, however, cover her stomach, back, thighs and the area in between.

 

One should always remember that modesty is a virtuous act in Islam. [1]

 

And Allah knows best

 

Mufti Faizal Riza

30/1/2013

 

Darul Ifta Australia

www.mufti-online.net

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[1]  في الدر المختار: (ومن عرسه وأمته الحلال) ... (إلى فرجها) بشهوة وغيرها والأولى تركه لأنه يورث النسيان (ومن محرمه) هي من لا يحل له نكاحها أبدا بنسب أو سبب ولو بزنا (إلى الرأس والوجه والصدر والساق والعضد إن أمن شهوته) وشهوتها أيضا ... (وإلا لا، لا إلى الظهر والبطن) خلافا للشافعي (والفخذ) ( الدر المختار: 9/ 604 ط دار المعرفة )

 

وفي الهداية: قال (وينظر الرجل من أمته التي تحل له وزوجته إلى فرجها) وهذا إطلاق في النظر إلى سائر بدنها عن شهوة وغير شهوة. والأصل فيه قوله - عليه الصلاة والسلام - «غض بصرك إلا عن أمتك وامرأتك» ولأن ما فوق ذلك من المس والغشيان مباح فالنظر أولى، إلا أن الأولى أن لا ينظر كل واحد منهما إلى عورة صاحبه لقوله - عليه الصلاة والسلام - «إذا أتى أحدكم أهله فليستتر ما استطاع ولا يتجردان تجرد العير» ولأن ذلك يورث النسيان لورود الأثر. وكان ابن عمر - رضي الله عنهما - يقول: الأولى أن ينظر ليكون أبلغ في تحصيل معنى اللذة. قال (وينظر الرجل من ذوات محارمه إلى الوجه والرأس والصدر والساقين والعضدين. ولا ينظر إلى ظهرها وبطنها وفخذها) ( الهداية: 7/ 204 ط مكتبة البشرى )

 

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