Awrah in Islam

Awrah (Arabic: عورة) is the Islamic term that represents a part of the body, whether male or female, who illegally opened or displayed. Awrah is interpreted differently depending upon the sex. In other words, it is obligatory as Muslim to cover and hide themselves from being seen in front of unrelated men or women. Exposing their bodies are unlawful in Islam and is regarded as sin. These obligations to cover themselves based on evidences from Hadith which are :-

"If you marry one slave boy to his daughter or his employer, so the slave girl never looked things at his body (awrah her master). Truly, what is under center until his knee is 'aurat'.'' (Narrated by al-Bayhaqi) Narrated Aisha (the Prophet's wife) : Asma, daughter of Abu Bakar, 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 women 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(Narrated by Abu Daud)

Differences between awrah men and women are :-

Men
Most Muslims accept that for men everything between the navel and the knee is awrah and therefore should be covered at all times.

Women Rules for women are more complicated. There are a number of scenarios for women:

i)In front of unrelated men (Muslim or non-Muslim), women must cover everything except the hands and face

ii)In front of close male relatives, awrah is the navel to the knee and the stomach and the back

iii)In front of other Muslim females, awrah is from the navel down to, and including, the knees

iv)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. This is to prevent non-Muslim women (who may not understand the rules regarding hijab) from describing the appearance of the hijab wearer to other men

Other scholars say that if a non-Muslim woman can be trusted not to describe a woman's appearance to other men, then she may reveal as much as she would in front of another Muslim woman in her presence. 3)Husband and wife

There is no restriction on what a husband and wife may show to each other in private. The Qur'an encourages married couples to enjoy each other's bodies.

4)Individuals in private

Islam highly values modesty, so even when alone, men and women are recommended never to be completely naked and to cover from the navel to the knee. Exceptions do apply where necessary, for example taking a shower or going to the bathroom.

There is also hadith regarding awrah and prayer which is :-

Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin : The Prophet (peace be upon him) said : Allah does not accept the prayer of a woman who has reached puberty unless she wears a veil (Narrated by Abu Daud).

This hadith shows how important to cover awrah especially while praying. For women, they must cover everything except the hands and face. It is forbidden to cover the face while praying while for men, they must cover from the navel to the knee.

There is relation between awrah with hijab because as exposing the awrah is regarded as sin in Islam, Muslim men and women are required to wear clothes that do not reveal their awrah. The concept of awrah is, therefore, linked with hijab. In fact, modest dress is considered a means to fulfilling the covering of awrah but the debate is focused on how much of the male or female body should be covered.

Many Muslim women, particularly those living in Europe or in South East Asia, wear the headscarf. The type most commonly worn in the West is a square scarf that covers the head and neck but leaves the face clear. Other styles also cover the hair, neck and shoulders completely, but the face and the hands are not covered, as they are not considered awrah for those Muslims who wear it.

But most commonly a women do is wear attire that is made of transparent material that reveals their skin or tight attire that shows their body shape. Sometimes, an attire that they wear reveals luring body parts such as the breast, the thingh and others. There is evidence (dalil) from hadith clearly forbid women to wear like this. In a hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah, Rasulullah s.a.w. said: "Two are the types of the denizens of Hell whom I did not see: (1) people having flogs like the tails of the ox with them and they would be beating people (unjust rulers); (2) the women who would be dressed but appear to be naked, who would be inclined (to evil) and make others incline towards it. Their heads would be like the humps of the bukht camel inclined to one side. They will not enter Paradise and they would not smell its odour whereas its odour would be smelt from such and such distance" (Narrated by Muslim).

With all the evidences Hadith from above, it shows how important us as Muslim to cover and hide our awrah. By cover our awrah it can give so many benefits to us such as prevent from fitnah. The Prophet SAW said :''I did not leave a fitnah after me that could bring more harm to a man except woman" (Narrated by Al-Bukhari). For those who are not cover their awrah yet, believes that Allah is true, his Rasul is true, and Paradise and Hellfire are true. If believe in them, why are the actions speak otherwise?

arratmsha (the Prophet's wife): Asma, daughter of Abu Bakr, e,lppokstle 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 Dawudarrated Aisha (the Prophet's wife): 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 Dawudrrated Aisha (the Prophet's wife): 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 arrated Aisha (the Prophet's wife): 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