What are the limits of a Muslim woman's attire before her sons and daughters?
Praise be to Allah.
No text addresses it.
The rule is that what Sharia states in general terms has no set limit.
And if language sets none, it is referred back to custom.
Thus, the limits of a woman's clothing.
Before her mahrams or before women.
It goes back to custom. This is what custom means.
It is what people of sound minds and sound instincts habitually do.
So customs influenced by ideas are disregarded.
Rather, they are customs approved by sound nature, not rejected.
So whatever a woman customarily uncovers.
In the presence of women or her mahrams, it may be uncovered.
For example, the upper arms.
the breast when nursing the child, the lower legs, the hair, and the like.
Whatever is not customarily uncovered may not be uncovered.
And, as I said, pay no heed to custom influenced by other ideas.
And natural dispositions changed.
Allah help us. It's now common among some Muslims.
A woman is not properly clothed before her mahrams or other women.
This is not allowed.
From another angle.
A woman, with her mahrams and women, must avoid clothes that outline her body.
I mean tight clothing that outlines what must be covered.
This is not permissible.
For a woman to wear it, neither before her mahrams nor before women.
She must also avoid garments that are see-through.
and reveal what lies beneath that must be covered.
So some women come and wear a garment.
Its upper half is transparent.
The skin can be seen through it. This is not allowed.
For a woman to wear it before women or before her mahrams.
So once we know this, we say: The criterion.
Strictly speaking in this matter, the reference is sound custom, unaffected.
By ideas. Yes.