Sir I am a married female living with my in-laws i.e. father in-law, mother in-law and my husband’s sister. My husband says I can only cover between my navel and knees in front of them because they are unmarriageable to me and there is no sign of lust or fitna. He says I can roam in home like this If my husband has no problem with my being topless in home and only covered between navel and knees and abdomen and back of abdomen.i also belive that there is no possibility of fitna because two are muslim women in the house and my father in law is my father in law.My husband also say’s that they can also touch those parts if needed as they are unlawful to marry and if there is no lust.please tell me as soon as possible that is it sinful or not,to only cover those parts between navel and knee and going topless with bare breasts and please I know being modest is good but what in this case when my husband has no problem and says I can? And I am asking only in front of muslim women and mehrem men.please don’t tell about non-mehrem men I know that.
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatoh
It is permissible for you to obey your husband if he wants you to only cover from the knees to the navel including the stomach and the back in your house in the presence of your mother, sister and father in-law if there is no fear of fitna. If there is a fear of fitna in anyway, then it will not be permissible for you to expose those body parts in the presence of your in laws.
ولا ينظر إلى ظهرها وبطنها ولا إلى ما بين سرتها إلى أن يجاوز الركبة وكذا إلى كل ذات محرم برضاع أو مصاهرة كزوجة الأب والجد وإن علا وزوجة ابن الابن وأولاد الأولاد وإن سفلوا وابنة المرأة المدخول
وما حل النظر إليه حل مسه ونظره وغمزه من غير حائل ولكن إنما يباح النظر إذا كان يأمن على نفسه الشهوة فأما إذا كان يخاف على نفسه الشهوة فلا يحل له النظر وكذلك المس إنما يباح له إذا أمن على نفسه وعليها الشهوة وأما إذا خاف على نفسه أو عليها الشهوة فلا يحل المس له ولا يحل أن ينظر إلى بطنها أو إلى ظهرها ولا إلى جنبها ولا يمس شيئا من ذلك كذا في المحيط
(Fatawa Hindiya p329 vol.5 Maktaba Rasheediya)
Modesty and shame is an integral part of a person’s Ieman (faith).
It is mentioned in a Hadith:
عن سالم بن عبد الله عن أبيه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم مر على رجل من الأنصار وهو يعظ أخاه في الحياء فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم
دعه فإن الحياء من الإيمان
Salim narrates from his fatherرضى الله عنهم that Rasululah passed by a man from the Ansar whilst he was advising his brother regarding modesty; then Rasululah said to him “Leave him for indeed modesty is part of Ieman.” (Bukhari p13 vol1 باب الحياء من الايمان)
Nabi صلى الله عليه و سلم said:
عن أبي السوار العدوي قال سمعت عمران بن حصين قال قال النبي صلى الله عليه و سلم الحياء لا يأتي إلا بخير
“Modesty only brings good.” (Bukhari p130 vol7-8 باب الحياء Darul Fikr)
Nabi صلى الله عليه و سلمalso said:
عن ابي هريرة قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم الحياء من الإيمان والإيمان في الجنة والبذاء من الجفاء والجفاء في النار
“Modesty is part of Ieman and Ieman is in Jannah and obscenity is from aversion and aversion is Jahannam.” (Tirmidhi p21 vol2باب الحياء H.M. Saeed Co.)
In view of the aforementioned Ahadith, it is best to adopt shame and modesty in your dressing in the presence of your in laws at all times.
And Allah knows best
Wassalam
Ml. Zakariyya bin Ahmed,
Student Darul Iftaa
Checked and Approved by:
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Darul Iftaa, Madrassah In’aamiyyah