Man's `Awrah

Q: Does `Awrah (parts of the body that must be covered in public) include the thigh?

A: The majority of scholars hold that the thigh is one of the parts of the body that must be covered in public. They cited Hadiths as evidence to that effect. All these Hadiths have some aspects of weakness with regard to their chain of transmitters such as (Part No. 6; Page No. 166) discontinuity in their chains of transmitters or weakness in some of the narrators. However, these Hadiths support each other and therefore, are liable to be cited as proof. Some of them are as follows: Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah reported on the authority of `Aly (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: Do not uncover your thigh, and do not look at the thigh of the living or the dead. It was also reported by Ahmad and Al-Bukhari in his book called Al-Tarikh on the authority of Muhammad Ibn Jahsh that he said: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) passed by Ma`mar ibn `Abdullah while his two thighs were uncovered. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'O Ma`mar, cover your thighs as the thigh is `Awrah.' It was also reported by Malik in his book called Al-Muwata', Ahmad, Abu Dawud and Al-Tirmidhy in the Hadith reported by Jarhad Al-Aslamy that he said: The Prophet (peace be upon him) passed by me while I was wearing a burdah (garment) and my thigh was uncovered. He (peace be upon him) said: 'Cover your thigh as the thigh is a private part.' Al-Tirmidhy considered this Hadith to be Hasan. A group of scholars considered that a man's thigh is not `Awrah. As evidence they cited the Hadith reported by Anas (may Allah be pleased with him). He said: The Prophet (peace be upon him) uncovered his thigh and I saw the whiteness of his thigh. This Hadith was reported by Ahmad and Al-Bukhari. Al-Bukhari said that the Hadith reported by Anas is more authentic, but the Hadith reported by Jarhad is more precautious. The opinion of the majority of jurists is more cautious because of what was mentioned by Al-Bukhari. The first Hadiths are clear texts on this subject, but the Hadith mentioned by Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) can be interpreted otherwise. (Part No. 6; Page No. 167) May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.