SECTION · 1 – CHAPTER
4009 – From ʿĀʾisha (may Allah be pleased with her): The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade entering bathhouses. Then he permitted men to enter them with a waistcloth (covering the area between the navel and the knee). [566]
4010 – It is narrated from Abū’l-Melīḥ (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: A group of women from Syria entered upon Lady ʿĀʾisha. ʿĀʾisha (may Allah be pleased with her) asked them, "From which people are you?" They replied, "We are from the people of Syria." ʿĀʾisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said, "Perhaps you are from among the city folk whose women enter bathhouses?" They said, "Yes." ʿĀʾisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said, "But I heard the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) say: 'Any woman who removes her clothes outside her house has torn the veil between herself and Allah.'" [567]
4011 – It is narrated from ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAmr (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Soon the land of the non-Arabs will be conquered for you. There you will find buildings called bathhouses. Let no man enter those bathhouses without a waistcloth. For women, prevent them from entering except those who are sick or in postnatal bleeding." [568]
EXPLANATION
Bathhouses were originally built for cleanliness. Cleanliness is the primary condition for fulfilling the requirements of Islam. However, if everyone fulfills their duty of cleanliness at home, there is no objection. If men observe proper covering and go to the bathhouse, there is no harm in it. But if they do not observe proper covering, it is not permissible for them to enter. As for women, they must be even more meticulous than men. Therefore, only women who are ill and unable to bathe in cold weather, and those in postnatal bleeding, are permitted to enter out of necessity. The reason for the prohibition is neglecting proper covering. If proper covering is observed, this problem is eliminated. As for men and women entering the sea together today, this is strictly forbidden, because the obligatory covering is not observed.
4012 – It is narrated from Yaʿlā (may Allah be pleased with him): The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) saw a man washing himself uncovered in the open. He ascended the pulpit, praised and glorified Allah, and then said: "Indeed, Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, is modest and loves modesty and concealment. So when any of you bathes, let him use a covering." [569]
4013 – The previous hadith was narrated from the father of Safwān ibn Yaʿlā. Abū Dāwūd said: The previous hadith is more complete.
4014 – It is narrated from Zurʿa ibn ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Jarda, who narrated from his father, that he said: The Jarda mentioned in the narration was among the People of the Bench (Aṣḥāb al-Ṣuffa). The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) sat next to me. My thigh was uncovered. Thereupon, the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) said to me: "Do you not know that the thigh is part of the ʿawra (private area)?"
EXPLANATION
Jarda was among the noble Companions (ṣaḥāba), and among the believers who stayed at the platform (ṣuffa). This noble hadith informs that the thighs of men are considered part of the ʿawra, and it is forbidden to uncover them.
4015 – It is narrated from ʿAlī (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Do not uncover your thigh, and do not look at the thigh of any living or dead person." [570]
EXPLANATION
These noble hadiths are clear evidence that it is forbidden to uncover the area between the knee and the navel. In bathhouses, beaches, sports facilities, and similar places, uncovering the thighs is forbidden. Both the one who exposes and the one who looks are held accountable.