The woman lives in public and private spheres; in the public sphere she is permitted to live with women, Maharim men, and foreign men (men whom she can marry) on the condition that nothing other than her face and hands can be revealed, and that the clothing is not revealing, besides there is not any open display of adornments. As for the private sphere, she is not permitted to live with anyone other than women and her Maharim, and she is not permitted to live with unrelated/foreign men. She is restricted by all the Shari’ah rules in both spheres.

The evidence for this article is the verse mentioning seeking permission.

“O you who have believed, do not enter houses other than your own houses until you ascertain welcome (ask for permission) and greet their.” (TMQ 24:27), and the verse regarding revealing the beautification to the Maharim.

“And tell the believing women not to expose their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, their brothers' sons, their sisters' sons.” (TMQ 24:31) - which are the evidences for the private sphere. The verse mentioning the complete clothing.

“And tell the believing women to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests.” (TMQ 24:31) and the Jilbab.

“O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down (let down) over themselves their outer garments.”, and the verse regarding the prohibition of the open display of adornments.

“[but] not displaying adornment.” (TMQ 24:60), along with the texts which indicate the obligatory, recommended and permitted actions which Allah (swt) legislated for woman and man without distinction, are all evidences for the public sphere.

However, when Allah (swt) permitted the woman to participate in the public sphere with men, such as the permissibility for her to participate in trade, agriculture, industry, the civil service, the judiciary, membership of political parties, accounting the ruler, and dealing with life’s affairs in the same manner as the man, at the same time He (swt) laid down specific rules. So the clothes which she is permitted to come out with in the public sphere have been specified, in that she has to cover all of her body other than her hands and face, and not display her adornments and beautification openly; Allah (swt) said.

“And tell the believing women not to expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof.” (TMQ 24:31). Ibn ‘Abbas said this is the face and hands, as reported by Al-Bayhaqi in Al-Sunan Al-Kubra. The Prophet said.

. إِنَّ الْجَارِيَةَ إِذَا حَاضَتْ لَمْ يَصْلُحْ أَنْ ي رَُى مِنْ هَا إِلاَّ وَجْهُهَا وَيَدَاهَا إِلَى « » المِفْصَلِ .

“If a girl reaches puberty (indicated by starting menstrual cycle), it is not right that any part of her be seen other than her face and the two hands up to the wrists” (reported by Abu Dawud as a Mursal narration), and Allah (swt) said.

“[but] not displaying adornment.” (TMQ 24:60), and the Prophet also said.

. » أَيُّمَا امْرَأَةٍ اسْ تَ عْطَرَتْ فَمَرَّتْ عَلَى قَ وْمٍ لِيَجِدُوا مِنْ رِيحِهَا فَهِيَ زَانِيَة « .

“Any woman who puts on perfume then passes by people so that they can smell her fragrance then she is an adulteress” (reported by Al-Nasa’i from Abu Musa Al-Ash‘ari, and Al-Hakim authenticated it and Al-Dhahabi confirmed it). As for how the woman should live in the private sphere, she has been prohibited from living with anyone other than women, Maharim or children, and she has been prohibited from appearing in this private sphere in light clothes except in front of those just mentioned. Allah (swt) said.

“And tell the believing women not to expose their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, their brothers' sons, their sisters' sons, their women, that which their right hands possess, or those male attendants having no physical desire, or children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of.” (TMQ 24:31).

It is not permitted for anyone to come into her private sphere before taking permission, irrespective of whether they were Mahram or not; Allah (swt) said.

“O you who have believed, do not enter houses other than your own houses until you ascertain welcome (ask for permission) and greet their inhabitants.” (TMQ 24:27); and the Messenger (saw) ordered a man to take permission before entering his mother’s place.

These are the evidences for this article.