Is the Knee Cap Included in the Minimum Nakedness?

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question: Assalam ‘aleykum,

(1)Is the knee cap included in the minimum nakedness in the Hanafi school?

(2)What is the minimum nakedness in the Shafi and Maliki school?

Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,

I pray this finds you well, insha’Allah.

The minimum nakedness (‘awra) in the Hanafi school is from below the navel to the bottom of the knee. [Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah]

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) is reported to have said, “The knee is from the nakedness.” [Daraqutni]

Accordingly, the entire knee is considered to be part of the nakedness in the Hanafi school, contrary to the Shafi​`​is and Malikis who don’t consider it to be​ as such.​ [Ibn Hajar, Tuhfat al-Muhtaj fi Sharh al-Minhaj; Dardir, al-Sharh al-Kabir]

Please also see:​ ​A Detailed Exposition of the Fiqh of Covering One’s Nakedness (awra) and: Covering the Nakedness for a Man: Answers

And Allah knows best.

wassalam,

Tabraze Azam

Checked & Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani