1) Both the men and women present should restrain their gazes.

2) One must properly guard one’s sexual organs on such occasions of interaction.

3) It is necessary for women in particular not to display any of their embellishments except before their close relatives, attendants and people of acquaintance. However, exempted from this are embellishments adorned on limbs which are generally never covered: ie. the jewellery and make-up worn on the hand, the face and the feet. Therefore, barring the embellishments worn on these places, women must hide the ones worn in all other places. So much so, in the presence of men, they should not walk by striking their feet in a manner which draws attention to any hidden embellishments they may be wearing. On these very grounds, the Prophet (sws) bade women not to use strong perfumes when they go out.

– Relatives and people of acquaintance before which the above mentioned display of ornaments is not forbidden are:

i. Husband

ii. Father

iii. Father-in-law

iv. Sons

v. Sons of the Husband

vi. Brothers

vii. Brothers Sons

viii. Sisters Sons

ix. Women of acquaintance and Maids

x. People who live in a house as dependents and because of their subservience or owing to any other reason are incapable of feeling any attraction towards women.

xi. Children who are as yet unaware of sexual matters.

4) Since the chest of women is a means of sexual attraction, and also there may be jewellery worn around the neck, they are further directed to cover their chests with a cloak on such occasions. In this way, the neckline shall also be covered as much as possible. If by some other means than the cloak this purpose is achieved, then this cannot be objected to either. The real objective is that women must not reveal their chest and neckline before men; on the contrary, these should be concealed in a manner that neither do they nor any embellishments worn on them become prominent in any way.

For further details, please see:

Discussion 30301