Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear Sir,

reference  :     your  answers to  Question no. 123

what is the english  meaning of  the below mentioned word " Satr ".?

warm regards,

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

What is Satr?

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

The literal meaning of the Arabic word ‘satr’ is something that is hidden, or something which should be hidden.

When used in the Islamic context, ‘satr’ means the parts of the human body which are obligatory on the believers to be hidden from everyone else, except his/her partner in marriage.

For the believing males, the ‘satr’ are the parts of the body between the navel and the knees inclusive. These parts of the body of the male cannot be disclosed even to other males.

For the believing woman her ‘satr’ before non-mehram males is her complete body, except what is displayed of itself. There are two opinions amongst the scholars regarding of what is included in the term ‘what is displayed of itself’: one opinion is that the face, eyes, and hands may be left uncovered, and the other opinion is that the face should be covered, and only the hands may be left open.

For the believing woman, her ‘satr’ before her mehram male relatives and the other woman is from the beginning of her breasts to her knees (inclusive).

There is no ‘satr’ between a husband and a wife in Islam.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan