Hanafi ruling on exposing women’s feet

Walekumussalam,

In the Hanafi Madhhab, a woman’s feet are not considered part of the ‘awrah (that which must be covered), and it is regarded as permissible for them to remain exposed both during and outside of prayer.

Regarding the hadith of Umm Salamah (رضي الله عنها) that you mentioned, according to the Hanafi jurists, it does not contradict their position. Rather, the Hanafi scholars have explained this hadith by understanding the instruction as referring to what is recommended and more virtuous, rather than as an obligation.

According to the Hanafis, the instruction in this hadith to let the garment down by one handspan or one cubit was given to indicate the recommended and preferable manner of dress, not as an indication that it is obligatory.

For a woman to cover her feet and to keep her garment longer provides greater covering, modesty, and virtue.

Consideration of Necessity and Hardship

One of the fundamental principles of Hanafi jurisprudence is the removal of undue hardship and difficulty.

A woman needs to use her feet for household work, walking, and her everyday needs. If the feet were categorically considered part of the ‘awrah, it would cause considerable hardship and difficulty for women.

For this reason, the jurists, taking into consideration general prevalence of the need (ʿumūm al-balwā) and necessity, have treated the feet (qadamayn) as an exception, similar to the face and hands, in the interpretation of the Qur’anic verse:

  إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا

“Except what ordinarily appears thereof.”

(Takmilah Fath al-Mulhim, Vol. 1, Kitāb al-Libās wa’l-Zīnah, p. 88)

 فمن مقدمة هذه المبادي ان اللباس ان يكون ساترا لعورة الانسان، فالاسلام يلزم المرأة ان تستر كل جسدها ما عدا وجهها وكفها وقدميها فستر العورة من اهم ما يقصد باللباس.

Al-Ashbāh wa’l-Naẓā’ir, pp. 568–571:

الضرورات تبيح المحظورات

 ما أبيح للضرورة يتقدر بقدرها

And Allah knows best.