what is awrah

In Islam, the term awrah refers to the intimate parts of the body that should be covered with clothing. The awrah of a woman in front of her mahrams, such as her father, brother, and nephew, is her entire body except for that which usually appears, such as the face, hair, neck, forearms, and feet. The awrah of a woman in front of other women is the area between the navel and the knee, whether the woman is her mother, sister, or not her mahram. It is not permissible for a woman to look at the area between the navel and the knee of another woman, except in cases of necessity such as medical treatment and the like. The awrah of a woman in front of non-Muslim women is a point of debate. Some scholars say that women should cover all but the hands and face, while according to the most preferred opinion, a Muslim woman can reveal in front of a non-Muslim woman as much as she would in front of other Muslim women. The awrah of a man is from the navel to the knee.