Q 1: Is it permissible for a woman to wear tight clothes that embody her back, breasts and waist, and reveal her arms and neck in front of other women and her Mahrams (spouse or unmarriageable relatives)? Is it permissible to wear tight clothes in front of women relatives only or other Muslim women? (Part No. 24; Page No. 35

A: This question consists of two points:First, concerning the tight clothes of women that define their body. It is known in the rules of Shari`ah (Islamic law) that a Muslim woman's clothes must be loose, not tight, to achieve the purpose of wearing clothes, which is concealing the body from Ajanib (men other than a husband or permanently unmarriageable male relatives) and preventing Fitnah (temptation). Wearing tight clothes does not achieve these purposes, as they define the shape of the body. Thus, the purpose of concealing the body is not achieved. It might even lead to greater Fitnah.Thus, it is prohibited for a Muslim woman to wear tight clothes in front of her Mahrams, except her husband. It is impermissible also in front of other women if it embodies the area between the navel and the knee, such as trousers, or even if it covers all her body but causes Fitnah among the women.The second point is about what is permissible for a Muslim woman to reveal in front of her Mahrams other than her husband. It is her face, her hands, her ankles, her earrings, her necklace, her head and her feet.