3/17. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 338a — Protecting the Awrah
The prohibition of looking at `awrah
Hadith About Awrah: Respecting Private Boundaries
Sahih Muslim : 338a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 338a
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا زَيْدُ بْنُ الْحُبَابِ، عَنِ الضَّحَّاكِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي زَيْدُ بْنُ أَسْلَمَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لاَ يَنْظُرُ الرَّجُلُ إِلَى عَوْرَةِ الرَّجُلِ وَلاَ الْمَرْأَةُ إِلَى عَوْرَةِ الْمَرْأَةِ وَلاَ يُفْضِي الرَّجُلُ إِلَى الرَّجُلِ فِي ثَوْبٍ وَاحِدٍ وَلاَ تُفْضِي الْمَرْأَةُ إِلَى الْمَرْأَةِ فِي الثَّوْبِ الْوَاحِدِ " .
Abd al-Rahman, the son of Abu Sa'id al-Khudri, reported from his father: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: A man should not see the private parts of another man, and a woman should not see the private parts of another woman, and a man should not lie with another man under one covering, and a woman should not lie with another woman under one covering.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 338aIn-book reference : Book 3, Hadith 90USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 3, Hadith 667
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 338a
This hadith about awrah gives direct guidance on private boundaries. The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said that a man should not look at the private parts of another man, and a woman should not look at the private parts of another woman. The hadith also says that a man should not lie with another man under one covering, and a woman should not lie with another woman under one covering. The message is clear and practical: the body has privacy, and people should respect that privacy even with those of the same gender. For searches like awrah hadith, private parts in Islam, and modesty hadith, this narration is a direct source. It does not discuss every detail of dress or law, so the explanation should stay with its plain wording.
What we learn from this hadith
- A person should not look at another person’s private parts.
- The hadith gives separate guidance for men and women.
- Sharing one covering in a way that removes proper boundaries is forbidden here.
- Modesty includes respecting the privacy of others.
