Question
Reference number: 825536 | Clothing and Accessories Legislations | Aug. 5, 2020
What is the ruling on posting videos on YouTube in which my hands appear, without any accessories, as I am giving cooking classes?
Answer
Praise Be to Allah and Peace Be Upon His Messenger.
Referring to your questions, hands (palms) are not considered ‘Awrah. This is the opinion of the majority of Muslim scholars. In other words, it is the opinion of the four jurisprudence schools: Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi’i, and Hanbali. Some Hanbali scholars see that hands are considered to be ‘Awrah. Ibn Abed El-Barr says in his book At-Tamheed: “Scholars have no consensus regarding the interpretation of the noble verse: “And not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent.” An-Nur: 31 (The addressees here are Muslim women.) Thus, Ibn Abbas and Ibn Omar RAA narrated what is meant by “except only that which is apparent” is the face and the hands. Ibn Mas’ud interpreted that part of the verse as clothes. He meant that earrings, necklaces, anklets, and bracelets should not appear or be shown.
The scholars who see that the face and the hands are not considered ‘Awrah depend on the above-mentioned verse. At-Tabari says in Tafsir Al-Tabari: “The most authentic interpretation of the part of the verse: “And not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent.” is that the hands and the face are meant by “which is apparent”.
Therefore, the palm is not ‘Awrah according to the majority of scholars. However, we recommend that it would be much better if a woman does not intentionally show her hands on videos.