Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a Senior Lecturer and Islamic Scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states the following: “Islamic rules of covering for women are intended to safeguard and preserve the honour and dignity of women. Rules of covering vary according to whether the degree of risk of temptation is greater or lesser; where such risks of temptation are greater, rules of covering are stricter, and where the risk is minimal, rules are minimal. Rules of covering are, therefore, stricter in the presence of males who are strangers (who are not related to the woman by blood, marriage or milk-relationship). All scholars agree that the woman must cover her entire body except her face and hands. As for males who are considered maharim (those who are related to the woman through blood, marriage or milk-relationship, and whom she can never marry) all scholars agree that she does not need to observe the above strict rules of covering; rather all of them agree that she is allowed to uncover her hair, face, hands, neck, feet and shoulders in front of such relations. But regarding what she must cover in the presence of women, some scholars make a distinction between Muslim women and non-Muslim as regards the degree of covering. There is general agreement among scholars that she may uncover her hair, face, hands, neck, shoulders, legs from below her knees as well as feet in front of Muslim women.
Concerning what she must cover in the presence of non-Muslim women, broadly speaking, there are two views. One may be considered very liberal while the other may be considered very strict. Both scholars of the Maliki and the Hanbali schools generally consider only what is between the navel and the knee as the `awrah that a woman must cover in front of other women, regardless of whether they are Muslims or non-Muslims.
As opposed to the above view, both the Hanafi and the Shaf`i scholars consider it obligatory for her to cover her entire body except what is normally exposed in ordinary course of daily interaction and domestic work. They consider it a must for her to cover all her body except her face, hands and feet.
The above difference of opinion is based on the differences in interpreting the Qur’anic verse concerning rules of covering in which Allah Almighty says: “And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest, and to display of their adornment only that which is apparent, and to draw their veils over their bosoms, and not to reveal their adornment save to their own husbands or fathers or husbands’ fathers, or their sons or their husbands’ sons, or their brothers or their brothers’ sons or sisters’ sons, or their women, or their slaves, or male attendants who lack vigour, or children who know naught of women’s nakedness. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And turn unto Allah together, O believers, in order that ye may succeed.” (An-Nur :31)
According to the scholars of both the Maliki and the Hanbali schools, the phrase “their women” includes all women including non-Muslims, while the scholars of both the Hanafi and the Shaf`i schools say rather it specifically distinguishes Muslim women from others, and, therefore, she must observe stricter rules of covering when appearing before non-Muslim women as opposed to Muslim women.
The last mentioned view that a Muslim woman is absolutely obliged to cover her entire body except her face, hands, and feet in presence of non-Muslim women seems to be a little extreme. We find no evidence in the sources to support such a conclusion. There are numerous instances of non-Muslim women, from both Jewish and pagan backgrounds, visiting the wives of the Prophet (peace be upon him), as well as other Muslim women, and yet, there is no mention anywhere that the Prophet (peace be upon him) ever ordered them to observe special rules of covering in their presence. If it had been necessary for them to do so, it is most unlikely that the Prophet (peace be upon him) would have failed to mention it to them plainly and clearly.

Therefore, the view of Maliki and Hanbali schools on this issue seems to be more consistent with the evidences of the sources, as well as the general spirit of the Shari`ah. However, it must be stated clearly: All scholars agree that while normal laws apply in normal circumstances, where there is a suspicion of seduction or temptation or inclination towards vices either due to corruption of society or moral perversion, Muslim women are obliged to take all necessary precautions and thus cover appropriately in order to safeguard their honour, dignity and chastity.”