and, according to Abū Ḥanīfah, they may likewise be exposed, and this is the stronger opinion, for ʿĀʾishah counted the foot among the outward adornment. Commenting on the verse
“and let them not display their adornment except that which is apparent of it” 1 (Qur’an 24:31),
she said: “al-fatkh,” meaning rings of silver worn on the toes of the feet.2 Ibn Abī Ḥātim related this, and it proves that at first women used to show their feet just as they showed their faces and hands. They would let their hems hang low, so when a woman walked her foot might become visible, and they did not normally walk in leather socks (khuff) or shoes. Requiring the feet to be covered in the prayer would therefore impose great hardship.

Umm Salamah said, “A woman should pray in a full-length garment that covers the tops of her feet,”3 yet when she prostrates the soles of her feet are likely to be seen.

In summary, the textual evidence and the consensus confirm that a woman praying in her own home is not obliged to wear the jilbāb (outer cloak) that conceals her when she goes outdoors. Thus she may pray inside even if her face, hands, and feet are visible, just as women originally did before they were commanded to draw their jilbābs over themselves. The body parts that must be covered in prayer are therefore not tied to those that must be covered from the gaze of others—neither directly nor by converse reasoning.

And when Ibn Masʿūd (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “The outward adornment is …”