His saying, Most High, “or their womenfolk,” means that a woman may look at another woman’s body, except for what lies between the navel and the knee, just as a male mahram may. This applies when the other woman is Muslim. But if she is a disbelieving woman, may a Muslim woman uncover herself before her? The scholars differed on this. Some said that it is permissible, just as it is permissible for her to uncover herself before a Muslim woman, since she is among women. Others said that it is not permissible, because Allah, Most High, says, “or their womenfolk,” and a disbelieving woman is not among our women; moreover, she is religiously an outsider, and thus more distant than an unrelated man. Umar ibn al-Khattab wrote to Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah, instructing him to prevent women of the People of the Book from entering the bathhouse with Muslim women. (1)

His saying, Most High, “or those whom their right hands possess”: the scholars differed concerning this. Some held that a woman’s male slave is deemed a mahram to her. Thus, if he is chaste, he may enter upon her and look at his mistress’s body, except for what lies between the navel and the knee, just as mahrams may. This is the apparent meaning of the Quran. This view was related from Aishah and Umm Salamah. Thabit narrated from Anas that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, brought Fatimah a male slave whom he had given to her. Fatimah was wearing a garment which, if she used it to cover her head, did not reach her feet, and if she covered her feet with it, did not reach her head. When the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, saw the difficulty she faced, he said: “There is no blame upon you; he is only your father and your slave.” (2)

Others said that he is like an unrelated man in relation to her. This was the view of Said ibn al-Musayyib, who said that what is meant by the verse is female slaves, not male slaves. Ibn Jurayj said regarding “or their womenfolk, or those whom their right hands possess” that it is not lawful for a Muslim woman to uncover herself in the presence of a polytheist woman, unless that polytheist woman is her slave.

His saying, Most High, “or male attendants having no physical desire”: Abu Jafar, Ibn Amir, and Abu Bakr recited “other than” in the accusative, by way of syntactic disjunction, because “attendants” is definite whereas “other than” is indefinite. It was also said that it means “except,” thus constituting an exception. Its meaning is: they may display their adornment before male attendants, except those among them who possess sexual desire; for they may not display their adornment before any among them who possesses such desire. The others recited it in the genitive, as an adjective qualifying “attendants.” Both “physical desire” and “need” mean need.

What is meant by “male attendants having no physical desire” are those who follow people in order to receive some of the leftovers of their food, having no concern except that and no desire for women. This was the view of Mujahid, Ikrimah, and al-Shabi. Ibn Abbas said that it refers to a foolish, impotent man. Al-Hasan said: he is one who has no erection, is unable to have intercourse with women, and does not desire them. Said ibn Jubayr said: he is one who is mentally deficient. Ikrimah said: he is an emasculated man. It was also said that he is an effeminate man. Muqatil said: he is a decrepit old man, an impotent man, a castrated man, an emasculated man, and the like.