What is the wisdom behind the absence of worldly punishment in Islamic Sharia for the woman who displays herself immodestly (mutabarrijah) or the man who exposes his 'awrah, despite the knowledge that these actions are forbidden?
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, mentioned punishments for women who display their adornments (mutabarrijat), stating that they will be among those most severely punished on the Day of Judgment, and that they are cursed, neither entering Paradise nor smelling its fragrance. This is as stated in the hadith: "Two types of the people of Hell I have not seen: ...and women who are dressed yet naked, inclining [to evil] and inclined [to evil], their heads like the humps of swaying camels. They will not enter Paradise nor smell its fragrance..." And in another hadith: "Three types of people should not be asked about: ...and a woman whose husband is absent and has provided for her needs in this world, yet she displays her adornments and becomes defiant after him..."
And in the hadith: "There will be in the last of my Ummah men who ride on saddles like the شبه of burdens, dismounting at the doors of mosques. Their women will be dressed yet naked, their heads like the humps of lean camels. Curse them, for they are cursed..."
As for the punishment for displaying adornments (tabarruj) in this world, there is no known prescribed limit for it. However, it is legislated for the Muslim ruler to discipline women who display their adornments and are naked with a punishment not exceeding ten lashes, based on the saying of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him: "No one is to be flogged more than ten lashes except in a hadd [prescribed] punishment from the Haddud of Allah Almighty."
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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