Is it permissible to uncover one's hair in front of the Christian mother of one's sister's husband? And is it permissible for a paternal cousin who works in a European restaurant that serves alcohol and pork to propose to a girl? And is his money unlawful?

Scholars have differed regarding the definition of the Muslim woman's awrah (intimate parts) in front of a non-Muslim woman. Some hold that it is not permissible for a non-Muslim woman to see anything of a Muslim woman except her face and hands. Others hold that it is permissible to see what is normally exposed during work. Still others hold that the ruling for a non-Muslim woman is the same as for a Muslim woman.

The preponderant opinion is that it is not permissible to expose anything other than the face and hands in front of a non-Muslim woman, based on the verse: "And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests and not expose their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, their brothers' sons, their sisters' sons, their [Muslim] women, that which their right hands possess, or those male attendants having no physical desire, or children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of women. And let them not stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment. And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed." (An-Nur: 31). The prohibition is further emphasized if there is a fear that the non-Muslim woman might describe the Muslim woman to strange men.

The presence of alcohol and pork in European restaurants is common. A Muslim woman should not accept marriage to someone who works in places that deal with unlawful things, as long as he insists on that work, in order to preserve her religion and the purity of her sustenance, based on the Prophet's (peace be upon him) saying: "If someone whose religion and character you are pleased with comes to you, then marry him [to your daughter]..." (Hadith).

What results from the unlawful is unlawful, and what results from the lawful is lawful. So, if your cousin works in selling alcohol and pork, his money is unlawful. If he works in lawful things, his money is lawful. And if he works in both, his money is mixed.