Is a Muslim woman permitted to be in the bathhouse or reveal her face/head covering to a non-Muslim woman?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Marriage
Primary text
The prevailing opinion is that a Muslim woman is not required to veil her face or refrain from entering a bathhouse with a non-Muslim woman (Dhimmiyah). This is based on the evidence that non-believing women, including Jewish women, used to enter the households of the wives of the Prophet, peace be upon him, and the Prophet did not command a veil be placed upon them. Furthermore, Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, interacted with a Jewish woman who visited her, and Asma, may Allah be pleased with her, was permitted to maintain ties with her mother despite the mother's rejection of Islam. The legal reason (illah) for veiling between men and women is absent between Muslim women and non-Muslim women, similar to the ruling between a Muslim man and a non-Muslim man, meaning the restriction of veiling should not apply.
Supporting text
A narration from Imam Ahmad suggests that a Muslim woman should not uncover her head covering before a non-Muslim woman (Dhimmiyah) nor enter a bathhouse with her. This view is also attributed to Mak'hul and Sulayman ibn Musa, drawing support from the verse Quran 24:31 (regarding what women should show of their adornments), although the primary view considers this interpretation less sound.