Short answer
On the view in the Hanafi fatwa texts, yes: the Quran lets a woman show her adornment to "their women", which many jurists read as Muslim women, so a non-Muslim woman is treated like a non-mahram man. Many scholars read "their women" as women in general and allow the same as with Muslim women, and many allow ease with close non-Muslim relatives.
The view in al-Durr al-Mukhtar and its commentaries is that a non-Muslim woman is like a non-mahram man, so a Muslim woman covers before her all but the face and hands. Where there is real need, such as a convert living with her non-Muslim mother and sisters, many contemporary Hanafi scholars allow leeway.
Other madhhabs
- Hanbali
- The relied-upon view is that a non-Muslim woman is like a Muslim woman, so she may see what other women see.
Explanation
Among the people a woman may show her adornment to, 24:31 lists nisa'ihinna: their women. The question is whether "their" means women in general or Muslim women. Many early commentators took it to mean Muslim women, since a non-Muslim woman might describe a Muslim woman's body to men. Others said it means the women they keep company with, of any faith.
The Hanafi fatwa texts follow the first reading: a non-Muslim woman is like a non-mahram man in what she may see. The Hanbali school follows the second. The Prophet ﷺ forbade a woman from being in close contact with another woman and then describing her to her husband as if he were looking at her, which is the concern behind the first reading.
In practice:
- Converts with non-Muslim mothers and sisters: many scholars allow uncovering the hair before close female relatives, especially where covering would cause real hardship. Ask a mufti about your home.
- Trusted friends: some scholars note that the reason given, describing a woman to men, does not apply to a trustworthy friend, and allow more on that basis.
- Gym changing rooms, salons and pools: keep covered what you can; the area from navel to knee is never shown to anyone.
- Doctors and nurses: necessity allows what treatment requires.
Whichever view you follow, be kind: non-Muslim women in your life are not being accused of anything, and the ruling is about caution, not suspicion. See awrah for men and women and who is a mahram.
Ask a mufti about your own case. This answer explains the general ruling. When the details of your situation matter, as they do here, ask a qualified mufti and give them the full facts. Where to ask a scholar.
The evidence
Quran, Surah An-Noor 24:31
وَقُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنَٰتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَٰرِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا ۖ وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَىٰ جُيُوبِهِنَّ ۖ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ ءَابَآئِهِنَّ أَوْ ءَابَآءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَآئِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَآءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ إِخْوَٰنِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِىٓ إِخْوَٰنِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِىٓ أَخَوَٰتِهِنَّ أَوْ نِسَآئِهِنَّ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَٰنُهُنَّ أَوِ ٱلتَّٰبِعِينَ غَيْرِ أُو۟لِى ٱلْإِرْبَةِ مِنَ ٱلرِّجَالِ أَوِ ٱلطِّفْلِ ٱلَّذِينَ لَمْ يَظْهَرُوا۟ عَلَىٰ عَوْرَٰتِ ٱلنِّسَآءِ ۖ وَلَا يَضْرِبْنَ بِأَرْجُلِهِنَّ لِيُعْلَمَ مَا يُخْفِينَ مِن زِينَتِهِنَّ ۚ وَتُوبُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ ﴿٣١﴾
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 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.
The phrase "their women" is the basis of the question.
Sahih al-Bukhari 5240
Sahih... لا تباشر المرأة المرأة فتنعتها لزوجها ...
"A woman should not be in close contact with another woman and then describe her to her husband as if he were looking at her."
The concern behind covering before women who might describe her to men.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Durr al-Mukhtar, Kitab al-Hazr wa al-Ibahah, chapter on looking and touching. A non-Muslim woman is like a non-mahram man on the more correct view.
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Hazr wa al-Ibahah, chapter on looking and touching. Explains the reading of "their women" as Muslim women.
- Kashshaf al-Qina', Kitab al-Nikah, chapter on looking. Hanbali: a non-Muslim woman may see what a Muslim woman sees.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.