Fashion Clothing and Its Impact on Society
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Fatwa No. ( 17578 )
Q: Recently, what is called ( fashion ) in clothing and models has appeared, particularly for women. Although this affliction existed before, it has become rampant in our days. In fact, women have rushed strongly to wear these models, which contain many defects. We mention, by way of example and not limitation: 1. The boasting and showing off that occurs among women by wearing these models, as every woman finds herself doing the impossible to obtain the clothing that distinguishes her from others, so that she may boast with it before women at occasions. The ruling on this boasting in clothing is not hidden from your Eminence. 2. The extravagance and waste that occurs behind these fashions and models. It is observed that most women who tailor these models spend vast sums of money without limit. Ask about it, O Shaykh; a single dress may reach three thousand, four thousand, or five thousand, and we have heard, by Allah, of more than that. Then, after the dress is worn and boasted about at one or two parties, you find that this dress is retired early and not worn at all, until its inevitable fate arrives. We observe, O Shaykh, that the extravagance and waste here occur from two sides: First, the exaggeration in making or buying it for the sake of boasting and keeping up with fashion. Second, not consuming or wearing it except a little (one or two or three occasions). The state of those who are obligated to provide for their women, such as husbands and guardians like fathers and brothers, is not hidden from your Eminence, as they are among those who do not
It encompasses many defects, and we mention the following by way of example, not exhaustive: 1. The boasting and pride that occurs among women in wearing these models, for every woman finds herself doing the impossible to obtain the garment that distinguishes her from the others, so that she may boast with it before women at occasions. The ruling on this boasting in clothing is not hidden from your eminence. 2. The extravagance and waste that occurs on account of these fashions and models. It is observed that most of the women who have these models tailored spend vast sums of money without limit. Ask about it, O Shaykh; a single dress may reach three thousand, four thousand, or five thousand, and we have heard, by Allah, of more than that. Then, after the dress is worn and boasted about at one or two parties, you find that this dress is retired early and not worn at all, until its inevitable fate arrives. We observe, O eminent Shaykh, that the extravagance and waste here occur from two sides: first, the exorbitance in making or buying it for the sake of boasting and keeping up with the fashion; second, not consuming or wearing it except a little (one or two or three occasions). The state of those who are obligated to provide for their women, such as husbands and guardians like fathers and brothers and others, who do not
have the ability to provide for these necessities, which usually break the back of the salary and pension, is not hidden from you. O eminent Grand Mufti: Based on these two points I mentioned to you just now, is it permissible to give my wife whatever she wants of money to achieve her desire for tailoring in the manner I described? And does sin attach to me if I prevent her from that, knowing that my salary is slightly more than eight thousand and a half? We also ask your eminence to clarify the ruling on women wearing clothes in the manner I mentioned in the introduction of this letter.
A: Allah the Exalted forbade extravagance and the squandering of wealth. He the Exalted said:[Al-A'raf 7:31] And He the Exalted said: [Al-Isra 17:26-27] And He the Exalted commanded spending in the prescribed manner without squandering or stinginess. He the Exalted said: [Al-Isra 17:29] And He the Exalted commanded the preservation of wealth from the hands of the foolish. He the Exalted said: [An-Nisa 4:5]
And the foolish (sufaha') is the plural of the foolish (safi), which is: everyone who does not have a mind sufficient to preserve wealth. Whoever intends to buy and tailor expensive clothes to wear them a little and then throw them away or sell them for a low price is among the foolish mentioned in the verse. And Allah the Exalted commanded us not to give the foolish their wealth, which is their wealth, so what is not theirs is even more so. The obligatory is the obligatory maintenance without squandering or stinginess. And if the foolish person asks for maintenance in the manner mentioned in the question, it is not permissible to obey him. And in leaving off wearing what was mentioned in the question and the like, there is great virtue in humility for Allah the Exalted while having the ability to do so. From Mu'adh ibn Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2481Hasan (Darussalam) It was narrated by al-Tirmidhi and he said: A good hadith.
And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: Recently, what is called ( fashion ) in clothing and models has appeared, particularly for women. Although this affliction existed before, it has become rampant in our days. In fact, women have rushed strongly to wear these models, which contain many defects. We mention, by way of example and not limitation: 1. The boasting and showing off that occurs among women by wearing these models, as every woman finds herself doing the impossible to obtain the clothing that distinguishes her from others, so that she may boast with it before women at occasions. The ruling on this boasting in clothing is not hidden from your Eminence. 2. The extravagance and waste that occurs behind these fashions and models. It is observed that most women who tailor these models spend vast sums of money without limit. Ask about it, O Shaykh; a single dress may reach three thousand, four thousand, or five thousand, and we have heard, by Allah, of more than that. Then, after the dress is worn and boasted about at one or two parties, you find that this dress is retired early and not worn at all, until its inevitable fate arrives. We observe, O Shaykh, that the extravagance and waste here occur from two sides: First, the exaggeration in making or buying it for the sake of boasting and keeping up with fashion. Second, not consuming or wearing it except a little (one or two or three occasions). The state of those who are obligated to provide for their women, such as husbands and guardians like fathers and brothers, is not hidden from your Eminence, as they are among those who do not
It encompasses many defects, and we mention the following by way of example, not exhaustive: 1. The boasting and pride that occurs among women in wearing these models, for every woman finds herself doing the impossible to obtain the garment that distinguishes her from the others, so that she may boast with it before women at occasions. The ruling on this boasting in clothing is not hidden from your eminence. 2. The extravagance and waste that occurs on account of these fashions and models. It is observed that most of the women who have these models tailored spend vast sums of money without limit. Ask about it, O Shaykh; a single dress may reach three thousand, four thousand, or five thousand, and we have heard, by Allah, of more than that. Then, after the dress is worn and boasted about at one or two parties, you find that this dress is retired early and not worn at all, until its inevitable fate arrives. We observe, O eminent Shaykh, that the extravagance and waste here occur from two sides: first, the exorbitance in making or buying it for the sake of boasting and keeping up with the fashion; second, not consuming or wearing it except a little (one or two or three occasions). The state of those who are obligated to provide for their women, such as husbands and guardians like fathers and brothers and others, who do not
have the ability to provide for these necessities, which usually break the back of the salary and pension, is not hidden from you. O eminent Grand Mufti: Based on these two points I mentioned to you just now, is it permissible to give my wife whatever she wants of money to achieve her desire for tailoring in the manner I described? And does sin attach to me if I prevent her from that, knowing that my salary is slightly more than eight thousand and a half? We also ask your eminence to clarify the ruling on women wearing clothes in the manner I mentioned in the introduction of this letter.
A: Allah the Exalted forbade extravagance and the squandering of wealth. He the Exalted said:
and eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess.
وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا وَلاَ تُسْرِفُوا إِنَّهُ لاَ يُحِبُّ الْمُسْرِفِينَand do not spend wastefully. (27) Indeed, the wasteful are brothers of the devils, and ever has Satan been to his Lord ungrateful.
وَلاَ تُبَذِّرْ تَبْذِيرًا (26) إِنَّ الْمُبَذِّرِينَ كَانُوا إِخْوَانَ الشَّيَاطِينِ وَكَانَ الشَّيْطَانُ لِرَبِّهِ كَفُورًاAnd do not make your hand [as] chained to your neck or extend it completely and [thereby] become blamed and insolvent.
وَلاَ تَجْعَلْ يَدَكَ مَغْلُولَةً إِلَى عُنُقِكَ وَلاَ تَبْسُطْهَا كُلَّ الْبَسْطِ فَتَقْعُدَ مَلُومًا مَحْسُورًاAnd do not give the weak-minded your property, which Allah has made a means of sustenance for you, but provide for them with it and clothe them and speak to them words of appropriate kindness.
وَلاَ تُؤْتُوا السُّفَهَاءَ أَمْوَالَكُمُ الَّتِي جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ قِيَامًا وَارْزُقُوهُمْ فِيهَا وَاكْسُوهُمْ وَقُولُوا لَهُمْ قَوْلا مَعْرُوفًاAnd the foolish (sufaha') is the plural of the foolish (safi), which is: everyone who does not have a mind sufficient to preserve wealth. Whoever intends to buy and tailor expensive clothes to wear them a little and then throw them away or sell them for a low price is among the foolish mentioned in the verse. And Allah the Exalted commanded us not to give the foolish their wealth, which is their wealth, so what is not theirs is even more so. The obligatory is the obligatory maintenance without squandering or stinginess. And if the foolish person asks for maintenance in the manner mentioned in the question, it is not permissible to obey him. And in leaving off wearing what was mentioned in the question and the like, there is great virtue in humility for Allah the Exalted while having the ability to do so. From Mu'adh ibn Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
"Whoever leaves(valuable) dress out of humility to Allah while he is able to (afford it), Allah will call him before the heads of creation on the Day of Judgement so that he can chose whichever Hulal of faith he wishes to wear."
من ترك اللباس تواضعًا لله وهو يقدر عليه دعاه الله يوم القيامة على رؤوس الخلائق حتى يخيره من أي حلل الإيمان شاء يلبسهاAnd success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.