Is it permissible to sell, manufacture, and trade in short women's clothing on the grounds that a woman who wears the hijab might buy it and wear it at home rather than outside?

The questioner : Is it permissible, O Shaykh, to manufacture and trade in short women's clothing, on the grounds that, by Allah, a woman who wears the hijab might buy it, but only wear it at home, for example?

The Shaykh : This matter requires detail. First, one looks at what is the norm for this type of clothing; does the woman wear it as clothing—I am not saying inside the house or outside the house, I mean in the broadest sense—is it the woman's clothing in accordance with the Shari'ah, or is it not in accordance with the Shari'ah?

The questioner : The clothing itself is not in accordance with the Shari'ah.

The Shaykh : No, no; when it is worn as clothing, when it is worn, is it worn in a way that conforms to the Shari'ah or contradicts it? For example, I will give you an example: there are decorated fabrics that are not permissible to be made into a jilbab to go out in the street with, correct?

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : Because it is adornment. Now, there are other fabrics that are also decorated, but in the norm, the woman wears them inside the house and does not turn them into a jilbab or hijab. Do you see the picture now?

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : Yes, so I am now saying: what is of the second type is permissible to wear or sell; because it is permissible to wear it. As for what is of the first type, it is not permissible to sell it; because it is not permissible to wear it. And on that basis, you draw the analogy.
The Shaykh: Now you gave the example of short clothing, and you said that the woman wears it. The same rule should be applied. So now I am saying: this short clothing, the Muslim woman wears it in her house. Now, do you think this clothing is permissible in the house for more than the two spouses to be together, or is it not permissible? Now you give me the answer.

The questioner : The wife wears it for her husband.

The Shaykh : Only. Now, what is the norm? The short clothing, the woman wears it only for her husband—this is the point now; if the norm is that she wears it for her husband, we say: no problem. Or if it is not.

The questioner : The norm is not, O my Shaykh.

The Shaykh : That is it; so it is not permissible. You have understood the detail now.

The questioner : Yes, yes, that is it. May Allah bless you.

Another questioner : Another question, O Shaykh, on the same topic.

The Shaykh : Yes.