The Danger of Women Wearing the Cape
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O esteemed Shaykh! Regarding the cape, tight styles have now appeared. It is merely a tight garment for women, and strange shapes have started to emerge from it. What is the ruling on its permissibility?
Yes, if the cape that has appeared now is tight, it falls under the hadith: (Women who are clothed yet naked); because the tightness that outlines the parts of the body is not permissible for a woman.
And the truth is that we, students of knowledge, should warn against following customs that do not bring us good. Why do we not take pride in our customs? If a woman from among us goes to their lands, for example, and is wearing the abaya, do they follow our example? Do they wear abayas? I do not think so. How do we submit to their customs when they are careful not to submit to our customs? Then, if the customs are beneficial, yes, the believer seeks benefit, provided it is not in disobedience to Allah. Furthermore, the humiliation of a person before the customs of people necessitates that he humiliate himself. For this reason, Ibn Khaldun mentioned in his Introduction,He said: that among the customs is that no one submits to following another unless he feels that he is less than him.
This is the Sunnah of Allah, that the weak follows the strong. So let us be strong.
The questioner: Is wearing the cape not considered a step toward tabarruj (display of adornment), given that some of the women who wear the cape now were ashamed of it at first, but then it became normal?The Shaykh: There is no doubt—may Allah reward you—that every departure from the customary is a step toward tabarruj. Do not be deceived by the present outward appearance; it is all a step toward tabarruj. For example, when she first wears the cape and walks in the market, it is as if she is naked, because she is not accustomed to this thing. Then, after that, this feeling softens in her heart, it softens and softens, and then her level rises to what is above.
And may Allah send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions.
Yes, if the cape that has appeared now is tight, it falls under the hadith: (Women who are clothed yet naked); because the tightness that outlines the parts of the body is not permissible for a woman.
And the truth is that we, students of knowledge, should warn against following customs that do not bring us good. Why do we not take pride in our customs? If a woman from among us goes to their lands, for example, and is wearing the abaya, do they follow our example? Do they wear abayas? I do not think so. How do we submit to their customs when they are careful not to submit to our customs? Then, if the customs are beneficial, yes, the believer seeks benefit, provided it is not in disobedience to Allah. Furthermore, the humiliation of a person before the customs of people necessitates that he humiliate himself. For this reason, Ibn Khaldun mentioned in his Introduction,He said: that among the customs is that no one submits to following another unless he feels that he is less than him.
This is the Sunnah of Allah, that the weak follows the strong. So let us be strong.
The questioner: Is wearing the cape not considered a step toward tabarruj (display of adornment), given that some of the women who wear the cape now were ashamed of it at first, but then it became normal?The Shaykh: There is no doubt—may Allah reward you—that every departure from the customary is a step toward tabarruj. Do not be deceived by the present outward appearance; it is all a step toward tabarruj. For example, when she first wears the cape and walks in the market, it is as if she is naked, because she is not accustomed to this thing. Then, after that, this feeling softens in her heart, it softens and softens, and then her level rises to what is above.
And may Allah send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions.