The Ruling on Women Wearing the Kab
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[The Ruling on Women Wearing the Kab]
What is the ruling on the kab, a garment well-known among women?The Shaykh: It is a garment well-known among women, but please explain it to us?The questioner: It resembles a tunic.
The Shaykh: Is it worn on the head or on the shoulders?The questioner: No.
From the shoulders to the feet.
The Shaykh: And the head and neck remain exposed?The questioner: And the neck and head remain exposed.
The Shaykh: Does it have another garment?The questioner: But it is exposed and distinct.
The principle is that there is nothing wrong with the kab; because it is a covering. However, I see that we should not open the door for women to imitate others. This only came to us when people came to us or we went to them. So, adopting the customs of others, which offer no beneficial advantage over our own customs, is a matter that keeps a person in a state of dependence and always a follower of others. As long as our garment, the abaya, is the most covering for a woman and the most cautious, let us stick to it; because this custom may lead to leniency regarding the kab,And in the other year she says: giving us the pants, and then in the third or fourth year, she will ask for short clothing and the "afandi" dress—as they call it—and the like. So, what I see is that we should prevent women from adopting these customs,And we say to them: What do you gain from this? If a woman wears the abaya, it becomes like the kab, but more covering, better, and more honorable for the person. A person taking pride in his customs that do not contradict the Shari'ah and not being a follower of others in adopting customs, this is what is required of a decisive person.
What is the ruling on the kab, a garment well-known among women?The Shaykh: It is a garment well-known among women, but please explain it to us?The questioner: It resembles a tunic.
The Shaykh: Is it worn on the head or on the shoulders?The questioner: No.
From the shoulders to the feet.
The Shaykh: And the head and neck remain exposed?The questioner: And the neck and head remain exposed.
The Shaykh: Does it have another garment?The questioner: But it is exposed and distinct.
The principle is that there is nothing wrong with the kab; because it is a covering. However, I see that we should not open the door for women to imitate others. This only came to us when people came to us or we went to them. So, adopting the customs of others, which offer no beneficial advantage over our own customs, is a matter that keeps a person in a state of dependence and always a follower of others. As long as our garment, the abaya, is the most covering for a woman and the most cautious, let us stick to it; because this custom may lead to leniency regarding the kab,And in the other year she says: giving us the pants, and then in the third or fourth year, she will ask for short clothing and the "afandi" dress—as they call it—and the like. So, what I see is that we should prevent women from adopting these customs,And we say to them: What do you gain from this? If a woman wears the abaya, it becomes like the kab, but more covering, better, and more honorable for the person. A person taking pride in his customs that do not contradict the Shari'ah and not being a follower of others in adopting customs, this is what is required of a decisive person.