The prevalence of loose-fitting, revealing dresses in women's wedding gatherings, such as exposing part of the chest and above, which is nakedness with nothing covering it; what is the ruling on this?
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The questioner : The question states: It has become widespread in women's wedding and marriage gatherings to wear dresses that make one recoil from seeing them. For example, a woman wears a dress that exposes part of her chest, and above that is nakedness with nothing on it, or nothing to cover it. What is the ruling on this, and what is my position if I see such attire?
The Shaykh : The ruling on this is prohibition, and it is not permissible for a woman to wear anything but loose, wide, and long garments. It is not lawful for her to wear tight clothing, nor to wear clothing that opens her chest such that some of her breasts might be exposed. It is not lawful for a woman to wear trousers, as trousers have begun to spread among women. This is permissible only if she is in the house with no one but her husband, and specifically with her husband, on the condition that these trousers are not cut in the style of men's trousers. If they are cut in the style of men's trousers, it becomes imitating men. And it is authentic that. I warn women against slipping into these clothes that lead to fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) or to imitating the women of the disbelievers. I say: Fear Allah in yourselves, fear Allah in your offspring, and fear Allah in your community, because when the punishment descends, it is not specific; it is comprehensive. We are now in this land, and praise be to Allah, in safety and prosperity. But will this safety and prosperity remain with the disobedience of Allah? No, by the One who revealed the Qur'an to Muhammad, because Allah said in His Noble Book: [An-Nahl 16:112] And Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, said: [Al-A'raf 7:97-99] The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) informed that two types of people of the Fire have not been seen yet: Sahih Muslim 2128 These tight, short, open, or thin clothes fall under the general meaning of his statement: as the scholars have explicitly stated. So I warn our sisters from these clothes, and I say: Follow the guidance of the righteous Salaf (the earliest generations). The women of the Companions (the Companions of the Prophet), as Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said: "In their homes, they wear tunics—meaning pieces of cloth—that cover from the wrist to the ankle". This is in the house. And when a woman goes out, many of you know the hadith of Umm Salama, where she sought permission from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) when he granted them permission to drag their hems. She sought permission for her hem, meaning the end of her garment, to reach the elbow, below the foot, in order to cover her leg.
So we ask Allah the Exalted to guide us and you to His straight path, and to grant our rulers success in what is good and righteous, and to grant the guardians of the homes, who are the men, success in good care of the women and children whom Allah has placed under their care.
And all praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions.
The questioner : May Allah reward our esteemed Shaykh and bless him, benefit us with his knowledge, and prolong his life in obedience to Allah.
The Shaykh : And you as well.
The questioner : And may He place his beneficial words in the scales of his good deeds, and may Allah send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions.
The Shaykh : The ruling on this is prohibition, and it is not permissible for a woman to wear anything but loose, wide, and long garments. It is not lawful for her to wear tight clothing, nor to wear clothing that opens her chest such that some of her breasts might be exposed. It is not lawful for a woman to wear trousers, as trousers have begun to spread among women. This is permissible only if she is in the house with no one but her husband, and specifically with her husband, on the condition that these trousers are not cut in the style of men's trousers. If they are cut in the style of men's trousers, it becomes imitating men. And it is authentic that
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him, and upon his family) cursed the women who imitate men.
لعن النبي صلى الله عليه وعلى وآله وسلم، المتشبهات من النساء بالرجالAnd Allah presents an example: a city which was safe and secure, its provision coming to it in abundance from every location, but it denied the favors of Allah. So Allah made it taste the envelopment of hunger and fear for what they had been doing.
وَضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلًا قَرْيَةً كَانَتْ آمِنَةً مُطْمَئِنَّةً يَأْتِيهَا رِزْقُهَا رَغَدًا مِنْ كُلِّ مَكَانٍ فَكَفَرَتْ بِأَنْعُمِ اللَّهِ فَأَذَاقَهَا اللَّهُ لِبَاسَ الْجُوعِ وَالْخَوْفِ بِمَا كَانُوا يَصْنَعُونَ(97) Then, did the people of the cities feel secure from Our punishment coming to them at night while they were asleep? (98) Or did the people of the cities feel secure from Our punishment coming to them in the morning while they were at play? (99) Then did they feel secure from the plan of Allah? But no one feels secure from the plan of Allah except the losing people.
أَفَأَمِنَ أَهْلُ الْقُرَى أَنْ يَأْتِيَهُمْ بَأْسُنَا بَيَاتًا وَهُمْ نَائِمُونَ أَوَأَمِنَ أَهْلُ الْقُرَى أَنْ يَأْتِيَهُمْ بَأْسُنَا ضُحًى وَهُمْ يَلْعَبُونَ أَفَأَمِنُوا مَكْرَ اللَّهِ فَلَا يَأْمَنُ مَكْرَ اللَّهِ إِلَّا الْقَوْمُ الْخَاسِرُونَpeople having flogs like the tails of the ox with them and they would be beating people, and the women who would be dressed but appear to be naked, who would be inclined (to evil) and make their husbands incline towards it. Their heads would be like the humps of the bukht camel inclined to one side. They will not enter Paradise and they would not smell its odour whereas its odour would be smelt from such and such distance.
قوم معهم سياط كأذناب البقر يضربون بها الناس، ونساء كاسيات عاريات مميلات مائلات رءوسهن كأسنمة البخت المائلة، لا يدخلن الجنة، ولا يجدن ريحها، وإن ريحها ليوجد من مسافة كذا وكذاclothed yet naked
كاسيات عارياتSo we ask Allah the Exalted to guide us and you to His straight path, and to grant our rulers success in what is good and righteous, and to grant the guardians of the homes, who are the men, success in good care of the women and children whom Allah has placed under their care.
And all praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions.
The questioner : May Allah reward our esteemed Shaykh and bless him, benefit us with his knowledge, and prolong his life in obedience to Allah.
The Shaykh : And you as well.
The questioner : And may He place his beneficial words in the scales of his good deeds, and may Allah send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions.