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 in her home, not outside?
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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 she would wear it in her home, for example?
The Shaykh : This issue requires detail. First, one must look at what is the norm for this type of clothing: does the woman wear it as clothing inside the house or outside the house? I mean, what is the broader scope: is it the woman's clothing that is 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 does it contradict it? For example, let me give you an example. There are decorated fabrics that it is not permissible to use as a jilbab to go out in the street, correct?
The questioner : Yes
The Shaykh : Because it is adornment. But 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 : So, I am now saying that what is of the second type is permissible to wear or sell, because it is permissible to wear it. But what is of the first type is not permissible to sell, because it is not permissible to wear it. And by this, you should judge other cases.
Now, you gave the example of short clothing and said that the woman wears it. The same rule should be applied. So, I am now saying: this short clothing, does the Muslim woman wear it in her home? Well, is this clothing permissible in the house for more than the two spouses, some of them with each other, or is it not permissible? Now, you give me the answer.
The questioner : The wife wears it for her husband.
The Shaykh : Only. Well, what is the norm? Does the woman wear the short clothing only for her husband? Here... if the norm is that she wears it for her husband, we say... or if it is not?
The questioner : The norm is not...
The Shaykh : This is it. So, it is not permissible. You have understood the detail now.
The questioner : Yes, yes, this is it. May Allah reward you.
Another questioner: Another question, O Shaykh, on the same topic.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The Shaykh : This issue requires detail. First, one must look at what is the norm for this type of clothing: does the woman wear it as clothing inside the house or outside the house? I mean, what is the broader scope: is it the woman's clothing that is 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 does it contradict it? For example, let me give you an example. There are decorated fabrics that it is not permissible to use as a jilbab to go out in the street, correct?
The questioner : Yes
The Shaykh : Because it is adornment. But 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 : So, I am now saying that what is of the second type is permissible to wear or sell, because it is permissible to wear it. But what is of the first type is not permissible to sell, because it is not permissible to wear it. And by this, you should judge other cases.
Now, you gave the example of short clothing and said that the woman wears it. The same rule should be applied. So, I am now saying: this short clothing, does the Muslim woman wear it in her home? Well, is this clothing permissible in the house for more than the two spouses, some of them with each other, or is it not permissible? Now, you give me the answer.
The questioner : The wife wears it for her husband.
The Shaykh : Only. Well, what is the norm? Does the woman wear the short clothing only for her husband? Here... if the norm is that she wears it for her husband, we say... or if it is not?
The questioner : The norm is not...
The Shaykh : This is it. So, it is not permissible. You have understood the detail now.
The questioner : Yes, yes, this is it. May Allah reward you.
Another questioner: Another question, O Shaykh, on the same topic.
The Shaykh : Yes.