Several hadiths have been reported regarding the dress of the Muslim woman in the era of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and they have become confusing to us.
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The questioner : Several hadiths have been reported regarding the dress of the Muslim woman in the era of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and they have become confusing to us. I ask the honorable Shaykh to clarify how the committed woman should dress in the present time, and we want this clarification regarding all garments in this era. May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. Before answering this question, I would like to mention a useful rule in this matter, which is that the original ruling regarding clothing is permissibility and lawfulness until evidence establishes prohibition. This is based on the saying of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He:[Al-A'raf 7:26] and His saying, the Exalted: [Al-A'raf 7:32] So this rule is obligatory for us to base the ruling on what men and women wear upon. We say: the original ruling in that is permissibility until evidence establishes prohibition.
Among the things for which evidence has come regarding their prohibition is that a woman wears clothing specific to men, or a man wears clothing specific to women, because this falls under the category of imitation. It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sunan Abi Dawud 4097Sahih (Al-Albani) This is the first point.
Second, among the things for which prohibition has been reported is imitating the disbelievers, meaning that a man wears clothing specific to the disbelievers that no one else wears, or a woman wears clothing specific to the disbelieving women that no one else wears. If so, this is forbidden and not permissible, because imitating the disbelievers is forbidden, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sunan Abi Dawud 4031Hasan Sahih (Al-Albani) And because imitating a people leads to respecting them outwardly and their pride in their traditions and what they are upon. The scholars said: And because imitating them outwardly may lead to imitating them inwardly in creed and morals, and by this the Muslim is destroyed and stripped of the outward and inward attributes of his religion.
Third, among the things forbidden to wear is that a man wears gold, whether rings, necklaces, bracelets, or otherwise, because it is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he forbade gold for men, to the extent that he said to a man he saw wearing a gold ring:Sahih Muslim 2090 or he said: Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) removed it from the man's finger and threw it away.
As for women, they may wear from the jewelry what is customary, whether gold, silver, or otherwise, on the condition that it does not contain anything forbidden.
And among the forbidden things, which is the fifth, is that a person wears something that has an image on it, whether clothes, shirts, head coverings, trousers, or otherwise.
Likewise, what some women do of wearing jewelry made of gold or other materials in the shape of an animal, a snake, a butterfly, or the like, is forbidden. This is because the angels do not enter a house in which there is an image, and a person carrying an image in his clothing is among the greatest things that drives the angels away from entering the house. There is no difference in this between children and adults, according to the stronger opinion. The Hanbali jurists mentioned an important rule in this matter, which is that it is forbidden to dress a boy in what is forbidden for an adult.
And among that, meaning among the forbidden clothing, is that a person wears something that does not cover his 'awrah, as some men do, where they wear light clothes under which are trousers that do not cover what is between the navel and the knee, and then they pray in them. This is forbidden clothing that does not cover and is not sufficient in prayer.
Likewise, some women wear clothes that are short, tight, or light, through which the skin is seen, and through which the size of the body is seen in the tightness, as if the garment was tailored to fit it tightly. This is forbidden for the woman, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih Muslim 2128.
The best for the woman's clothing is that it covers from the fingertips of the hands to the feet. The covering of the hands may be with a wide garment with long sleeves, or by using gloves. The wearing of gloves by women was known in the era of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), or was known in the era of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), based on the fact that when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned what the woman in ihram should avoid, he said: This indicates that it was the custom of women at that time to wear gloves because it covers the hand.
As for the head covering, the woman wears a khimar with which she covers her head and also her face from non-mahram men, because it is not permissible for a woman to uncover her face to non-mahram men, based on the indication of the Book and the Sunnah regarding the prevention of that, and the indication of sound, correct reasoning that it is necessary for the woman to cover her face, because uncovering it involves fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) that may lead to the greatest immorality.
This is what comes to my mind now regarding the prohibition of clothing. There may be other things that have escaped my mind now, but the rule I established first, or which I clarified first, is that the original ruling in clothing is permissibility until evidence establishes prohibition. I mentioned two verses from the Book of Allah in that regard, which are the saying of Allah, the Exalted:[Al-A'raf 7:26] and His saying, the Exalted: [Al-A'raf 7:32] And perhaps a third verse is added to that, which is His saying, the Exalted: [Al-Baqarah 2:29]. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, honorable Shaykh. This is a listener, Ali Ahmad Sudanese.
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. Before answering this question, I would like to mention a useful rule in this matter, which is that the original ruling regarding clothing is permissibility and lawfulness until evidence establishes prohibition. This is based on the saying of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He:
O children of Adam, We have bestowed upon you clothing to conceal your private parts and as adornment. But the clothing of righteousness - that is best. That is from the signs of Allah
يَا بَنِي ءادَمَ قَدْ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكُمْ لِبَاسًا يُوَارِي سَوْآتِكُمْ وَرِيشًا وَلِبَاسُ التَّقْوَى ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ ذَلِكَ مِنْ ءايَاتِ اللَّهِSay, "Who has forbidden the adornment of Allah which He has produced for His servants and the good [lawful] things of provision?" Say, "They are for those who believe during the worldly life [but] exclusively for them on the Day of Resurrection."
قُلْ مَنْ حَرَّمَ زِينَةَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي أَخْرَجَ لِعِبَادِهِ وَالطَّيِّبَاتِ مِنَ الرِّزْقِ قُلْ هِيَ لِلَّذِينَ ءامَنُوا فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا خَالِصَةً يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِAmong the things for which evidence has come regarding their prohibition is that a woman wears clothing specific to men, or a man wears clothing specific to women, because this falls under the category of imitation. It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
The Prophet (ﷺ) cursed women who imitate men and men who imitate women.
أنه لعن المتشبهات من النساء بالرجال والمتشبهين من الرجال بالنساءSecond, among the things for which prohibition has been reported is imitating the disbelievers, meaning that a man wears clothing specific to the disbelievers that no one else wears, or a woman wears clothing specific to the disbelieving women that no one else wears. If so, this is forbidden and not permissible, because imitating the disbelievers is forbidden, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
He who copies any people is one of them.
من تشبّه بقوم فهو منهمThird, among the things forbidden to wear is that a man wears gold, whether rings, necklaces, bracelets, or otherwise, because it is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he forbade gold for men, to the extent that he said to a man he saw wearing a gold ring:
One of you is wishing live coal from Hell. and putting it on his hand.
يعمد أحدكم إلى جمرة من نار فيضعها في يدهon his finger.
في أصبعهAs for women, they may wear from the jewelry what is customary, whether gold, silver, or otherwise, on the condition that it does not contain anything forbidden.
And among the forbidden things, which is the fifth, is that a person wears something that has an image on it, whether clothes, shirts, head coverings, trousers, or otherwise.
Likewise, what some women do of wearing jewelry made of gold or other materials in the shape of an animal, a snake, a butterfly, or the like, is forbidden. This is because the angels do not enter a house in which there is an image, and a person carrying an image in his clothing is among the greatest things that drives the angels away from entering the house. There is no difference in this between children and adults, according to the stronger opinion. The Hanbali jurists mentioned an important rule in this matter, which is that it is forbidden to dress a boy in what is forbidden for an adult.
And among that, meaning among the forbidden clothing, is that a person wears something that does not cover his 'awrah, as some men do, where they wear light clothes under which are trousers that do not cover what is between the navel and the knee, and then they pray in them. This is forbidden clothing that does not cover and is not sufficient in prayer.
Likewise, some women wear clothes that are short, tight, or light, through which the skin is seen, and through which the size of the body is seen in the tightness, as if the garment was tailored to fit it tightly. This is forbidden for the woman, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
Two are the types of the denizens of Hell whom I did not see: people 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.
صنفان من أهل النار لم أرهما بعد قوم معهم أسياط كأذناب البقر يضربون بها الناس، ونساء كاسيات عاريات مائلات مميلات رؤوسهن كأسنمة البخت المائلة لا يدخلن الجنة ولا يجدن ريحها، وإن ريحها ليوجد من مسيرة كذا وكذاThe best for the woman's clothing is that it covers from the fingertips of the hands to the feet. The covering of the hands may be with a wide garment with long sleeves, or by using gloves. The wearing of gloves by women was known in the era of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), or was known in the era of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), based on the fact that when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned what the woman in ihram should avoid, he said:
And do not wear gloves.
ولا تلبس القفازينAs for the head covering, the woman wears a khimar with which she covers her head and also her face from non-mahram men, because it is not permissible for a woman to uncover her face to non-mahram men, based on the indication of the Book and the Sunnah regarding the prevention of that, and the indication of sound, correct reasoning that it is necessary for the woman to cover her face, because uncovering it involves fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) that may lead to the greatest immorality.
This is what comes to my mind now regarding the prohibition of clothing. There may be other things that have escaped my mind now, but the rule I established first, or which I clarified first, is that the original ruling in clothing is permissibility until evidence establishes prohibition. I mentioned two verses from the Book of Allah in that regard, which are the saying of Allah, the Exalted:
O children of Adam, We have bestowed upon you clothing to conceal your private parts and as adornment. But the clothing of righteousness - that is best
يَا بَنِي ءادَمَ قَدْ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكُمْ لِبَاسًا يُوَارِي سَوْءاتِكُمْ وَرِيشًا وَلِبَاسُ التَّقْوَى ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌSay, "Who has forbidden the adornment of Allah which He has produced for His servants and the good [lawful] things of provision?"
قُلْ مَنْ حَرَّمَ زِينَةَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي أَخْرَجَ لِعِبَادِهِ وَالطَّيِّبَاتِ مِنَ الرِّزْقِIt is He who created for you all of that which is on the earth. Then He directed Himself to the heaven, [His being above all creation], and made them seven heavens, and He is Knowing of all things.
هُوَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ لَكُمْ مَا فِي الأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ اسْتَوَى إِلَى السَّمَاءِ فَسَوَّاهُنَّ سَبْعَ سَمَاوَاتٍ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌThe questioner : May Allah reward you, honorable Shaykh. This is a listener, Ali Ahmad Sudanese.