What is the ruling on wearing the *kab* (which goes from the shoulders to the ankles) for women?
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The questioner : What is the ruling on the *kab*?
The Shaykh : The *ka'b*?
The questioner : The *kab* is a well-known garment among women?The Shaykh : It is a well-known garment among women, but please explain it to us?
The questioner : It is similar to a shield-like garment.
The Shaykh : Does it go 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 : No, it is a separate garment.
The Shaykh : But it is exposed and distinct.
The questioner : Distinct, yes.
The Shaykh : The principle is that there is nothing wrong with the *kab* because it covers, but I see that we should not open the door for women to imitate others. When did this come to us? Only when people came to us or we went to them. So, picking up the customs of others that offer no beneficial advantage over our own customs is a matter that keeps a person in a state of dependence and always subservient to others. As long as our garment, the *abayah*, is the most covering and the most cautious option for a woman, let us stick to it.
Because in this year, you might grant her a dispensation to wear the *kab*, and she wears the *kab*, and in the next year she says: "Give me the pants," and in the third or fourth year she asks 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 picking up these customs and ask: "What do you gain from this? What do you gain?" If a woman wears the *abayah*, it becomes like the *kab* but more covering, better, more lasting, and more honorable for a person. It is honorable for a person to take pride in his customs that do not contradict the Shari'ah and not to be subservient to others in picking up customs. This is what is required of a decisive person.
The questioner : May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : There are no comments or questions. The question is for one person, yes.
The Shaykh : The *ka'b*?
The questioner : The *kab* is a well-known garment among women?The Shaykh : It is a well-known garment among women, but please explain it to us?
The questioner : It is similar to a shield-like garment.
The Shaykh : Does it go 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 : No, it is a separate garment.
The Shaykh : But it is exposed and distinct.
The questioner : Distinct, yes.
The Shaykh : The principle is that there is nothing wrong with the *kab* because it covers, but I see that we should not open the door for women to imitate others. When did this come to us? Only when people came to us or we went to them. So, picking up the customs of others that offer no beneficial advantage over our own customs is a matter that keeps a person in a state of dependence and always subservient to others. As long as our garment, the *abayah*, is the most covering and the most cautious option for a woman, let us stick to it.
Because in this year, you might grant her a dispensation to wear the *kab*, and she wears the *kab*, and in the next year she says: "Give me the pants," and in the third or fourth year she asks 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 picking up these customs and ask: "What do you gain from this? What do you gain?" If a woman wears the *abayah*, it becomes like the *kab* but more covering, better, more lasting, and more honorable for a person. It is honorable for a person to take pride in his customs that do not contradict the Shari'ah and not to be subservient to others in picking up customs. This is what is required of a decisive person.
The questioner : May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : There are no comments or questions. The question is for one person, yes.