Source of Rulings on Islamic Dress:

Islam gives guidance about all aspects of life, including matters of publicdecency. Islam has no fixed standard as to the style of dress or type ofclothing that Muslims must wear. However, some minimum requirements must bemet.

Islam has two sources for guidance and rulings: the Qur’an which is consideredto be the revealed word of Allah, and the Hadith or traditions of the ProphetMuhummed saw, who serves as a human role model and guide.

1st Requirement:

What parts of the body are to be covered: The first bit of guidance given inIslam describes the parts of the body, which must be covered in public.

For women: In general, standards of modesty call for a woman to cover her body,particularly her chest. The Qur’an calls for women to “draw their coveringsover their chests,” and the Prophet Muhummed S instructed believing women tocover their bodies except for their face and hands. Most Muslims interpret thisto require head coverings for women. Some Muslim women cover the entire body,including the face and/or hands.

For men: The minimum amount to be covered is between the navel and the knee.

2nd Requirement:

Looseness: Islam also guides that clothing must be loose enough so as not tooutline or distinguish the shape of the body. Skin-tight, body-hugging clothesare out, for both men and women. When in public, some women wear a cloak overtheir personal clothing as a convenient way to “hide their curves.” In manypredominantly Muslim countries, men’s traditional dress is somewhat like aloose robe, covering from the neck to the ankles.

3rd Requirement:

Thickness: The Prophet Muhummed S once warned that in later generations, therewould be people “who are dressed yet naked.” See-through clothing is notmodest, for either men or women. The clothing must be thick enough so that thecolour of the skin it covers is not visible, nor the shape of the bodyunderneath.

4th Requirement:

Overall appearance: The overall appearance of a person should be dignified andmodest. Shiny, flashy clothing may technically meet the above requirements, butdefeat the purpose of overall modesty.

5th Requirement:

Not imitating others: Islam encourages people to be proud of who they are.Muslims should look like Muslims, and not like mere imitations of people ofother faiths around them. Women should be proud of their femininity and notdress like men. And men should be proud of their masculinity and not try toimitate women in their dress. For this reason, Muslim men are forbidden fromwearing gold or silk, as these are considered feminine accessories.

6th Requirement:

Decent but not flashy: The Qur’an describes that clothing is meant to cover our private areas, and be an adornment (Qur’an 7:26). Clothing worn by Muslims should be clean and decent, neither excessively fancy nor ragged. Once a man asked Muhummed S that “I like to have best clothing and shoes, so is it kibar? (meaning haughtiness)” he replied in negative saying kibar is considering someone inferior to you.

Beyond the Clothing:

Behaviours and Manners: Islamic clothing is but one aspect of modesty. Moreimportantly, one must be modest in behaviour, manners, speech and appearance inpublic. Dress is only one aspect of the total being, and merely reflects whatis present on the inside of a person’s heart.

Is Islamic clothing restrictive?

Dress requirements are not meant to be restrictive for either men or women, andmost Muslims who wear modest dress do not find it impractical. Many peoplecontinue with their activities in all levels and walks of life. Its veryinteresting to note that the ones who complain about the dress beingrestrictive are the ones who have never worn that in their lives. While if theywere to ask the ones for whom Islamic dress is a part and parcel of their lifethey would come to realise that far from being restrictive it is in factemancipator as well as a guard to their self respect and dignity. Revealingclothing especially for women can never be thought to provide dignity orrespect for her. Instead she will be viewed as a mere toy of lust. So let usfollow the sunnah of our beloved Prophet S and live a life of decency and beamong the ones who prosper in this world as well in the hereafter. Aameen