Rulings on Islamic Dressing

Islam gives complete guidance about all spheres of life, including matters of Islamic women clothing on public respectability. Islam has flexible standard as to the style of garments or type of dressing that Muslims should wear. However, there are some minimum requirements that must be met. Islam has two primary sources for getting directions and for commandments: the Qur’an which is considered to be the divine word sent by Allah, and the Hadith that are the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam), who serves as a human role model and the best example of conduct. For women, the standards of modesty call women to cover her entire body, particularly her bosom. The Qur’an orders the women to “draw their coverings over their bosoms.”

Moreover, the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam) instructed believing women to cover their bodies with the exemption of their face and hands. Most Muslims decipher this to the means of head coverings for women, but some Muslim women cover the whole body including the face and hands. For men, the minimum parts to be covered are between the navel and the knee. Islam also orders that clothes must be loose enough so as not to delineate or distinguish the shape of part of the body covered. Body-hugging and Skin-tight clothes are available, for both men and women. When in some social gathering, some women envelop a cloak over their actual clothing as a convenient way to “hide the shape of their body.”

In many preponderantly Muslim states and countries, traditional men dresses are somewhat like a free robe, blanketing from the neck till the ankles; while the women are asked to have some loose fittings. The Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam) once warned that, in coming generations, there would be people who would be dressed yet naked. Clothing that is see-through is not modesty, for neither men nor for women. The clothes must be thick and tidy enough so that the color of the body it hides is not visible, nor the shape of the body part underneath. The entire appearance of a person should bear dignity. Flashy and shiny clothes may technically suit the requirements stated above, but shoot down the purpose of overall purity.

Islamic Women Clothing encourages people to be proud of what they really are. Muslims should look alike to the true Muslims, and not to imitate people of other faiths and religions around them. Women should be gallant of their femininity by not trying to look like men. Muslim men are too prohibited to wear gold or silk, as these are taken to be as feminine accessories. Islamic clothing is nothing but a pure form of modesty. Furthermore, one must be vigilant in manners, behavior, and speech, appearance in public and in character. Dress is only one aspect of the total phenomenon and reflects the secret of what is hidden in the heart. Clothing requirements are not meant to be strict for either man or woman, but most Muslims that wear modest do not notice it as impractical.

View the Original article