One of the visible favours of Allah upon His slaves is that He has created for them different materials by which they can conceal their private parts.
Allah also Says what means: “So We said: ‘O Adam! Indeed this (Satan) is an enemy to you and to your wife. Then let him not remove you from Paradise so you would suffer. Indeed, it is [promised] for you not to be hungry therein or be unclothed.” [Qur’an 20: 117-118]
Hunger is internal humiliation whilst nakedness is external humiliation, but neither of these two exists in Paradise. The dwellers of Paradise enjoy wearing different garments one on top of the other. Allah Says what means: “And when you look there [in Paradise], you will see pleasure and great dominion. Upon them [i.e., the inhabitants] will be green garments of fine silk and heavy silk...” [Qur’an 76: 20-21]
Thus, clothing is a blessing from Allah that He has bestowed upon us, as Allah Says [what means]: “O children of Adam! We have bestowed upon you clothing to conceal your private parts…” [Qur’an 7: 26]
Concealing one’s private parts is mandatory, but this is not all; rather, Allah has, in addition, bestowed upon us adornment. Following this adornment is the inner adornment, which is the spiritual one, as Allah Says [what means]: “But the clothing of righteousness — that is best. That is from the signs of Allah that perhaps they will remember.” [Qur’an 7:26]
If the clothing of piety is lost then one’s faults are exposed; and if the clothing of the body is gone, then his private parts become exposed, which results in great trials, leaving Satan to open an arena in which to lure mankind. This is why Allah Says [what means]: “So We said: ‘O Adam! Indeed this is an enemy to you and to your wife. Then let him not remove you from Paradise so you would suffer. Indeed, it is [promised] for you not to be hungry therein or be unclothed.” [Qur’an 20: 117-118]
Unclothing is a plot of Satan, and the first sin that was ever committed resulted in unclothing, as Allah Says what means: “O children of Adam! Let not Satan tempt you as he removed your parents from Paradise, stripping them of their clothing (i.e., the garments of Paradise) to show them their private parts…” [Qur’an 7: 27]
Satan initiated his war against the children of Adam by trying to entice them to expose their private parts, and this battle continued until it has reached its peak in our time when people have actually exposed their private parts and there are nude clubs, nude beaches, and channels on satellite television for nudity, fornication and ‘summer fashions’, which is practical nudity. All these things, which the sinners among the children of Adam thought up with the help of Satan, are vividly shown on TV screens.
Moreover, there are so many magazines and Internet websites that feature nudity that it has become something that many feel no shame in publishing or viewing, because the plot of Satan is to corrupt mankind by exposing people’s private parts.
This is why Allah warns us by Saying [what means]: “O children of Adam! Let not Satan tempt you…” [Qur’an 7: 27] Satan does this by all means possible: movies, magazines, fashion shows, beauty contests, scanty clothing that women wear to weddings, satellite television channels, and so on. Immorality has become readily available and people are constantly exposed to it.
Imam At-Tabari, may Allah have mercy upon him, stated when commenting on this verse: “It means: Let not Satan deceive you into obeying him and therefore exposing your private parts to others, thus depriving yourselves from entering Paradise, which is exactly what resulted in your father (i.e. Adam) being expelled from Paradise.”
This is a very dangerous issue because it could result in one being deprived of entering Paradise, and this is why Islam mandates concealing one’s private parts and defines the ‘Awrah (i.e., the parts of the body that one is Islamically obliged to cover) and how to cover it. The ‘Awrah is defined precisely and in detail for people of all ages and every phase: for infants up to two years of age, then for childhood, and then for the phase that lasts up to and beyond puberty.
Islam obligates clothing because nakedness is a dispraised matter. A man once entered into the presence of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam (may Allah exalt his mention), while wearing improper clothing, so he, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, asked: “Do you have money?” The man replied: “Yes, from all means. Allah has granted me camels, sheep, horses and slaves.” Thereupon, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said to him: “Then let the favour and blessings of Allah be apparent on you.” Imam Ibn Hajar, may Allah have mercy upon him, commented on this narration stating: “This means: wear the clothing that suits the level of bounties of Allah upon you, and which is clean and pleasant, so that needy people would recognise a person’s status and know to ask from him charity. However, in order to judge this issue in light of all relevant texts, one must be moderate in this regard and not extravagant.”
This is how real scholars are: they judge an issue in light of all the relevant texts related to it, and do not focus on an isolated piece of evidence. This is an advice to all students of knowledge who seek the truth, this is how you should be, too - never take one text in isolation when there are other texts related to the issue that you are judging, so that you can have a complete picture before making your final judgment.
An example to illustrate this is if one states that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “Indeed Allah is Jameel (which implies beauty) and He loves beauty” and therefore concludes that it is permissible for the woman to expose her beauty, since beauty is something that Allah loves. We ask such a person: Are you aware of the other texts that specifically prohibit the woman to expose here beauty in front of marriageable men and the texts that command her to adhere to Hijab (i.e. Muslim woman’s outfit in Islam)?
Some scholars who were wealthy would wear the best clothing that they possessed during seasons such as Ramadan so that the poor could recognise them and ask them for charity, but as soon as these seasons were over they would wear modest clothing as a sign of their humility and knowledge of the narration that they were well aware of, which is that of Mu’ath, may Allah be pleased with him, who reported that the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “Whoever voluntarily forsakes wearing elegant and expensive garments out of humbleness, Allah will call him on the Day of Resurrection and give him, in front of all (His) creation, the choice to wear whichever garment of Belief he wishes.” [At-Tirmithi]
The clothing of the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, was whatever he could find; he would wear wool at times and cotton at others - according to what was available for him at the time and without any extravagance; he, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, would always thereby be acting in accordance with the commands of Allah. One can eat, wear or drink anything (that is lawful) as long as it is without extravagance or boasting. Men may not wear silk because there is a specific text that prohibits silk for men.
A Muslim is encouraged to adorn himself when going to the mosque. The Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “Whoever performs Ghusl (i.e., a ritual bath) on Friday, wears from the best of his clothing, goes to the mosque, does not step over people’s heads (in trying to reach the front rows) and does not talk whilst the Imam is talking; this will be an expiation for his previous sins.”
He, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, also said: “Whoever performs Ghusl on Friday, wears from the best of his clothing, perfumes himself if he has any, goes to the mosque, does not step over people’s heads (when trying to reach the front rows), then prays whatever Allah decreed for him to pray, and does not talk from the time the Imam starts talking until he finishes, this will be an expiation for his sins between that Friday and the next.”
In this regard Allah Says [what means]: “O Children of Adam! Take your adornment [i.e., wear your clothing] at every Masjid…” [Qur’an 7: 31]
Nowadays, people go to parties wearing their very best clothing, but if they go to pray in the mosque, they wear the clothes that they sleep in, or their most inferior clothing.
What type of clothes do stores sell for men nowadays? They sell clothes that are outrageous and reflect a total lack of manhood, and which contradict basic moral values. These are clothes that are absolutely unfit for men to wear, like tight trousers which form the parts, or jeans with advertisements of intoxicants, or clothes that contain images of actors, actresses, dancers and singers. Some of these clothes are in shocking colours, or are so baggy that they look ridiculous.
Some men are shameless enough to wear shorts in public, claiming that they are ‘beachwear’ - as if the Lord of the beach is different from the Lord of the mosque. As soon as a new fashion comes out, regardless of how immoral or prohibited it is, many Muslims rush to wear it.
When some people see a person having his garment fall no lower than the level of his mid-shin, as per the instructions in the Sunnah, they accuse him of being backward and an extremist, but at the same time, they themselves may wear Bermuda shorts, which are no longer than the clothing they mock. It seems that just because the latter was designed by the non-Muslims, it is the only acceptable type of clothing.
Sometimes one thinks that people have no brains and are like programmed machines whose remote controls are in the hands of the Jews and the westerners. Women are exposing their bodies and wearing tight, transparent garments with splits. They wear short dresses and make up in order to seduce men. All the evil designs that the non-Muslims have concocted are adopted in our countries, and this in addition to what takes place during weddings, where dresses are so transparent that it is as if these weddings are meat markets!
Where are the men who are supposed to be the guardians of these women? Where are the men with protective jealousy?
Such clothing, which seduces men and moves their lusts and desires, is unacceptable to Allah. What is our role in forbidding such things from occurring? Why do men insist on remaining useless and silent? Where is their manhood?
Some women wear clothes that are manly. Also, we witness that even very young girls are wearing revealing clothes and are growing up while being accustomed to this; it therefore becomes impossible to convince them to change their minds, or to teach them chastity, when they become older.
The high heels that women wear almost cause them to tumble. They also affect the manner in which they walk as well as harm their spinal cords and cause foot-joint pain.
One is truly grieved at the level to which the Muslims have sunk with regards to clothing. Those who wear clothing that is distinctly for the disbelievers will have the following Prophetic narration apply to them: “He who resembles a people will be with them (i.e. on the Day of Resurrection).”
Those who feel proud of wearing such clothing and who walk arrogantly will meet Allah while He is Angry with them. Those who wear fashionable clothing in order for others to look at and pay attention to, will have the following Prophetic narration apply to them: “He who wears a garment of fame in this life - Allah will make him wear a garment of humiliation on the Day of Resurrection, then He will set it on fire.” [Ibn Majah] Doing anything for the purpose of attracting people’s eyes and attention will fall under this narration; the psychological punishment of it is humiliation, while the physical punishment is fire.
Nowadays, people are obsessed with doing things that are out of the ordinary; they are obsessed with doing things that are strange with regards to their hairstyles, clothing, footwear, and even socks - to the point that some wear two different coloured socks to stand out. Many people wear clothes that have crosses on them, while ‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said: “We do not wear clothes that have crosses imprinted upon them.”
Likewise is the case with wearing clothes that have pictures of animate objects upon them, in which case one must disfigure the image, leaving no trace of the head and what it contains (i.e. eyes, mouth and nose).
Sufficient for us is the statement of Imam Abu al-Hasan al-Qasfan, may Allah have mercy upon him, regarding whether or not a Muslim woman can expose her breasts, back or stomach to another woman, he said: “She is only allowed to expose what she would expose to men who are non-marriageable to her. This is due to the fact that the lusts and desires of some women towards others are stimulated when they see such areas exposed. Thus, a woman may only expose the places of adornment on her hands and feet, regardless of whether or not the woman is attractive.”
Unfortunately, women nowadays wear garments that contain splits that are up to their thighs, and sometimes even higher. This is something that is resented by women who have a pure nature, and we are talking about common women and not women with knowledge or students of knowledge.
We witness how the enemies of Allah have spread nakedness by all possible means, through sports, swimwear, jogging-wear, gymnastics, and so on. In fact, the chairman of a football league was complaining that the female footballers were not wearing seductive enough attire whilst playing. They aim to spread corruption globally via athletics, and this is why some female athletes have moved on to become movie “stars”.
Will we rise to face this? Will we stand for the truth? Will our protective jealousy wake up and cry out loud? Will we begin checking the clothes that we buy for our wives and daughters to ensure they do not contradict Islamic teachings? When will we begin inspecting our wives and daughters before they leave to attend wedding parties to ensure that what they are wearing will not cause the wrath of Allah? Or will we continue to hastily drop them off while never bothering to check what they wear? Where is our jealousy? Where is our chastity? Where is virtue? When will we adhere to the rulings of Allah?
Article source: http://www.islamweb.net/emainpage/
Etiquette related to dressing
A Muslim acknowledges that Allah has ordered him to wear clothing in the verse (which means):”O Children of Adam! Take your adornment (by wearing your clean clothes) while praying and going round the Ka’aba, and eat and drink but waste not by extravagance. Certainly, He (Allah) likes not the extravagant.”[Qur’an 7:31]
Clothing is also a bounty from Allah, as He Says (what means): “O Children of Adam! We have bestowed raiment upon you to cover yourselves (screen your private parts) and as an adornment. And the raiment of righteousness is best...”[Qur’an 7:26]
Allah also Says (what means): “And We taught him the making of metal coats of mail (for battles), to protect you in fighting. Will you then not be grateful?”[Qur’an 21:80]
Allah’s Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam (may Allah exalt his mention), also ordered such in his statement: “Eat, drink, dress and give in charity without extravagance or arrogance.” [Al-Bukhari]
Therefore, Allah’s Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, made clear what type of clothing is permissible and what is impermissible. He also showed what is preferred for a Muslim to wear and what is disliked. Therefore, a Muslim should adhere to the following etiquette with respect to dress:
1. A Muslim (man) should not wear silk on his clothing, head covering or anything else except what has been legislated in extreme cases like skin diseases, etc. This is because Allah’s Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, stated: “Do not wear silk, for the one who wears it in this world will not wear it in the Hereafter.”[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
2. A man’s garment, pants, head covering or cloak should not be so long as to go below the ankles. This prohibition is based on the statement of Allah’s Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, that: “What goes below the ankles of the waist-cloth will be punished in the Hell fire.” [Al-Bukhari]
Allah’s Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, also said: “The one who lengthens the cloak, shirt and turban out of pride will not be looked at with approval on the Day of Resurrection.” [An-Nasaa’i]
Allah’s Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, also said: “Allah does not look at the one who lowers his garment out of arrogance.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
3. Though all colors are permissible to wear, a Muslim should give preference to white clothing over other colors. Allah’s Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “Wear white clothing for it is purer and better. And shroud your deceased in (white).” [An-Nasaa’i]
4. A Muslim woman should lower her garment until it fully covers her feet. She should also draw down her head covering so that it covers her neck and chest. Allah has Said (what means): “O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies.”[Qur’an 33:59]
Allah also Says (what means): “(And tell the believing women to) draw their veils all over their faces, necks and bosoms and not to reveal their adornment except’ to their husbands, their fathers...”[Qur’an 24:31]
‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, stated regarding the above-mentioned verse: “May Allah have mercy on the women who migrated from Makkah to Al-Madinah. When Allah revealed this verse: ‘And tell the believing women to draw their veils all over their faces, necks and bosoms’, they tore apart their thick woolen garments and wore them as head coverings.”
A Muslim male should not wear gold. Allah’s Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said about gold and silk: “These are forbidden for the males of my Nation.” [Abu Daawood]
Allah’s Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, also said: “Wearing silk and gold has been forbidden for the males of my Nation and is permissible for its females.”[At-Tirmithi]
Allah’s Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, saw a man wearing a gold ring and he took it off his finger and threw it aside, saying: “One of you takes a burning coal of fire and puts it on his hand.” After Allah’s Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, left, it was said to the man: ‘Take your ring and benefit from it. (i.e. sell it and use its price).’ He replied: ‘No, by Allah, I will never take it after Allah’s Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, threw it away.’” [Muslim]
5. There is no harm in a Muslim male having a silver ring or engraving his name on it to use it as adornment or as a type of engraving stamp for his letters or books, or as a kind of signature. Allah’s Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, used to have a silver ring that had engraved on it, “Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah” and he used to wear it on the little finger of his left hand. Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, stated: “The ring of Allah’s Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, was on this” and he pointed to the little finger of his left hand.[Muslim]
6. A person should not wrap himself completely with a large garment in such a way that he cannot get his hands out of it. Allah’s Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, has prohibited such a manner of dress.
Similarly, a person should not walk wearing only one shoe. Allah’s Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “You should not walk wearing one shoe only. Either walk barefoot or wear both of them together.” [Al-Bukhari]
7. A Muslim man is not allowed to wear the dress of a woman and a Muslim woman is not allowed to wear the dress of a man.
Allah’s Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, stated: “Allah curses the effeminate men and the masculine women.” [Al-Bukhari]
He, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, also said: “Allah curses the man who wears women’s clothing and the woman who wears men’s clothing. He also curses the men who imitate women and the women who imitate men.” [Al-Bukhari]
8. When a person puts on his shoes, it is recommended to begin with the right foot. And when he takes them off, it is recommended to take off the left shoe first. This is based on the Prophet’s statement: “If one of you puts on his shoes, let him begin with the right. And when he takes them off, he should begin with the left.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
9. When a person puts on any clothing, he should begin from the right side. Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, stated: “Allah’s Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, loved to begin with the right in all his matters, in putting on his shoes, in combing his hair and in purifying himself.”[Muslim]
10. Upon wearing a new garment or any new clothing, the person should say: “O Allah, to You is the Praise. You are the One Who clothed me by it. I ask You for its good and the good of what it was made for. And I seek refuge in You from its evil and the evil of what it was made for.” [Abu Daawood]
11. A Muslim should pray for his Muslim brother when he sees him wearing new clothes by saying: “May you wear it until it disintegrates and falls apart (that is, for a long, blessed time).” [Al-Bukhari]
Allah’s Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, made that supplication when he saw, Umm Khaalid, may Allah be pleased with her, wearing new clothing. [Al-Bukhari]
Article source: http://www.islamweb.net/emainpage/
