Source Attribution
This excerpt is taken from the book “Aḥkām o Masā’il in the Light of the Qur’an and Sunnah” by Shaykh Mubashir Aḥmad Rabbānī.
Question
What is the ruling on wearing black clothes?
Answer
From a Sharʿī (Islamic legal) perspective, there is no prohibition in wearing black clothing.
Imām al-Bukhārī رحمه الله has narrated a report from Umm Khālid رضي الله عنها. She said that garments were brought to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, among which was a small black cloak. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“What do you think, whom should we dress with this cloak?”
The Companions رضي الله عنهم remained silent. The Prophet ﷺ then said:
“Bring Umm Khālid bint Khālid to me.”
She was brought to him. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ took the cloak in his blessed hands, dressed her with it, and said:
«أَبْلِي وَأَخْلِقِي»
“May you wear it until it becomes worn out.”
There were green or yellow markings on the cloak. The Prophet ﷺ then said:
«يَا أُمَّ خَالِدٍ، هَذَا سَنَا»
“O Umm Khālid! This is beautiful.”
It is also mentioned in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ himself owned and wore a black cloak, which clearly indicates that wearing black clothing is permissible.
However, it should be remembered that on certain specific occasions, one should avoid wearing black if it leads to imitation (tashabbuh) of particular groups.
