Ruling on Selling Women's Clothes That Are Haram to Wear

Authored by: Dr. Muhammad Zia-ur-Rahman Azmi (رحمہ اللہ)

Ruling on Trade of Clothes Prohibited for Women

In Islam, there is no specific type of clothing that is universally haram for women to wear in all circumstances, except:
  1. Clothes resembling men’s attire or those that imitate the clothing of disbelieving women.
  2. Clothing with images of living beings (e.g., animals, humans).
Beyond these exceptions, most types of clothing are permissible for a woman to wear in the privacy of her home, particularly in front of her husband.

Clothing Permissible for Some Situations and Prohibited for Others

  • Certain garments may be haram for women to wear in front of non-mahram men (those not closely related), such as:
    • Short or revealing clothing that exposes legs, hair, neck, or other parts of the body that must remain covered.
  • However, if such garments are worn only in front of the husband, they are permissible.

Guidelines for Traders

  1. Clothes Permissible in Some Contexts:
    • A trader is allowed to sell clothing that may be permissible in specific circumstances (e.g., in private with the husband) but haram in others (e.g., in public).
    • The responsibility falls on the buyer to use the clothing appropriately.
  2. Clothes Universally Haram:
    • If a type of clothing is haram in all circumstances (e.g., clothing with images of living beings or explicitly designed for imitating men or disbelievers), it is impermissible for traders to sell such items, just as it is impermissible for women to wear them.

Scholarly Opinion

The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta stated:

"Clothing that is permissible for women to wear in some cases but haram in others can be sold, but the buyer must ensure it is used in permissible ways. Clothing that is haram in all circumstances cannot be sold or worn."
[Fatwa No. 4947]

Conclusion

  • Permissible Trade: Selling clothing that can be used permissibly (e.g., in private) is allowed, but the buyer must ensure its proper use.
  • Prohibited Trade: Selling clothing that is haram under all circumstances is not permissible in Islam.
Traders must be mindful of Islamic principles while conducting their business, and buyers should use the purchased items in ways that align with Islamic guidelines.

Allah knows best.
 
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