This excerpt is taken from Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradawi's book Halal and Haram in Islam, translated into Urdu by Muhammad Tahir Naqqash.
Clothing of a Muslim Woman:
Islam has prohibited women from wearing clothes through which the body is visible or can be seen shining. Similarly, clothes that reveal the contours of the body, especially those parts which may cause temptation, such as the chest, waist, hips, etc., are also forbidden.
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
صنفان من أهل النار لم أرهما، قوم معهم سياط كأذناب البقر يضربون بها الناس، ونساء كاسيات عاريات مميلات مائلات، رؤوسهن كأسنمة البخت المائلة، لا يدخلن الجنة ولا يجدن ريحها، وإن ريحها ليوجد من مسيرة كذا وكذا
"Two groups of people of the Hellfire whom I have not seen yet: one is those who will have whips like the tails of cows with which they will beat people, i.e., oppressive rulers; and the other is women who will be dressed yet naked, who will incline towards men and men will incline towards them. Their heads will be like the humps of camels that are bent. They will not enter Paradise nor will they smell its fragrance, although its fragrance can be detected from a great distance."
Reference: Muslim, Book of Clothing and Adornment: Chapter on Women who are clothed yet naked, Hadith: 2128
They will be clothed (kasiat) yet naked (ariyat), because their clothes will be so thin and transparent that the body will be visible from inside and they will not serve the purpose of covering. Most women of the present time wear such clothing.
Their heads are likened to the hump of a camel because they will tie their hair in a high bun in the middle of the head. Special centers have been established for women to style and make their hair fashionable. These centers are called beauty parlors and are mostly supervised by men who demand high payment for their services. Not only this, but it has become common for women to consider their natural hair insufficient and attach artificial hair to their own.
On one side, there are men who desire to surpass women in softness, delicacy, and beauty, and on the other side, there are women who want to become as attractive as possible to draw men towards themselves.
An interesting point in the mentioned hadith is the connection between political tyranny and moral degradation, which current circumstances have confirmed. Tyrants always keep the nation busy with lustful activities and personal interests, diverting their attention from important issues.
Men and Women Resembling Each Other:
The Prophet ﷺ clearly stated that it is forbidden for a woman to wear men's clothing and for a man to wear women's clothing.
Reference: Musnad Ahmad 325/2 - Abu Dawood, Kitab al-Libas: Bab Libsat al-Nisa, Hadith: 4098 - Mustadrak Hakim 194/4
Also, the Prophet ﷺ cursed men who imitate women and women who imitate men.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari Kitab al-Libas Bab al-Mutashabihin bil-Nisa wal-Mutashabihat bil-Rijal Hadith No: 5885 Majma' al-Zawa'id lil-Haythami 102/7 Hadith No: 13179, al-Mu'jam al-Kabir lil-Tabarani 201/11 Hadith No: 11646, Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal 200/2 Hadith No: 6875, Sunan Abi Dawood Kitab al-Libas: Bab fi Libas al-Nisa Hadith No: 4097, Jami' Tirmidhi Kitab al-Adab: Bab ma Ja'a fi al-Mutashabihat bil-Rijal min al-Nisa Hadith No: 2784
The concept of imitation includes speech, movement, gait, clothing, and behavior.
The root cause of evil arising in human life and the corruption of society is that a person deviates from his nature and adopts behavior contrary to natural matters. A man has a specific temperament, and a woman also has a specific temperament. That is, each has distinct characteristics. But when a man tries to become effeminate and a woman desires to become masculine, the result appears in the form of corruption and moral decline.
The Prophet ﷺ declared accursed the person who made himself feminine and began to imitate women, although Allah created him as a man. And also the woman whom Allah created as feminine but who became masculine and began to imitate men.
Reference: Al-Tabarani fi al-Kabir 241/8 and its chain is weak; Al-Haythami said in al-Majma' 103/8: It contains Ali ibn Yazid al-Ilhani who is abandoned
For this reason, the Noble Prophet ﷺ forbade men from wearing yellow-colored clothes.
Sayyidina Ali (RA) narrates:
نهاني رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم عن التختم بالذهب، وعن لباس القسي، وعن لباس المعصفر
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ forbade me from wearing a gold ring, wearing Qassi (a type of silk garment), and wearing yellow-colored clothes."
Reference: Muslim Kitab al-Libas wal-Zeenah: Bab al-Nahy 'an Libs al-Rajul al-Thawb al-Mu'asfar Hadith: 2078/31
Sayyidina Ibn Umar (RA) narrates:
رأى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم على ثوبين معصفرين فقال: إن هذه من ثياب الكفار فلا تلبسها
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ saw two yellow garments on my body and said: This is the clothing of the disbelievers; do not wear it."
Reference: Muslim Kitab al-Libas wal-Zeenah: Bab al-Nahy 'an Libs al-Rajul al-Thawb al-Mu'asfar Hadith: 2077
The Garment of Fame and Arrogance:
To benefit from pure things, whether they are food and drink or clothing, the general condition is that there should be no extravagance or arrogance in this matter. Extravagance is to exceed the limit while benefiting from what is lawful. Arrogance relates more to the heart and intention than to outward appearance. Arrogance is when a person considers themselves greater than others and becomes prideful, boasting in front of people. Allah Almighty says:
وَاللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخْتَالٍ فَخُورٍ
"Allah does not like those who are arrogant and boastful."
Reference: Surah Al-Hadid: 23
And the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
من جر ثوبه خيلاء لم ينظر الله إليه يوم القيامة
"Whoever drags his garment out of pride, Allah will not look at him on the Day of Resurrection."
Reference: Bukhari, Book of Clothing: Chapter on Allah's Saying 'Say, Who Has Forbidden the Adornment of Allah' Hadith: 5783, 5874 - Muslim, Book of Clothing and Adornment: Chapter on Prohibition of Dragging Garments out of Arrogance, Hadith: 2085
Since a Muslim should avoid anything that may cause arrogance, the Prophet (peace be upon him) forbade wearing clothes that attract fame and cause feelings of pride, desire to surpass others, and competition. The hadith states:
من لبس ثوب شهرة ألبسه الله ثوب مذلة يوم القيامة
"Whoever wears clothes for the sake of fame, Allah will clothe him with humiliation on the Day of Resurrection."
Reference: Musnad Ahmad 139/2, 93 - Abu Dawood, Book of Clothing: Chapter on Wearing Clothes for Fame, Hadith: 4029, 4030 - Ibn Majah, Book of Clothing: Chapter on Wearing Clothes for Fame, Hadith: 3606, 3607
A person asked Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) what kind of clothes he should wear. He said: Wear such clothes that ignorant people do not consider you worthless, meaning not of poor quality or ugly, and that the knowledgeable do not find fault with, meaning not exceeding the limits of moderation.
Reference: Majma' al-Zawa'id 135/5, and Al-Haythami said: narrated by Al-Tabarani in Al-Kabir, 203/12 Hadith: 13051 and its narrators are authentic
