Dressing like a Muslim

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Dressing like a Muslim
Justin
07/05/01 at 09:57:41
Salaam alaikum,

I was wondering what you guys knew about the sunnah of wearing of kufi.  Alhamdullilah, I recently got married and my wife wears hijab.  Being married to her and hearing her view of life in the U.S. under the hijab made me start to think about how much more exposed Muslim women are in the U.S. than Muslim men.  What I mean is that Muslim women who observe hijab are easily recognizable as Muslim to the average person walking down the street.  This means that people stare at them, little children are perplexed by them, and some people may even taunt them.  As Muslim men we can easily avoid this kind of unwanted attention and still say that we are observing the Sunnah of the Propher (pbuh).  For example, I wear a beard, but this doesn't really distinguish me as Muslim since so many American men wear beards.  My wife was saying that in order to really get the feeling of what it was like to wear hijab a man would need to wear tobe or something of a similar nature.  Basically it would mean wearing something that would make you look so strange to Americans.  I wanted to solicit your thoughts on this issue.  Should we as Muslim men go out of our way to "look" more "Muslim"?  Is there a benefit to this that outweighs the possible negatives?  What do you all think?

Wa salaam,
Justin
Re: Dressing like a Muslim
Mahmoodah
07/05/01 at 16:25:52
salam
i read a book on muslims clothing, it talked abt how women n men in islam r supposed to dress, it also mentioned how the prophet (saw) dressed!!!
but the problem is, i 4got wat the book wat called:(
but if i remember, ill let u know:)

wa--salam
Re: Dressing like a Muslim
Justin
07/06/01 at 09:29:00
Assalaam Alaikum,

Yeah, I think there is a big question about what really consistitutes "Muslim" dress.  It seems as though every Islamic "culture" has its own way of dressing but the question our brother raised is good.  Is that dress like the way Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) dressed or is it something just unique to a given culture?  I read a book by Jeffrey Lang where he talks about "dressing like a Muslim" and the good and bad parts of it.  My wife was watching a video tape with him and he made mention that the tobe that is so associated with "dressing Muslim" wasn't even around during the time of our Prophet (pbuh).  It would be interesting to know how the Prophet (pbuh) really dressed.  Does anyone have any info?

Also, Brother Qamar, when talk about work do you mean to say you don't wear "Islamic dress" to work?  I imagine that would be really hard.  I work in the Dean's Office in a university and I don't know how well the dean would like it if I came in one day in a turban and a tobe.  Do any brothers go to work wearing "Islamic dress" and if so where do you work and how do people respond to you?

Wa salaam,
Justin
Re: Dressing like a Muslim
Marcie
07/06/01 at 12:07:36
As salamu alaykum

Mahmoodah are you talking about Jamal Badawi's The Muslim Women's Dress?  In it he also talks about Muslim men's clothing.  Masha'Allah it is impressive that you brothers are thinking about how you should dress islamically.  A lot of times men are so focused on how women should be dressing that they forget about themselves.

As salamu alaykum
Re: Dressing like a Muslim
Mahmoodah
07/06/01 at 14:11:40
[quote]A.  A lot of times men are so focused on how women should be dressing that they forget about themselves.
[/quote]

salam,
that is soooooo true:)
1ce a brother was tellin me that i should cover my face n hands n this bro din wear ne thing that said he was a muslim!!!
neways it is good to c ppl trying, mashallah:)

wa-salam

btw, that was the book, i think:)
Jazak:-)
Re: Dressing like a Muslim
boy
07/07/01 at 13:18:04
As salaam u 'alykum wa rahmatullah

Is there any evidence that says, for example, that Abu Jahl or Abu Lahab didn't wear the same 'thob' and 'turban' which we now seem to believe is Islamic clothing? Prophet (saaw) was Arab. He wore Arab clothing. And though I hesitate to state this, due to the fact that I don't have the proof behind this hadith; there is a hadith which states that Prophet (saaw) was given, as a gift, clothes from another area and he gladly wore them. This way of dressing, due to the love for our Prophet (saaw), may be commendable but they are certainly not neccesary and at times might even hinder others' preceptions about Islam.

I strongly believe our actions, kindness, and manner should allow others to discern us from the crowd. An article of clothing shouldn't be the reason one can tell that I am Muslim. There is no such thing as "Kafir Clothing" or "Islamic Clothing" given that any clothes that cover which is required in Islam are Islamic Clothing.  

fyi: the term Kufi comes from the scholars of Kufa who used to wear a certain type of hat; hence it's called kufi.
NS
Re: Dressing like a Muslim
isra
07/10/01 at 17:10:31
[center][img]http://members.nbci.com/isra114/mbm.png[/img][/center]
[center][img]http://members.nbci.com/isra114/hamd1.png[/img][/center]
[img]http://www.jannah.org/board/Images/salam.gif[/img]
I dont understan at al but you wrote:
> I wear a beard, but this doesn't really distinguish me as Muslim since so many American men wear beards.>
What you mean is the look, but your intention is the sunnah, you will get rasulullahs shafa'at inshaallah others who have beard but no with intention to sunnah, they are only wearing for look...
[img]http://www.jannah.org/board/Images/wsalam.gif[/img]
Re: Dressing like a Muslim
Anonymous
07/10/01 at 23:26:49
Salam'alaikum,

I found this article interesting.  I think it answers many questions.

Wassalam.
----------------------------------------

Common mistakes made in the way men dress: in and outside prayer
Here are some notes on the subject that were prepared from a book by
Shaikh Mashoor Hasan Salmaan.
1. Praying in tight clothes so that they press over the private parts
('awrah)

Praying in tight fitting clothes is deemed Makrooh according to the
Sharee'ah. It also harms the body and hence it is not good from the point
of view of health as well. Perhaps the one praying in such clothes
actually leaves parts of his prayer out.

It is known that many people who dress in such a way do not attain
their prayer at all while others attain only a little, like the prayer of a
hypocrite.

Those who pray, many amongst them nowadays dress in clothes that drape
around one or both of their private parts (their thighs)

Ibn Hajr says, that a group of the Hanafee scholars considered such
practice as makrooh. [See Fathul-Baari 1/476]

If this is the case for normal trousers then what the case when they
are very tight?

'Allaamah al-Albaanee explained that trousers have two problems:

a) This is a dress that resembles the disbelievers. Muslims used to
dress in wide bottoms (saaraweel) which were loose fitting and baggy like
some still do so in Syria and Lebanon. The Muslims adopted this
practice of wearing trousers/pants when they were colonised. When the
colonisers departed, they left behind this evil influence and changed the
Muslims due to the latter's ignorance.

b) This type of dress constricts and presses upon the 'awrah. The
'awrah of a man is from his knee up to his navel. The worshipper should be
as far away as he can from disobedience of Allah during his prayer. He
is prostrating (in obedience and submission) to Him. How can he be
praying and standing before His Lord, when his buttocks are shown up and
what is between is visibly magnified?

It is surprising to find many young Muslims taking exception to ladies
wearing tight clothes since they cling to their bodies, yet these young
men are forgetting about themselves. There is no difference between a
lady wearing tight clothes which press against her body and a man
wearing trousers which also cling to his body. The buttock of both a man and
a woman is part of the 'awrah and both of them are the same. So it is
compulsory for the youth to be warned about this predicament about which
they are blind, except for he whom Allah has guided, who are few.
[Taken from one his tapes]

The Messenger (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) forbade a man from
praying in his trousers (saaraweel) unless he had a wrapper (rida) on him.
[Abu Dawud, al-Haakim and the hadeeth is Hasan]

For more details please consult the following:

"Saheeh-ul-Jaami'-us-Sagheer" of 'Allaamah al-Albaanee "Sharh
ma'aani-ul-aathaar" of Imaam at-Tahaawee Shaikh Hamood at-Tuwayjiree's
discussion about it in his book which talks about how resemblance of the
mushrikoon has befallen upon many in "Al- Iidaah wa-tibyaan.."

As long as the trousers are wide and not tight the prayer is valid, but
it is better to have a shirt or a top on that covers between the navel
and the knee, or lower still unto the middle of his shins or down to
just above his ankles, because that is the complete covering.

'Allaamah Ibn Baz has a fatwah where he says that it is permissible to
pray in trousers so long as the 'awrah is not pressed against due to
its expansiveness and his backside is not shamelessly visible. If his
backside becomes visible then the prayer is invalidated and if only the
clothes press against his 'awrah then it is makrooh.

2. Praying in thin and transparent clothing

 Just like it is makrooh to pray in tight fitting clothes which cling
to the 'awrah and show them up, it is not permissible to pray in thin
clothes which is transparent enough to make the (actual) body visible.
[Fataawaa Rasheed Ridaa 5/2056]

Praying in sleeping suit or pyjamas:

Abu Hurairah (radhiAllaahu 'anhu) reports that a man stood up to the
Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) and asked him about praying in a
single garment. So he (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "Unless you
find two garments." Then he asked 'Umar (radhiAllaahu 'anhu) who said,
"When Allah is generous, be generous yourselves. A man prayed in a
lower garment (izaar) and an upper garment (ridaa), a waist wrapper (izaar)
and a shirt (qamees), in a lower wrap (izaar) and an outer garment with
full length sleeves (qaba`), in trousers (saraaweel) and an upper wrap
(ridaa), in trousers and a shirt (qamees), in trousers and upper
garment (qaba`), in tubbaan and qaba`, and in tubbaan and qamees. [Bukhaaree,
Maalik in al-Muatta, Muslim, Abu Dawud, Nan-Nisai, Ibn Maajah,
al-Humaidee, Ahmad in al-Musnad, at-Tayaalisee, at-Tahaawee, al-Baghawee, Abu
Nu'aim, al- Khateeb]

'Abdullaah ibn 'Umar (radhiAllaahu 'anhu) saw Naafi' praying by himself
in a single garment (thawb). So he said to him, "Can you not wear two
garments?" He said, "Of course". He said, "Do you go out to the market
in a single garment?" He said, "No". He said, "Allah has more right that
He is dressed up for!" [at-Tahaawee in "Sharh ma'anee-ul-aathaar",
"Tafseer-ul-qurtubee" and "al-mughnee"]

Such is the case for one who prays in his night garments. He would feel
shy to go to market in it on account of its thinness and transparency.

Ibn 'Abdul-Barr said in "at-tamheed" : "The people of knowledge love
for one to be enveloped in his garments; that he beautifies himself for
his prayer as much as he is able with regards to his clothes, applies
perfume and cleanses his teeth (miswaak)."

On the topic of conditions for the correctness of the prayer, the
jurists (fuqahaa) talk about the condition of covering the 'awrah: They make
the condition for the covering to be thick and say it is not
permissible to make it fine so that the skin tone is visible. ["al-majmoo'", "al-
mughnee", etc]

This is a requirement whether for a man or a woman, whether praying
alone or in congregation. So whoever's clothes reveal his 'awrah in spite
of his ability to keep it covered, then his prayer is invalidated.

"Yaa banee aadama khudhoo zeenatakum 'inda kulli masjidin..."
"O Children of Adam! Take your adornment (by wearing your clean
clothes),
while praying..."
[Sooratul-A'raf Aayah 31]
According to "Ad-deenul-khaalis" 2/101 and "at-Tamheed" 6/379 the aim
of zeenah (adornment) is the thawb and the command means to conceal the
'awrah for every prayer.
Praying in light tunic:

Some people pray in garments that only lightly cover their bodies and
its transparency allows one to see the person's skin colour, while not
wearing anything underneath. (It is not enough to wear shorts or trunks
underneath unless it covers the extent between the belly-button and the
knee.) The statement of Umar previously shows usage of more than one
garment to screen oneself and how one garment is added to another. The
evidence shows that it is compulsory (waajib) to be properly covered and
praying in only one garment is allowed only because of the person's
straightened circumstances (poverty). The prayer of someone in two
garments is better than doing so in one. This has been clearly elaaborated by
Qaadhi 'Iyaadh who has dispelled the differences regarding this
maatter. [See Fathul-Baari, al-majmoo' 1/476 and Nayl-ul-awtaar 2/78, 84]

Imaam Shaafi'ee said if a person prays in his shirt and it reveals him,
then his prayer is invalidated. [See al-Umm 1/78]

Even worse for ladies:

The lady doing that is in a more terrible situation than the man. And
if she prays in a loose outer garment with sleeves and slit in front
then it is better for her to wear her jilbaab on top. She must make sure
she does not pray wearing delicate material such as nylon or shifon.

Consider the hadeeth where we are told how in the last part of the
nation of Muhammad (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa salam) there will be ladies who
are "dressed yet they are naked."

Ibn 'Abdul-Barr says such women will dress in light material which will
cover them yet not screen them, so they will be dressed in name but
naked in reality. ["Tanweer-ul-hawaalik" 3/103]

A report from Hisham ibn 'Urwah shows once Mundhir ibn Zubair sent a
beautiful garment from Kohistan to Asma bint Abi bakr who having felt the
material and disapprovingly asked for it to be sent back to the sender.
When asked as to why since it did not show the body, she replied it was
transparent. [Ibn Sa'd in "at-tabaqaat-ul-kubra" 8/184 : saheeh]

As-Safaareenee said it is forbidden to wear clothing that is light and
fine so that the 'awrah is not covered whether for a male or a female.
This is a matter of the Sharee'ah without any difference.
["ad-deen-ul-khaalis" 6/180]

Ash-Shawkaanee said in "Nayl-ul-awtaar" 2/115 that it is compulsory
(waajib) for a lady to cover her body with a garment which is not
transparent. This is a condition for covering the 'awrah.

3. Praying in long and overflowing lower garment (practising isbaal or
being a musbil)

Abu Hurairah (radhiAllaahu 'anhu) said: "While a man was praying with
his lower garment hanging down the Messenger (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa
sallam) said to him, "Go and do wudhu." So he went, performed abhution and
came back. He (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "Go and do wudhu."
So a man said to him, "O Messenger of Allaah! Why do you ask him to do
wudhu?" So he remained silent about him. Then he said, "He was praying
while his lower garment was hanging down (i.e., he was a musbil)." [Abu
Dawud,  Musnad Ahmad, An-Nisai in Sunan al-Kubra, an-Nawawi]

'Abdullaah ibn 'Umar (radhiAllaahu 'anhumaa) reported that the
Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "Allaah does not look
at the prayer of a person who lets his lower garment flow out of pride"
[Ibn Khuzaimah]

Ibn Mas'ood (radhiAllaahu 'anhu) said he heard the Messenger of Allaah
(sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) say, "Whoever lets his lower garment
hang down (over or below the ankles) from vanity then there is neither
ease from Allaah nor anything blessed." [Abu Dawud and in 'Allaamah
Albaani's Saheeh Jaami'-us-Sagheer]

This means there is no forgiveness for him or honour for him with
Allaah. He does not preserve himself from the evils of his actions. It is
also said that this means he does not (really) believe with regards to
what Allaah has made permissible and forbidden. Also, some say it means
he has freed himself from Allaah and become separated from His Deen. For
further details and discussion on the understanding presented,  please
consult "Faidh-ul-Qadeer" and "Al-Majmu'".

The Shafi's and Hanbalis reckon the tradition is a proof that it is
forbidden to let the lower garment drop below (the top of the ankles) in
prayer when done out of pride, and according to the Shafi's it is
objectionable when no vanity is intended. [See "Al-Majjmu'" and
"Nail-ul-Awtaar"]

For a detailed discussion on this please consult "Majmoo' al-Fataawa"
of Ibn Taimiyyah, "Fathul-Baari", and "'Awn-al-Ma'bood" where you will
find the explanation that it is indeed forbidden to practice isbaal
whether with pride or without it.

Shaikh Ahmed Shaakir pursued this matter in his verification of
authenticity of prophetic reports (hadeeths) in Ibn Hazm's "al-Muhalla" and
showed how the author had left out the first hadeeth which is a strong
proof that the prayer of a musbil is invalid.

Ibn al-Qayyim elaborated about the first hadeeth and said letting the
lower garment flow is sinful. The man was ordered to perform ablution
and pray because ablution puts out the heat of sinfulness.

At-Teebi explained the man was asked to do ablution although he was
clean so that he would consider the reason why he was ordered so. Allaah
blessed the request of the Prophet in that such outward cleanliness will
cleanse the stain of arrogance inside, because exterior cleanliness
affects the inward cleanliness.

Ibn Taimiyyah in his "Majmoo' al-Fataawa" emphasised that it is the
same whether one practices isbaal of his trousers, or lower wrap or shirt
(qamees). It is obligatory for every Muslim to leave isbaal and fear
Allaah about it.

'Allaamah Ibn Baz's discussion on isbaal
'Allaamah Ibn Baz was asked whether it is correct to pray behind an
innovator (mubtadi') and one who is a musbil and he said:
"The prayer is correct behind the innovator and the one who is a musbil
and (one who has some) other sin according to what is more right from
what the scholars say, as long as it is not a bid'ah of disbelief (kufr)
for the person. If it is a bidah of disbelief like that of a Jahmee and
similar to that, which takes a person outside the fold of Islaam, then
it is not correct to pray behind such people. However, it is obligatory
for those responsible (amongst the people) that they choose the imaam
to be of a pleasing character and safe from bid'ah and immorality. (This
is) because being an imaam is a great (and important) trust (amaanah).
He stands as an example to the Muslims by it. Thus it is not
permissible to render its custodianship to the people of innovation and
immorality when others are able to be appointed."

Isbaal is totally sinful which is necessary (waajib) to avoid and warn
against it because of the statement, "Whatever hangs below both ankles
from the lower garment (izaar) is in the Fire." [Bukhaari, An-Nisai]

Whatever is like the izaar also comes under the same judgement, like
the shirt (qamees), trousers, cloak (woollen - basht) and similar to
that. It is authentic from the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa
sallam) that he said, "Allaah will not speak to three (types of
people), nor will He look at them on the Day of Judgement, nor will He purify
them, and they will have a painful punishment: the person who is a
musbil with regard to his garment, ... ..." Muslim brings this in his
Saheeh.

When the person does so with izaar or something similar due to pride
and arrogance then that makes him even more strong in sinning and draws
him nearer to the punishment, since the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa
sallam) said, "Whoever lets his garment flow (upon and beneath the
ankles) due to vanity Allaah will not look at him on the Day of Judgement."

It is compulsory for every Muslim to be on guard against what Allaah
has forbidden for him with regards to isbaal and other sins.

[Mujallat-ud-Da'wah No. 913]

4. Rolling up the garment in prayer

One of the mistakes of some of those who pray is that they tuck up
their garments before starting their prayer.

It is reported from Ibn 'Abbaas (radhiAllaahu 'anhumaa) that the
Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "I have been
ordered to prostrate upon seven (bones) and that I neither tuck up the hair
nor the garment (thawb)." [Muslim, An-Nisai, Ibn Khuzaimah]

Ibn Khuzaimah interpreted this narration with a chapter heading
"Prevention from tucking up the garments in prayer".

An-Nawawi said the scholars are in agreement that it is not permissible
to pray while his garment is rolled up or his sleeve or anything
similar. [Sharh Saheeh Muslim]

Imaam Maalik said that if his clothes are already like that since he
was doing a job and he rolled it up for that work and he started his
prayer as he is, then there is no harm that he prays in that condition.

However, if he only does that to tuck up his hair or garment then there
is no good in it. [Al-Mudawwanat-ul-Kubra]

An-Nawawi continued to say that the prohibition of hemming the garment
is that of strong dislike. If he prays like that then he does evil
although his prayer is correct. This is supported by At-Tabari where he
speaks of a consensus by the scholars and Ibn-ul-Mundhir who takes
recourse to Hasan Al-Basri.
 

5. Praying without covering the head

It is permissible to pray in bare head for a man. The head is 'awrah
for a woman. However, it is recommended (mustahab) that he is completely
dressed for prayer. This includes covering the head with a cap, or
turban or something similar from what is customary from his clothes.

Uncovering the head without excuse is detested (makrooh) specially in
the compulsory prayers and even more specially in congregation.

'Allaamah Albaani said: "As for what I see, it is makrooh to pray with
the head bare and this is indisputable. It is recommended for Muslims
to enter the prayer in full Islamic manner of dressing because of the
hadeeth, "Allaah has more right that you beautify for Him." [At-Tahawi,
At-tabraani, Al-Baihaqi. See Silsiltus-Saheehah]

"This is not from the good manners from the customs of the Salaf to
have the head uncovered and walk like that on the road, and enter places
of worship like that, but it is from the ways of the foreigner which has
infiltrated the Islamic lands when the disbelievers set foot in it, and
imported their corrupt custom and the Muslims imitated them in it. So
repel it and its likes... ... This is an extraordinary accident and it
is not appropriate that it should warrant contradicting the prior
Islamic culture, and be taken as an excuse for permission to pray without
head-covering."

Then 'Allaamah Albaani goes on to explain the mistake of some brothers
in Egypt who brought the proof of the permissibility to pray without
covering the head by analogising with how the head is uncovered for
someone in ihraam during the pilgrimage. This is wrong since not covering
the head during the pilgrimage is from the law (Sharee'ah) of Allaah. If
their analogy was right them they should make it compulsory to pray
without any head covering at all since it is obligatory to do so during
the pilgrimage! [Tamaam-ul-Minnah fee ta'leeq 'alaa fiqh-us- Sunnah by
'Allaamah Albaani]

It is not established at all that the Messenger (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa
sallam) ever prayed outside the pilgrimage with bare head, without a
turban/cap. Whoever thinks he did so then he should bring the proof. If
he (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) had done so,  it would have been
recorded.

Let it be known that it is just makrooh for a man to pray with bare
head. [Al-Majmoo' - Al-Baghawi etc.]

PS: The narration attributed to Ibn 'Abbaas that the Prophet
(sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would sometimes remove his cap and place it as a
sutrah in front of him is weak (da'eef). Even if it was authentic then
it does not prove praying in bare head since it is compulsory and more
important to take a sutrah and it is more evident that he did that to
make up for lack of any suitable sutrah.
 

6. Praying in clothes which has pictures on it

A'isha (radhiAllaahu 'anha) said that (once) the Messenger of Allaah
(sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) prayed in a woollen garment which had
markings on it. When he finished his prayer he said, "Go to Abu Jahm ibn
Hudhaifah with this garment and bring me an inbijaaniyyah, because this
has distracted me too much in my prayer." [Bukhaari, Muslim, Nisai, Ibn
Maajah, Muatta of Maalik]

The inbijaaniyyah that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa
sallam) desired is a thick garment which has no markings or pattern on
it unlike the khameesah (woollen garment which he was wearing at the
time) which he rejected and it had such markings. And patterns are more
preferable than pictures.

At-Teebi said while commenting on the above narration that pictures and
similar things which can be seen affects the pure hearts and clean
souls. [See "'Umdatul-Qaari" and "Fathul-Baari"]

Anas (radhiAllaahu 'anhu) said that (once) A'isha (radhiAllaahu 'anha)
had a curtain which she used to screen a side of her house. The Prophet
(sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said to her, "Remove it from me,
because its pictures keep on turning my attention away from my prayer."
[Bukhaari]

The above narration presents a difficulty when viewed against the other
hadeeth also from A'isha (radhiAllaahu 'anha) which says that the
Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would not enter the
house which had a screen/curtain with pictures on it. [Muslim] This is
resolved by knowing that this narration is talking about pictures of living
creatures on the material while the first narration is not about such.

The above hadeeth of Anas (radhiAllaahu 'anhu) is evidence that it is
makrooh to pray in a garment which has pictures on it.

From the above evidences al-Qatalaani said in "Irshaad-ul-Saari" if the
picture distracts a person praying in front of it then it is more so
when he is clothed in such garments. Al-'Aini in "'Umdat-ul-Qaari" noted
about the chapter in Bukhaari "Dislike of praying where there is a
picture" that this means this chapter (by Bukhaari) explains that it is
makrooh to pray in the house which has a garments with pictures on it.
Thus if it is makrooh to do so in such case then it is worse when dressed
in such material.

The jamhoor hold the position that it is makrooh.

Their evidence is the narration from A'isha (radhiAllaahu 'anha) who
said: "I had a garment with pictures on it which I had spread out and the
Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) was praying towards
it. So he said, "Take it away from me." So I (cut it into pieces and)
made (some) screens (out of it). [Muslim, Nisai]

After mentioning this hadeeth an-Nawawi said, "As for the garment which
has a picture or a cross or whatever draws the attention away, then
praying in it or towards it or on it is makrooh due to the hadeeth."
 

7. Praying in saffron dyed clothes ( Saffron colour is red or bright
orange-red)

'Abdullaah ibn 'Umar (radhiAllaahu 'anhumaa) said that the Messenger of
Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) saw him dressed with two saffron
coloured garments. So he said, "This is the dress of the disbelievers,
so do not clothe yourself with it." [Muslim, Musnad Ahmad]

In one narration he (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said to him, "Did
your mother order you to wear it?" I said, "Shall I wash them both?" He
said, "Rather burn them both!"

Yet another narration says, "So I did that."

In another narration it says how he was seen by the Prophet
(sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) in a garment stained with saffron dye so he was
told, "What is this garment that is upon you?!" So he understood by that
its dislike and went home and found them heating up the stove to cook
meat and threw the garment into it. Then he went to the Prophet
(sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) the next day and he said, "What have you done
with your garment?" So when he had told him, he said, "Why didn't you
clothe some of your family with it? There is no harm in the ladies using
it." [Musnad Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Ibn Maajah]

It is reported from Anas (radhiAllaahu 'anhu) that the Prophet
(sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) forbade the man from wearing saffron (clothes).
[Bukhaari]

'Ali (radhiAllaahu 'anhu) said the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa
sallam) forbade from saffron dyed clothes. [Muslim, Nisai, Abu Dawud]

Ibn Qudaamah said, "Concerning praying in red garments, our companions
have said it is makrooh for a man to clothe in it and pray in it."
[Al-Mughni]

Ibn-ul-Qayyim discusses this in "Zaad-ul-Ma'ad" and says it is indeed
very strongly disliked although still permissible. Allaah granted refuge
from it to the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) when he wore a
blood-red garment and now there is doubt as to the true meaning of red
cloth.

At-Tabraani in "Al-Awsat" discusses the red garment of the Prophet
(sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) and says it is a mistake to think the
garment was pure red and not mixed with anything else. This red garment was
a Yemeni costume woven with red and yellow thread like all such Yemeni
costumes. It is called red due to the red thread in it. As for pure red
then this is strongly forbidden.

Imaam Ash-Shawkaani says in "As-Sail-ul-Jarraar" that the forbiddance
is with regards to the purely red type of saffron dye, but what is red
due to being coloured without saffron dye then such clothes is
permissible.
NS
Re: Dressing like a Muslim
Seeker
07/10/01 at 23:41:08
[slm]
in terms of clothing, I have understood that we are given guidelines  on how we should dress. And that there is no definant article of "islamic" clothing. For example, in Islam, a woman's dress guideline is to wear loose fitting clothes that do not show her figure, and that aren't transparent. These clothes also have to cover her from head to foot, in which only her hands and face may be visible (and some say feet). Insha'allah, you get the idea. This doesn't mean that she has to wear skirts, or she has to wear a jelbaab, just clothes that follow the given guidlines.
I'm sure it would be quite interesting for Bro. Justin and Bro. Fernando to go to work for the first time in "traditional" clothing, if that's what you were referring to.
ok, salaam
Re: Dressing like a Muslim
Kathy
07/11/01 at 11:25:42


[quote]
a) This is a dress that resembles the disbelievers. Muslims used to
dress in wide bottoms (saaraweel) which were loose fitting and baggy like some still do so in Syria and Lebanon. [/quote]


This made me think of the fashion trends since I have been alive. In the seventies- men(disbelievers) wore really tight pants. Now,for the last few years, the(disbeleivers)are wearing baggy pants.
Re: Dressing like a Muslim
amatullah
07/11/01 at 12:37:48
Bismillah and salam,
I believe there is an account of how the prophet used to dress and insha'Allah I iwll find the book with descriptions. I know his favorite was al 7ibra which is a yamani clothing. He liked the thob as well (i believe back then it was called qamees). He always saws started dressing from right to left. And whenever he was wearing something new he would ask Allah swt saying you gave me this garment and i ask for the good that is in it and the good it was made for and seeked refuge of its evil and the evil it was made for.
I think it is important for the men to try to follow the sunnah of the prophet even in dressing. I remember this older surgeon brother here who has been in da'wa all over the world and he told us about the time a man came to the mosque and said he wanted to be a muslim. He didn't actually know very much at all about islam, but he said he saw a white man dressed like that and he said he could see light from his face and above him masha'Allah. so subhan Allah you dressing like that might be a reason for Allah to throw islam's love in the heart of someone.
It it is really important for other muslims to recognize each other as much as possible. We share many of the same values and it is safer. For example, if you are lost in a new town, I know my husband is more likely to ask someone wearing kufeya right?
Re: Dressing like a Muslim
kiwi25
07/12/01 at 13:41:14
salam,

well in islam, women and men are given guidelines on what theyre going to wear, like seeker brought up what womens guidelines are and mens guidelines are that he should be covered from navel to knee,   it doesnt say he HAS to wear a kufi but  br justin mentioned what us muslim women who wear hijab go through (the stares, the little kids, rude comments), this happens because they dont understand why we wear it so the way i see it is:

a muslim man doesnt have to wear kufi or a big robe etc but if he did wouldnt that help us sisters out and the whole muslim community in America all together?  from this itll take away their myth about only women this and that, theyre being oppressed blah blah blah, and they ll get too see more muslims too,

i mean those girls who wear hijab had to go threw it, so if a girl can go threw it, whats a small kufi going to do compared to a big hijab,  right now im in my computer lab , and i see a jewish boy wearing their "kufi" and hes only like 13 years old!

so my point is u dont have to wear the kufi , robe and all but personally i think that  if more muslim men start, then i see just a slight change in the way people will veiw islam, and inshallah only for the better,

wasalaam nouha:)
Re: Dressing like a Muslim
amatullah
07/16/01 at 15:11:34
Bismillah and salam,
I find this site quite by accident, thought i would share:
http://www.muttaqun.com/malehijab.html
Re: Dressing like a Muslim
PacificBreeze
07/19/01 at 03:20:55
quick side comment from a sister:
whenever a sister dressed in islamic wear sees a muslim bro (or a fellow muslimah) also visibly identifying himself by being dressed in obvious islamic styles (whether thobes or some other muslim cultural outfit), it really sends a strong statement of support n sense of muslim identity. the statement isn't as strong when he dresses conservatively in american fashion b/c you can't really tell him apart from another person. (whether he's just covered for a reason or for his own comfort/whims.)

i've seen a couple of bros on campus who'll sport the thobes n kufies etc...and one bro who's extremely active in campus politics will dress in btwn...sometimes american wear..a pak outfit...or a pak kameez n pants...or thobes etc...with a kufi or kufiyah..or muslim/pali support shirts etc..

it stands out. mix n match. whatever. but whenever your identifying urself with the clothes of a muslim heritage or whatever symbolizes islam/muslim..very visibly..it's an immense support to the muslimahs in islamic wear (hijab, jilbab).
Re: Dressing like a Muslim
bhaloo
07/19/01 at 11:24:31
slm

Good point PB.  :)  
Re: Dressing like a Muslim
Justin
07/25/01 at 15:26:49
Salaam alaikum,

I had some questions that were brought up from what Anonymous posted (the article).

1.  What if you aren't a Muslim who was colonized and are part of the colonizing culture?  Should you stop wearing trousers?  I don't wear tight pants, but I do wear pants.  This is the first thing I've heard that discouraged wearing them.

2.  I didn't really understand the part about rolling up your pant legs.  If it is makrooh to let your pants drag on the floor, what are you to do if you have pants that are too long when you are not wearing shoes?  Is it better to just let them drag on the floor or is that worse than rolling them up?  I had been told that it was better to roll them up even though the dragging on the floor part was only bad if you did it out of pride.  Also, I see lots of people rolling up their pant legs.  I know that this really isn't something that should be taken as a proof, especially considering the fact that you see Muslims doing all sorts of things that are not part of the sunnah, but I am always a little suspect when something is condemned that so many people do.  Does anyone have some advice?

3.  This question isn't in regards to the article but it is on the same sort of topic.  I am recently married.  My wife is also a convert to Islam, but she comes from a family that is a bit more religious than mine and her mother had a hard time with her conversion and subsequent decision to wear hijab.  They also had a problem, at least initially, with how we choose to get married (i.e. without dating).  Alhamdullilah, things are much better now.  By the grace and mercy of Allah they have accepted me and everything is really great.  The problem is that at our wedding reception, which her mother hosted and arranged, I was going to wear a kufi.  When her mother saw me she was horrified.  She had seen me wearing the kufi one other time and was kind of upset by it.  She mentioned to my parents and my wife that she would prefer that I not wear it for the pictures.  Initially I was reluctant to do so, but I conceded.  I hadn't worn it for our nikah two months earlier (not intentionally, it was just something I hadn't thought to do) and I think she felt that I was kind of doing something to ruin what she had planned.  My reasoning in taking it off was that it would seem somewhat hypocritical to insist that I wear it for the reception when I hadn't worn it for the wedding and I also thought that keeping good ties with her mother was more important than wearing the kufi for the pictures.  She was very happy when I took it off and I think it was probably a better thing to do.  I was just wondering what you all's opinion on this was.  What would you have done in this situation?  (Note:  My wife was wearing hijab, but she has been doing so for over a year and her parents are kind of used to it).

Wa salaam,
Justin
Re: Dressing like a Muslim
Justin
07/25/01 at 15:43:16
Salaam alaikum,

I have another question.  I know that men are not allowed to wear silk in Islam.  What about silk ties?  It seems that most ties are made of silk.  A man who I learned about Islam from when I was brand new to the deen said that most ties are not a hundred percent silk and those are okay to pray in.  I've since then not given much thought to praying in a tie, but I wonder if I should.  Does anyone know in any details about wearing ties?

Wa salaam,
Justin
Re: Dressing like a Muslim
humble_muslim
07/26/01 at 11:15:29
AA

Bro Justin,

Silk is forbidden for men, but ties are OK.  So try to get a non-silk tie : they do exist, I have a boatload.

I think wearing a kufi as much as you can is a VERY good idea, since I cam back from Umrah I've been trying to do this.  There is no doubt that it is very importnat for women AND men to forge some kind of Islamic identidy living here, and wearing a kufi is one way of doing this.  BTW, most of the people at work are impressed by mine!

As for rolling the pants, I try to buy pants with shorter legs.  We had a discussion about whether this was mackrroh or haram a while back, and Arslan posted up some good info from islam-qa.com.  I also heard Bilal Phillips talking about this, saying that in the 60's the fashion was to wear pants above the ankle, and that this is still the case in the military.  We should be more particluar towards the Sunnah of the Prophet (SAW) then to keeping up with fashion.

Finally, I REALLY agree with PB that muslim men seem to want women to dress Islamically, but are not that particluar themselves.
NS
Re: Dressing like a Muslim
Barr
08/05/01 at 07:06:44
Assalamu'alaikum :-)

Just my 2 cents

[quote]1.  What if you aren't a Muslim who was colonized and are part of the colonizing culture?  Should you stop wearing trousers?  I don't wear tight pants, but I do wear pants.  This is the first thing I've heard that discouraged wearing them.[/quote]

No, I won't stop wearing pants. I'd still wear them. Pants r cool -chinos, cotton, tailored, khaki,  ....  If they are modest, clean and cover the awrah.... I don't see Y I shouldn't wear them.

Akhi, to me, Islam, came to enrich and purify a culture too. It didn't come to totally change that culture to what we think is the traditional culture of Islam (ie. Arab, Pakistani etc etc).

It is one of Allah's signs that we are different. But within those differences, it is the shahadah that binds us together. To me, that is powerful, mashaAllah :)

[quote]...She had seen me wearing the kufi one other time and was kind of upset by it.  She mentioned to my parents and my wife that she would prefer that I not wear it for the pictures.  Initially I was reluctant to do so, but I conceded... What would you have done in this situation?   [/quote]

I'd do the same. I'd take the kufi off.

I think, we have to weigh things vis-a-vis the shariah and the context... What does Islam say about wearing the kufi... and what does Islam say about pleasing one's parents?

I think, as mentioned in this thread, or somewhere else, even the Prophet didn't wear a kufi, but it's just that nowadays, wearing a kufi, somewhat identifies one being a Muslim. InshaAllah, may Allah reward you for your love of Islam and desire to be identified as one.

But pleasing one's parents on the other hand is obligatory to a certain extent, as long as it does not mean, displeasing Allah. And so is maintaining relations.

Hence, what carries more weight, is something that we would have to decide. What would be the consequences if we decide to wear the kufi, much to the disapproval of our non-Muslim mother-in-law, who doesn't even understand Islam? Would we imprint and immortalise in her mind that Muslims = Kufi wearers? Would insisting on wearing the kufi acentuate da'wah, or would it be detrimental to da'wah? What would we like for her to understand about what Muslim identity really is?  

Allahua'lam, akhi... but I know what I am to do... I mean, if I'm a Scott, I'd even wear a kilt on my wedding (I'll just make sure, that it'll cover my knees well! ;)) *ahem* that is if I'm a brother *ahem*

Take care.. and don't worry too much about it akhi...

Allah does not look at anything else, but your heart... and what is good from your heart, will manifest outwardly, naturally and sincerely :) Islam is universal, not a particular culture :)

Wassalam :-)
Re: Dressing like a Muslim
Justin
08/07/01 at 10:38:50
Salaam alaikum,

Thank you for what you said Barr.

Justin


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