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Shalwar kameez etc?

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Shalwar kameez etc?
Stephanie
04/23/04 at 20:34:10
[slm] sisters

Okay, there's something I've always wanted to ask but was always afraid to.  I've noticed that a lot of desi women don't fully cover; they often wear short sleeved shalwar kameez and don't fully cover their head, or just let their scarf hang over their chests.  I'm assuming this is culturally acceptable.  Is it also considered okay, islamically speaking in these countries.  Also, aren't the shalwar kameez etc. similiar to hindu clothing which is forbidden for us to wear.  Anyway sisters, please, please don't be offended by my questions.  I really feel the way a women chooses to dress is her own choice, I've just always wondered that's all.

Much love,  :-)
[wlm]
Re: Shalwar kameez etc?
a_lina
04/24/04 at 01:05:54
[slm]

I will attempt to answer sis. shareislam's questions.

[quote]I've noticed that a lot of desi women don't fully cover; they often wear short sleeved shalwar kameez and don't fully cover their head, or just let their scarf hang over their chests.  I'm assuming this is culturally acceptable.  Is it also considered okay, islamically speaking in these countries. [/quote]

Cuturally acceptable---> depending on which part of the subcontinent they come from, yes
Islamically acceptable---> no

Just like there are practicing and non-practicing muslims in non-muslim countries, same is the case in muslim countries. Some desi women fully cover and also wear a niqab. This may be due to religious reasons. It could also be because it is the cultural norm in their part of the subcontinent. Some don't cover their head and may also wear short sleeves. Again, this is a culturally accepted where they come from. However, it has nothing to do with religion.

[quote]Also, aren't the shalwar kameez etc. similiar to hindu clothing which is forbidden for us to wear.[/quote]

Islam does not condemn culture practices...including type of clothing...as long as it is within the bounds of religion. Muslims from different parts of the world dress differently. In North America, Muslim women wear long skirts. So do non-Muslim women. That does not mean that long skirts are forbidden in Islam. The object of whatever type of clothing a person wears is to cover properly. So, as long as a women's clothing conforms to the requirements of proper hijab, it is permitted.

Please correct me if I am wrong.

[slm] :-)
Re: Shalwar kameez etc?
al-ajnabia
04/24/04 at 10:41:12
[slm]
I see waht you are saying Iman, but I was wondering about something. so it is ok to wear clothers that non muslims wear, as long as it fits the requirements, such as not completely see through and loose, but I have wondered about muslim women who'se dress resembles orthodox jews, such as having their scarves tied behind their heads or even wearing wigs instead of hijab, and ohter things that make people asume they are jewish unless they know them personally.
Is that what is meant by dress that is distinct from other religions?
I can understand a skirt and loose longsleeve tshirt as acceptable, because that kind of dress isnt associated with any religion, and isnt evn very fashionable, so that if I see a woman dressed that way in hot weather with her scarf over her head and pulled to the front I assume she is muslim, however if the same woman wore the same clothing but her scarf was tied behind I would think she was jewish.
I also live where there are a lot of pentecostals, and I can pick them out because their dresses dont fall quite to their ankles, and they can wear short sleeves. And only the old ladies wear scarves and they tie them under their chins.
well, maybe I'm rambling, oh and there are also ladies in salwar kameses and I always used to asume they were hindu, but now I find out that muslims dress that way too.  I'm never sure, you know, so I dont say salam, then I wonder if I come off as a fundamentalist jerk, because Im always confused and wondering if they are muslim or not.
Re: Shalwar kameez etc?
gift
04/26/04 at 06:32:21
[slm]

Actually a Hindu woman's traditional dress is the sari.

But this is really besides the point. šThere are as many different types of salwar kameez as there are shirts / skirts. šSome are full sleeved, loose fitting, some have embroidery or lace, still others are see through, or tight, or have short sleeves ... you get my point.

What you must remember is that the sari / salwar kameez and other forms of clothing which are traditionally worn in India/Pakistan/Bangladesh are types of clothing worn in those countries for centuries. šThey are not really associated with any type of religion.

Surely what matters is that a muslim woman is dressed modestly - and to do that she can wear the clothing of almost any country in the world (except maybe the tribal women of the Amazon rainforest :P )

Lastly, as far as I'm aware we are supposed to avoid wearing conspicuous symbols of other religions - so stuff like the cross / star of david / hare krishna orange robes
the jewish yarmulke... etc
[wlm]
04/26/04 at 06:34:26
gift
Re: Shalwar kameez etc?
Stephanie
04/26/04 at 18:46:51
[slm]
Here's some info another sister was kind enough to share with me.

The following is from:
Shamaa-il Tirmidhi  
The Virtues and Noble Character of The Prophet Muhammad  
Classic Book of Hadeeth by Imaam Abi 'Eesaa Muhammad bin 'Eesah bin Sorah At-Tirmidhi R.A.(209-279A.H.)  
Commentary by Shaykhul-Hadith Maulana Muhammad Zakariyya Muhajir Madni (R.A)  


(53).
Ummul Mu-mineen, Ummi Salamah Radiyallahu 'anha relates: "Of all the clothing, Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam preferred wearing the qamis (Thowb, kurtaa) the most".

Kurta is a long shirt similar to a thowb. Kurta is also called kameez/qamis. It is worn by people from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, (Malaysia?) and others...


(56)  
Asmaa bint Yazeed Radhiyallahu 'Anha says: "The sleeve of Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam's qamis reached to the wrists".

(65)
Ibn 'Abbaas (R.A) says that Rasulullah (S.A.W) used to say: " Choose white clothing, as it is the best clothing. White clothing should be worn whilst living, and the dead should be buried in white."

On Shalwaar/pyjamas (also called Izaar):
It was a noble habit of Sayyidina Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihe wasallam to wear a lungi (waist-wrap, sarong). There is a difference of opinion whether Sayyidina Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihe wasallam wore an izaar or not. According to Allamah Baijuri's research, it is more correct that he did not wear an izaar, although he possessed one. It is also said that after he passed away, there was an izaar in his belongings (estate). Ibn Qayyim says that Sayyidina Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihe wasallam purchased an izaar, and he must have purchased it to wear it. It has also been mentioned in many ahaadith that Sayyidina Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihe wasallam wore an izaar. Many Sahabah radiyallahu anhum wore an izaar with the permission of Sayyidina Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihe wasallam. (Zaadul Ma'aad)  
Hazrat Abu Umamah radiyallahu anhu says, "I said to Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihe wasallam that the Ahlul-Kitab (People of the Book) do not wear a lungi, but they wear an izaar.  
Sayyidina Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihe wasallam replied, "You must oppose the way of the non-believers. Wear an izaar, and a lungi too."  

Scholars say that any dress that is long, loose, covers yourself according to recommendations of the shariah, will be called a sunnah dress..

Also scholars say if you wear a dress cuz u like it and some kuffar wear it too then its fine... (As long as dress is allowed in shariah)...

it is bad however to wear a dress just so that u look like the kuffar..

and Allah knows best...  


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