JUMAT SERMON: Islam And Dress Codes

 

By Imam Muhammad Makanjuola

ALL praise is due to Allaah, and may His peace and blessings be upon the final Messenger, His pure family, noble companions, and all those who follow them with righteousness until the day of Judgment. 

Islaam is a complete code of life, each and every aspect of the religion is designed by our Creator to have happy and healthy communities by easing the path to eternal happiness in Paradise forever. In religion, Islaam, Qur’an and Sunnah have laid down some principles regarding the dress code of both males and females. A Muslim and a Muslimah are both required to observe the Islamic teachings both internally and externally. Allaah Almighty says: “And abstain from all sins, internal or external.” Quran 6:120.

Nowadays, modesty seems to be a sign of weakness or insecurity in other religions but not the case in Islaam. In Islaam, modesty is seen as a sign of respect for oneself and others. Islaam defines a dress code for both men and women, purpose of defining dress code is to protect the society and promote modest dressing and behaviour. Dress code defined by Allaah Almighty allows Muslims to conduct their lives with respect, dignity, and modesty.

Regarding dressing, Allaah “O children of Adam! Surely, we have bestowed upon you a garment to cover your shame, as well as to be an adornment to you, and the garment of piety is the best”. Qur’an 7:26. From this verse, we came to know that dressing with modesty is very important for all of us. Allah has allowed people to wear nice clothes and put on a good appearance, as doing so is one aspect of remembering Allah’s blessings upon them. Noble Qur’an states about wearing clothes in these words: “Say, ‘Who has forbidden the adornment of Allah, which He has brought forth for His servants and the good things, clean and pure, which Allaah has provided for them?’ Say, ‘They are [lawful] for the believers in the present life but they shall be exclusively for them on the Day of Resurrection.’ Thus We explain Our signs for a people who understand.” (Quran, 7:32)

Allaah has mentioned reasons for clothing: to cover the body and cover up what should not be revealed in public, to beautify the body so the person looks better. Islamic clothing is known for its modesty. A Muslim is allowed to wear whatever clothes he/she wishes so long as they are modest and must meet the commandments of Qur’an and Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad. 

Both men and women should show modesty in the clothes they wear. Women should wear a dress in a way that shows they are Muslim women. The Qur’an instructs the Prophet about women dressing in the way: “Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to wrap their outer garments around themselves. That is more suitable so that they will be known as pious women, and not be harassed.” Qur’an, 33:59.

The basics concerning men’s dressing is that they should wear what is halaal and permissible, anything outside that is haraam, such as silk for males; because the Prophet said: “These two [gold and silk] are forbidden for the males of my ummah and permissible for the females” (Ibn Majah). Any dressing which creates pride and arrogance in the heart must be avoided. In an hadith, the Messenger of Allah said: “Whosoever dresses himself out of pride in this world, Allaah will dress him/her with the same clothing on the day of Qiyamah and he/she will be entered into Hell.” (Ibn Majah)

In short, we should dress properly with dignity, respect, and modesty. May Allaah guide us to dress properly according to the teachings of Islam!

May Allaah Almighty makes this sermon a beneficial one for me, the writer, the readers, and the entire Muslims. And our last prayer, is praise be to Allaah Almighty, Lord of the worlds.

• Sheik Muhammad Abdulalimi, is the Mudiru Ad-Da’wah Wal-Irshad, Obaagun, State of Osun