Women's Hijab In Accordance with The Qur'an and Sunnah (3/3)

5)  Difference from Men's Clothing

The clothing of a Muslim woman must not resemble the clothing of men. The following two ahadeeth help to explain this.

Abu Hurayrah (radiallahu 'anhu) said: Rasool-Allah (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) cursed the man who wears women's clothes and the woman who wears men's clothes. [Reported by Abu Dawood and Ibn Maajah Saheeh]

'Abdullah ibn 'Umar (radiallahu 'anhumaa) said he heard Rasool-Allah (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) say: “The man who resembles a woman and the woman who resembles a man is not of us (i.e., not of the believers).” [Reported by Ahmad and At-Tabarani - Saheeh)

Additionally, Abu Dawood relates a narration from Umm Salamah (radiallahu 'anhaa) which shows that the Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) forbade women to bundle their Khumoor on their heads in such a way as to resemble the turban of a man. Western Muslim sisters should pay specific attention to this point since regretfully this has become a widespread practice amongst many of them!

6) Difference from the Clothing of Unbelievers

Her clothing must not resemble the clothing of unbelievers. This is a general ruling of the Sharee'ah which encompasses not only dress but also such things as manners, customs, religious practices and festivities, transactions, etc. Indeed, dissimilarity with unbelievers is a precedent that was established by the first generation of Islam. The following two ahadeeth and statement of 'Umar (radiallahu 'anhu) will help to clarify this position.

'Abdullah ibn 'Amr ibn Al-'Aas said: Rasool-Allah (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) saw me wearing two saffron colored garments, so he said: Indeed, these are the clothes of kuffaar (unbelievers), so do not wear them. [Reported by Saheeh Muslim]

'Abdullah ibn 'Umar (radiallahu 'anhumaa) said: Rasool-Allah (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) stated: “Whoever resembles a people is one of them.” [Reported by Abu Daawood]

Abu Musa Al-Ash'aree (radiallahu 'anhu) related that 'Umar (radiallahu 'anhu) told him: ...I shall not honor those whom Allah has dishonored, nor esteem those, He has humbled, nor bring close those whom He has kept afar. [Reported by Ahmad]

7)  No Vain or Ostentatious Dressing

The woman's dress must not be an expression of ostentation, vanity or as a status symbol by being excessively showy or expensive, nor must it be excessively tattered so as to gain admiration and fame for being humble. Ibn 'Umar (radiallahu 'anhumaa) reported that Rasool-Allah (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said: “Whoever dresses for ostentation in this world, Allah will dress that person in a dress of humiliation on the Day of Resurrection, and then set it on fire.” [Reported by Abu Dawood]