Why we wear clothes

Allah says: O children of Adam, We have given you clothing to cover your bodies, and to make you look good. But the clothing of taqwa is the best¹. (Taqwa means being mindful of Allah.)

• To cover. Covering the body is a gift and part of human nature.
• To look good. Allah asks: who has forbidden the beauty that Allah made for His servants?². He tells us to wear our good clothes at every place of prayer³.
• To remind us of taqwa. The outside matters, but the clothing of the heart matters more.

Nabi ﷺ said no one with a tiny bit of pride in his heart will enter Jannah. A man asked: a person likes nice clothes and nice shoes. Nabi ﷺ said: Allah is beautiful and loves beauty. Pride is refusing the truth and looking down on people⁴.

He also said: Allah loves to see the signs of His blessing on His servant⁵. And: eat, drink, give charity and wear clothes, as long as there is no waste and no pride in it⁶.

The short list

Clothing is halal by default. Jeans, suits, hoodies, thobes, sarees, any color, any culture. The rules are few:

The awrah: what must be covered

The awrah is the part of the body that must be covered. It is different for men and women, and it changes with who is around you.

Allah tells the believing men first to lower their gaze and guard their private parts⁷. Then He tells the believing women the same, and more⁸. Modesty is for both.

Men

• Most scholars say a man's awrah is from the navel to the knee, in front of everyone except his wife. Hanafis count the knee itself too.
• Nabi ﷺ was asked: from whom must we cover? He said: guard your awrah except from your wife⁹.
• He said: a man should not look at the awrah of another man, and a woman should not look at the awrah of another woman¹⁰. Think of changing rooms and the gym.

Women

• The family list is in the Quran itself: husbands, fathers, fathers-in-law, sons, stepsons, brothers, nephews, other women, and young children¹¹.
• A cousin or a brother-in-law is not a mahram. This surprises many families.
• Older women past the age of marriage may relax their outer garment, without showing off. But modesty is still better for them¹².

Hijab: what the Quran asks

• Allah tells believing women not to show their beauty except what normally shows, and to draw their khimar (head covering) over their chests¹³.
• He tells Nabi ﷺ to tell his wives, his daughters and the believing women to draw their outer garments over themselves, so they are known and not harmed¹⁴.

Aisha said: may Allah have mercy on the women of the Muhajirun. When this ayah came down, they tore their cloths and covered themselves with them¹⁵. They acted on it the same day.

So all four schools agree: a grown Muslim woman covers her hair and body in front of men who are not her mahram. It is from the Quran, not from one country's culture.

• It is not one style. An abaya, a long dress, a loose top with trousers and a scarf: all can be hijab.
• It is worship. A woman who covers for Allah is rewarded every day she does it.
• It is more than cloth. The same ayat ask both men and women to lower their gaze first¹⁶.

Read more in why do Muslim women wear hijab.

Covering the face: two views

Covering the face is called niqab. Here the scholars truly differ, from the time of the Companions until today.

View 1: covering the face is required

The well-known Hanbali view, and the view of many Shafi'i scholars and many scholars today.

• Allah says draw the outer garment over themselves¹⁷. They say this includes the face.
• Aisha said the women of the Muhajirun covered their heads and faces when the ayah came¹⁸.
• Aisha said that after the ayat of hijab, when a man found her alone on a journey, she covered her face¹⁹.

View 2: the face and hands may show

The view of the Hanafis and Malikis, and many Shafi'i and other scholars, and many scholars today.

• Allah says except what normally shows²⁰. Ibn Abbas and others explained this as the face and hands.
• A woman from the tribe of Khath'am asked Nabi ﷺ a question at Hajj. Al-Fadl kept looking at her, and Nabi ﷺ turned Al-Fadl's face away. He did not tell her to cover her face²¹.
• A woman in ihram (the state of Hajj) must not wear a niqab or gloves²².
• A hadith says a grown woman shows only this and this, pointing to the face and hands²³. Al-Albani graded it sahih through its other chains. Abu Dawud said its chain is broken, so other scholars do not rely on it.
• Many Hanafi scholars add: a young woman should cover her face where she fears unwanted attention.

Loose and not see-through

Clothes must really cover.

• Nabi ﷺ spoke of a time when some women would be dressed, yet as if not dressed²⁴. Scholars explain this as clothes that are thin, tight, or too short to cover.
• See-through: if the skin color shows through, that part is not covered. Wear a layer under or over it.
• Tight: clothes that hug the shape of the body are not hijab, even if the skin is covered. A long, loose top over jeans or leggings solves most of it.
• This is for men too. The navel to knee must not show through thin trousers or very tight shorts.

Ask yourself: does this cover, or does it draw eyes to what it covers?

Silk and gold for men

Nabi ﷺ took silk in his right hand and gold in his left and said: these two are haram for the men of my ummah²⁵. In another hadith: they are halal for its women²⁶.

• Whoever wears silk in this world will not wear it in the Hereafter²⁷.
• Nabi ﷺ saw a man with a gold ring. He took it off and threw it away, and said: one of you takes a burning coal from the Fire and puts it on his hand²⁸.

Clothes below the ankles

This is called isbal: a man letting his trousers, thobe or sarong hang below the ankles.

• Nabi ﷺ said: Allah will not look, on the Day of Judgement, at the one who drags his garment out of pride³⁵.
• He also said: what is below the ankles of the lower garment is in the Fire³⁶. And he named the one who drags his garment among three people Allah will not speak to on the Last Day³⁷.
• The best length: halfway down the shin. There is no harm between that and the ankles³⁸.

The two views

• Most scholars of the four schools: below the ankles out of pride is haram. Without pride it is makruh (disliked), not haram. The hadith that names pride, and Abu Bakr's case, explain the general one.
• Some scholars, including some Hanbalis and many scholars today: it is not allowed even without pride, because the ankle hadith has no condition. They say dragging clothes is itself a sign of pride, and Abu Bakr's case was an accident he kept fixing.

The safest way is to keep trousers at or above the ankles. Do not look down on a brother whose trousers are longer: he may follow the first view, and his heart is between him and Allah.

Men dressing like women, women dressing like men

Ibn Abbas said: Nabi ﷺ cursed the men who make themselves like women, and the women who make themselves like men⁴¹. He also cursed a man who wears women's clothes, and a woman who wears men's clothes⁴².

• What counts as men's or women's clothing depends on the place. In one country men wear a sarong, in another only women wear a wrap. Ask: here, is this known as men's or women's clothing?
• Trousers for women: many scholars allow loose trousers made for women, especially under a long top. They are not men's clothes just because they are trousers.
• Colors are not the issue, unless in that place a color is clearly tied to one sex.
• The warning is about choosing on purpose to look like the other sex. A gentle boy or a sporty girl is not under it.

Dressing to show off

Nabi ﷺ said: whoever wears a garment of fame in this world, Allah will dress him in a garment of humiliation on the Day of Judgement⁴³⁴⁴.

• A garment of fame is clothing worn so people will notice you and talk about you, to look richer or better than others.
• Scholars say it goes both ways: very expensive clothes to show off, and very shabby clothes so people think you are humble.
• Nabi ﷺ told of a man walking in fine clothes, pleased with himself, his hair well combed. Allah made the earth swallow him⁴⁵.

But wanting nice clothes is not pride⁴⁶. Dressing well for Eid, Jumuah, your spouse or a job interview is good. The test is in the heart: am I thanking Allah, or looking down on people?

Colors, cultures and Western clothes

Colors

• White is loved. Nabi ﷺ said: wear white clothes, for they are among your best clothes, and shroud your dead in them⁴⁷.
• All other colors are allowed. Nabi ﷺ was seen in a red suit⁴⁸, in two green garments⁴⁹, and in a black turban⁵⁰.
• He told Abdullah ibn Amr not to wear two clothes dyed with saffron⁵¹. Many scholars say this is about that dye for men, not every yellow or orange. Some scholars also dislike plain bright red for men; others allow it.

Western and cultural clothes

• There is no single "Islamic" national dress. A thobe, a shalwar kameez, a suit, jeans and a shirt: all are halal when they meet the rules above.
• Nabi ﷺ himself wore a cloak from Sham (Syria, then a Roman land), with sleeves so tight he took his arms out from under it to make wudu⁵².
• Nabi ﷺ said: whoever copies a people is one of them⁵³. Scholars explain this as copying what belongs to another religion, like a cross or clothes worn for another faith's worship. Ordinary clothes everyone wears are not part of it.
• Avoid clothes with rude words or other religions' symbols. For pictures, see Music, pictures and entertainment.

Things people think are haram, but are not

• Jeans, a suit or a tie, if they cover well (for men, a tie that is not real silk).
• Black, red or bright colors.
• Clothes made by non-Muslims, or brand names, as long as it is not waste or showing off.
• Looking good and smelling nice. Allah is beautiful and loves beauty⁵⁴.

For more, read things you think are haram, and are not.

Sports clothes and swimming

Sport is good for the body. Aisha raced Nabi ﷺ on foot and won. Years later they raced again and he won, and he said: this one is for that one⁵⁵. The same covering rules apply:

• Men: shorts that reach over the knee, or leggings under short ones.
• Women: in front of men who are not mahram, a loose long top over leggings and a sports hijab. Many brands make these now.
• Changing rooms: do not show your awrah to others, and do not look at theirs⁵⁶. Use a cubicle or a towel.
• Swimming, men: knee-length swim shorts, and lower your gaze at mixed pools and beaches⁵⁷.
• Swimming, women: women-only swim times are best. A full-body swimsuit (a burkini) covers the skin, but wet cloth can cling. So many scholars say avoid swimming in front of men even in one. Others allow a loose burkini where there is no women-only option. Either way, wear something loose when you come out.

Shoes, the right side, and the dua for new clothes

• Nabi ﷺ liked to start with the right when putting on shoes, combing his hair, washing, and in all his affairs⁵⁸.
• He said: when you put on shoes, start with the right. When you take them off, start with the left⁵⁹. Scholars apply the same to shirts, trousers and socks.
• Do not walk in one shoe. Wear both, or take both off⁶⁰.

The dua for new clothes

When Nabi ﷺ wore something new, he named it, a shirt or a turban, and said⁶¹:

Allahumma lakal-hamd, anta kasawtanih. As'aluka min khayrihi wa khayri ma suni'a lah, wa a'udhu bika min sharrihi wa sharri ma suni'a lah.

O Allah, all praise is Yours. You dressed me in it. I ask You for its good and the good it was made for. I ask You to protect me from its harm and the harm it was made for.

• A shorter one: Alhamdu lillahil-ladhi kasani hadha wa razaqanihi min ghayri hawlin minni wa la quwwah: praise be to Allah who dressed me in this and gave it to me, with no power or strength from me. Whoever says it, his past sins are forgiven⁶².
• When a friend wears something new: the Companions said tubli wa yukhlifullah: may you wear it out, and may Allah give you another⁶³. Nabi ﷺ dressed little Umm Khalid in a new dress with his own hands and said: wear it until it wears out⁶⁴.

More daily duas are on the duas page.

If you are not there yet

Perhaps you wear clothes you now know are not right, or hijab feels hard where you live. Please read this slowly.

• Allah does not ask a soul for more than it can carry⁶⁵. Take one step, then the next.
• No sin for what you did not know. Start from today.
• One weak point does not cancel your good deeds. Keep your salah and your dua, and ask Allah to help with the rest.
• Do not let anyone shame you, and do not shame others. Advice is given privately and kindly.

Common questions

My work uniform has short sleeves or a skirt. What do I do?

Ask politely for a modest option. Many employers allow long sleeves under the uniform, trousers instead of a skirt, or a hijab in company colors. If there is truly no option, ask a scholar you trust about your case.

Can I wear shorts at home?

A man in front of others, even family, covers from the navel to the knee⁶⁶. So shorts that reach over the knee are fine.

Does a woman need hijab in front of her cousin or brother-in-law?

Yes. They are not mahram, because she could marry them. The family list is in Quran 24:31.

My trousers are a little long. Is my salah broken?

No, your prayer is valid. Hemming them to the ankle is the safest way, and easy to do.

My daughter is 9. Must she wear hijab?

Hijab becomes required at puberty. Before that, many parents let girls try it on happy days like Jumuah and Eid, so it feels like a gift. Never force it in anger.

I just became Muslim. Do I need a new wardrobe today?

No. Start with covering the awrah, then change other things step by step⁶⁷.