Urdu Narration: Libas k Aadab aur Ahkam – Etiquette of Wearing Clothes – Dr. Mohammad Najeeb Qasmi

The Clear Evidence

Peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you.

All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all worlds. Blessings and peace be upon the noble Prophet, his family, and all his companions.

The topic of my discussion today is the etiquette and rulings of clothing—what we should and should not wear, as well as the guidelines and manners related to dressing.

Dear brothers and sisters, Islamic scholars, in light of the Quran and Sunnah, have stated that a person can wear any clothing in accordance with the customs and traditions of their region, as long as it aligns with the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The fundamental principle in clothing is permissibility, as mentioned in Surah Al-A'raf (7:32), where Allah states that in matters of clothing and food, only that which He has declared unlawful is prohibited.

We should strive to follow the way of the Prophet (peace be upon him) in our clothing as much as possible and avoid attire that does not conform to his traditions. Allah has made the Prophet’s way a role model for all of humanity until the Day of Judgment, as stated in the Quran:

"Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah, you have an excellent example." (Surah Al-Ahzab 33:21)

Regarding clothing, Allah also commands in the Quran:

"O children of Adam! We have bestowed upon you clothing to cover your shame and as an adornment. But the best clothing is the clothing of piety." (Surah Al-A'raf 7:26)

This verse instructs us to wear clothing that reflects modesty and piety. Clothing should align with Islamic teachings and not contradict the words and actions of the Prophet (peace be upon him). Based on the Prophet’s guidance, scholars have outlined some essential conditions regarding clothing:

1. Covering the Body Properly:
2. Clothing Should Not Contradict the Prophet’s Teachings:
3. Clothing Should Not Be Transparent or Tight-Fitting:
4. Men's and Women's Clothing Should Not Resemble Each Other:
5. Men's Clothing Should Not Be Excessively Colorful, and Women's Clothing Should Not Be Scented:
6. Men's Clothing Should Be Above the Ankles, and Women's Clothing Should Cover the Ankles:
7. Clothing Should Not Resemble the Religious Dress of Non-Believers:

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) often wore white garments, although he also wore other colors. His colorful clothing was usually in the form of a shawl, cloak, or robe, while his shirt and lower garments were generally white.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

"Wear white clothing, as it is the best among your clothes, and shroud your deceased in white as well."
(Reported in Tirmidhi, Abu Dawood, Ibn Majah, Musnad Ahmad, and Sahih Ibn Hibban)

Hazrat Bara (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:

"The Prophet (peace be upon him) had a medium height. One day, I saw him wearing a red-striped cloak, and I had never seen anything more beautiful than him."
(Reported in Bukhari and Muslim)

Hazrat Umm Salama (may Allah be pleased with her) said:

"The Prophet (peace be upon him) preferred wearing shirts over other types of clothing."
(Reported in Tirmidhi and Abu Dawood)

His shirt was generally white and reached mid-calf. The sleeves of his shirt typically extended to his wrists and occasionally to his fingertips.

Regarding lower garments, the