Tuesday 10 February 2015

The Dressing of the Muslim



Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

It is very common amongst the youth to emulate the dress code and ways of the non-Muslims. ...Following Hollywood, Bollywood, western and eastern fashion, lifestyle and culture is the pursuit, interest and fixation of many people.


I have mentioned to boys and girls and even adults, that the dressing which is according to the Sunnah, greatly benefits in different ways. This dressing of the Kurta, pants above the ankle and Topee/Amamah for the men, and the Hijaab and Niqaab for the women has Noor.


When this Sunnah attire and modest dressing are adopted, then this Noor enters the heart and results in piety being nurtured in the heart, character and speech. There is an immediate effect and improvement in a person’s spirituality.


The Sunnah dressing is also extremely modest and simple. As such, modesty and simplicity are also cultivated in the person.

Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said: Simplicity is a part of Imaan” [1] and: “Modesty is a branch of Faith.”


Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) also said: Haya (modesty) does not bring anything except good.”[2]


Where there is modesty, then virtue, chastity and purity will be found – in actions, speech and thoughts.


Another benefit of the dressing of Islam is that it becomes a barrier and a protection from sins. It makes it so much easier to stay away from sins. 


The person who is in Kurta or the sister who is in Hijaab and Niqaab will stay far away from committing open sin, going to places such as cinemas, clubs and other evil venues. There is an understanding that this dress represents piety and that people look upon such people as pious. It is most inappropriate to be present in such places, more especially when in such attire. 


I advise and encourage all the brothers, young and old, who are not in the habit of wearing the Sunnah Libaas, to commence by wearing it for the Fardh Salaah. Salaah demands respect. Being in the House of Allah Ta’ala also demands respect and dignity.


In answering the call to Salaah, also respond to the Command of Allah Ta’ala regarding our dressing to Salaah.


“O Children of Aadam! Take your adornment at every prayer time…
[Surah Al-A’raaf 7 : 31]


Wearing short sleeves, tight fitting pants, performing the Salaah bare-headed, etc. goes against the grain of respect and is Makruh (extremely disliked).


If a person wears this Sunnah Libaas, five times a day, for the Salaah, he will, Insha-Allah, see the day where he will cast off the western garb and adopt the Sunnah attire full time, with great love and happiness. He will establish great affinity with the Sunnah and will lose interest in the ways of the non-Muslims.


Very sadly, so many of our sisters go out ill-clad - wearing immodest, revealing and modern garb, and they beautify and perfume themselves. They then become targets of filthy, lustful glances and even physical and verbal harassment. In a society wherein evil and obscenity abound, rape has a ‘visual’ dimension as well…


Allah Ta’ala revealed the laws of Hijaab in various Aayaat (verses) of the Qur`aan Shareef. Hijaab identifies a woman as a respectable human being and she is safeguarded from any kind of harassment - which is so common in this day and age. 

 
“O Nabi ! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies (i.e. screen themselves completely). That will be better, that they should be known (as free respectable women) so as not to be annoyed….”

[Surah Al-Ahzaab 33 : 59]


Our sisters should look towards the pure wives and daughters of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and the noble Sahabiyaat (RA) as role models. These are women who earned great honour and success in both worlds, and whe are beloved to Allah Ta’ala. Aspire for this!



When the dressing of the Kuffaar is worn, there is Zulmat (darkness) that falls on the heart and this darkness then becomes apparent in the person’s character, actions and speech. ...An attribute of the dress of the kuffaar is that of immodesty and indecency. It destroys the inherent modesty and shame of a person. Very quickly, the nature of a person becomes spoiled – inclining towards immodesty and indecency.


We see the end result of imitating actors, actresses, singers and others: smoking, drugs, alcohol, swearing, illicit relationships, fornication, etc. Darkness spreads in the person's life.


Their culture encourages girls to look like boys and boys to look like girls. Identity is lost and natural characteristics are ruined. 


Allah Ta’ala has defined the most perfect dress code for men and women. Various Ahadith offer us guidelines and details regarding our dressing. We should acquaint ourselves with this knowledge and implement them practically and also appreciate the bounty of such beautiful, noble attire.


The clothing of the Muslim is extremely important. It is our identity. We should not be embarrassed or ashamed to be recognized as Muslims and as followers of our Beloved Rasul (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam). We should be desirous of having this resemblance with him (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam).


Moreover, our dress makes us ambassadors, representatives and flag-bearers of this beautiful Deen, without any effort.


May Allah Ta’ala grant us the courage and the Taufeeq of practising on all of Deen, and grant us the great benefits and rewards that follow as a result of this.

~ Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (Rahmatullahi 'alayh)



[1] Abu Dawood
[2] Sahih Bukhari