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]
[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
