How Should a Muslim Dress in Non-Muslim Countries?
Answered by Shaykh Anas al-Musa
Question
How should a Muslim dress in non-Muslim countries?
Answer
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all worlds. Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger sent as a mercy to the worlds, our Master and Prophet, Muhammad, and his Family and Companions.
When Muslims live in non-Muslim countries, it is essential to adhere to certain principles that help them integrate into society while maintaining their Islamic identity, regardless of the circumstances. Some of these principles include:
Important Criteria
The clothing of a Muslim—whether male or female—must be modest. This means the attire should be loose-fitting and not outline the private parts, as well as thick enough not to reveal them. Women’s clothing should not be decorative in itself, avoiding bright colors that draw attention, as the hijab is meant to divert attention and not to cause temptation.
Allah (Most High) says:
“(O Prophet!) Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their chastity. That is purer for them. Surely Allah is All-Aware of what they do.” [Quran, 24:30]
Additionally, Allah (Most High) prohibits the display of adornments by saying:
“And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their chastity, and not to reveal their adornments except what normally appears. Let them draw their veils over their chests, and not reveal their (hidden) adornments.” [Quran, 24:31]
The clothing must also cover the private areas (‘awra). For men, the ‘awra is from the navel to the knees. For women, the entire body is considered ‘awra except for the face and hands.
Summary
It is permissible for Muslims, both men and women, to choose clothing that aligns with the local culture of the country they live in, as long as it does not conflict with Islamic teachings, some of which have been mentioned above. [See: Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar; al-Durar al-Bahiyya min al-Fatawa al-Kuwaytiyya]
Allah (Most High) knows best.
May Allah bless the Prophet Muhammad and give him peace, and his Family and Companions.
[Shaykh] Anas al-Musa
Shaykh Anas al-Musa, born in Hama, Syria, in 1974, is an erudite scholar of notable repute. He graduated from the Engineering Institute in Damascus, where he specialized in General Construction, and Al-Azhar University, Faculty of Usul al-Din, where he specialized in Hadith.
He studied under prominent scholars in Damascus, including Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Shaghouri and Shaykh Adib al-Kallas, among others. Shaykh Anas has memorized the Quran and is proficient in the ten Mutawatir recitations, having studied under Shaykh Bakri al-Tarabishi and Shaykh Mowfaq ‘Ayun. He also graduated from the Iraqi Hadith School.He has taught numerous Islamic subjects at Shari‘a institutes in Syria and Turkey. Shaykh Anas has served as an Imam and preacher for over 15 years and is a teacher of the Quran in its various readings and narrations.
Currently, he works as a teacher at SeekersGuidance and is responsible for academic guidance there. He has completed his Master’s degree in Hadith and is now pursuing his Ph.D. in the same field. Shaykh Anas al-Musa is married and resides in Istanbul.
