Is Wearing Clothes Inside Out Forbidden or Frowned Upon in Islam?

Answered by Shaykh Yusuf Weltch

Question

Is wearing clothes inside out forbidden or frowned upon in Islam?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

Wearing clothes inside out without a legitimate excuse is not sinful but may affect one’s legal reputation (muru‘a). Legal reputation is the level to which one can be taken as an example or trusted religiously. It closely relates to the dignity and self-respect that Muslims should uphold as they pursue excellence, following the greatest of examples, the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace).

Thus in this vein, it would be considered unbecoming of a Muslim. To perform prayer like that would also be considered prohibitively disliked (unless there is a legitimate excuse). [Tahtawi/Shurunbulali, Hashiyat Maraqi al-Falah]

Allah Most High says,

“O Children of Adam! Dress properly whenever you are at worship. Eat and drink, but do not waste. Surely He does not like the wasteful.” [Quran; 7:31]

This is because the one standing in prayer is in communion with their Lord: standing before Allah. Whereas most people would not stand before someone of the creation they truly revered and respected with such clothing on.

Hope this helps
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch is a teacher of Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he went on to study at Darul Uloom Seminary in New York and completed his studies at Darul Mustafa in Tarim, Yemen.

There, he completed the memorization of the Quran and his study of Islamic Sciences. Throughout his years of study, he was blessed to learn from many great scholars: Habib Umar bin Hafiz, Habib Kazhim al-Saqqaf, Shaykh ‘Umar bin Husayn al-Khatib, and others.

Upon returning, he joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.