On Women Wearing Western Clothing

Answered by Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him)

Some Muslim women in the West have taken to wearing a shirt and trousers so as not to stand out too much. What do you say about this?

As a principle, we should be concerned with seeking Allah’s pleasure rather than trying to fit in with society. Our aim should be to follow the example of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and the pious. As for the ruling it is permissible for women to wear this as long as it is normal for women to dress in this way in that society. The clothing must not be tight-fitting and must not expose the shape of the body. In general, women must not expose any part of the body which must be covered to strange men.