Islamic Rulings -
Living Shariah Verdicts
Islamic Questions & Answers
Is it
permissible for a woman to wear a white wedding dress
on the wedding night? Or is it haraam because this is
the dress of kaafir women?
Praise be to Allaah.
There is
nothing wrong with a woman wearing a white wedding
dress on condition that she does not appear in it in
front of men who are not her mahrams, because usually
wedding dresses are adorned and decorated, and we have
already stated in the answer to question no. 39570
that one of the conditions of women's hijab is that it
should not be an adornment in and of itself.
It is also essential that this dress does not reveal
any of the woman's charms, even if she is only going
to appear in front of women in it. See question no.
6569 and 34745.
With regard to it being the dress of kaafir women,
that is not the case. Rather many Muslim women
nowadays, if not most of them, wear this kind of
dress.
Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen was asked:
What is the ruling on a woman wearing white for her
wedding as it is known that this is an imitation of
the kuffaar?
He replied:
It is permissible for a woman to wear white so long as
it is not in the same form as men's clothing. With
regard to it being an imitation of the kuffaar, that
is no longer the case, because now all Muslim women
wear such clothes when they are getting married. The
ruling depends on whether the reason for it is present
or not. If it is no longer an imitation of the kuffaar
and this has now become something that is common to
both Muslims and kaafirs, then the ruling no longer
applies, unless something is haraam in and of itself
and not because it is an imitation of others. Such
things are haraam in all cases.
Majmoo'at As'ilat tahumm al-Mar'ah, p. 92.
Wearing short or tight clothes in front of other
women and mahrams
What is considered a woman's aurah in the
presence of her children (both male and female) and in
the presence of other Muslim Women? I am asking this
question because I received second hand information
concerning a woman's aurah (without the daleel). This
person stated that a muslim woman should not wear
summer clothes (i.e. tank tops or shorts) in her home
around her son (who has not yet gone through puberty
but close to it). Additionally, It is the thought of
some Muslim husbands that when sisters are together,
they should not remove their jilbabs. Please clarify!
Jazakallahu Khair for your help!
Praise be to Allaah.
Shaykh
Muhammad ibn Saalih al-'Uthaymeen was asked about this
and he replied:
Tight clothing which reveals a woman's charms is
forbidden, because the Prophet (Peace And Blessings Of
Allaah Be Upon Him) said: "There are two types of the
people of Hell whom I have not seen: men with whips
like the tails of cattle with which they strike the
people – meaning wrongfully and aggressively – and
women who are clothed yet naked, and walk with an
enticing gait."
The phrase "clothed yet naked" was interpreted as
meaning that they wear short clothes which do not
cover that which should be covered of the 'awrah. It
was also interpreted as meaning that they wear light
clothes that do not prevent others from seeing the
woman's skin underneath. And it was interpreted as
meaning that they wear tight clothes, so that they are
covered and cannot be seen, but their bodily charms
can be seen.
On this basis, it is not permitted for a woman to wear
these tight clothes, except in front of the one before
whom she is permitted to show her 'awrah, who is the
husband – for there is no 'awrah between husband and
wife, because Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning):
"And those who guard their chastity (i.e. private
parts, from illegal sexual acts) Except from their
wives or (the slaves) that their right hands possess,
¾ for then, they are free from blame" [al-Mu'minoon
23:5-6]
And 'Aa'ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said:
"The Prophet (Peace And Blessings Of Allaah Be Upon
Him) and I used to do ghusl – i.e., from janaabah
(impurity following intercourse) – from one vessel,
taking it in turns to dip our hands into the vessel."
So there is no 'awrah between a man and his wife.
But between a woman and her mahrams, she has to cover
her 'awrah.
It is not permissible to wear tight clothing, either
in front of one's mahrams or in front of other women,
if it is excessively tight and shows the woman's
charms.
(Fataawa al-Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-'Uthaymeen,
2/825)
Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan, may Allaah preserve him,
said:
It is not permissible for a woman to wear short
clothes in front of her children and mahrams, or to
uncover more than is customary in front of them of
that which will not cause any fitnah. She may wear
short clothes in front of her husband only.
(Al-Muntaqaa min Fataawa Fadeelat al-Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan,
3/170)
(See: Fataawa al-Mar'ah al-Muslimah, 1/417, 418 –
compiled by Ashraf 'Abd al-Maqsood).
Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan also said:
Undoubtedly for a woman to wear something tight that
shows her bodily charms is not permitted, except in
front of her husband only, but in front of anybody
else, it is not permitted, even if it is in the
presence of other women, because she could be a bad
example to others – if they see her dressing like this
they may do the same.
Also: a woman is commanded to cover her 'awrah with
loose and concealing clothes in front of everyone,
except for her husband. She should cover her 'awrah in
front of women just as she does in front of men,
except for what women customarily uncover in front of
other women, such as the face, hands and feet,
whatever it may be necessary to uncover.
(al-Muntaqaa min Fataawa Fadeelat al-Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan,
3/176, 177).
Al-Mardaawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: "It
is permissible for a man to see the face, neck, head
and calf of women who are his mahrams." (Sharh al-Muntahaa,
part 3, p. 7).
And Allaah knows best.
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