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MODESTY: Is it really for women only?

Updated: Mar 19, 2023

While many people think that there is excessive emphasis on modesty for women, Allah's command for men to maintain modesty precedes the one for women in the Quran: “Tell believing men to lower their glances and guard their private parts: that is purer for them.God is well aware of everything they do” (24:30).



Note that the

THE INJUNCTION ABOUT MODESTY STARTS BY ADDRESSING MEN, NOT WOMEN. ISLAM PLACES THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY OF OBSERVING MODESTY NOT ON WOMEN, BUT ON MEN.


Modesty for men starts with Lowering gaze

Lowering the gaze (ghadd al-basr) means restraining the gaze and not allowing it to wander or dwell upon anything.

In Islamic terminology it refers to a number of things:

1 – Refraining from looking at people’s ‘awrahs, which includes the beauty of a non-mahram woman.

2 – Refraining from looking into people’s houses and things that are behind closed doors.

3 – Refraining from looking at what people have of wealth, wives, children, worldly goods and so on.


Is dressing modestly necessary for men?

The answer is yes.

There follows a summary of the rulings on dress for men. We ask Allaah to make it sufficient and beneficial.

1. The basic principle concerning everything that is worn is that it is halaal and permissible, except for that concerning which there is a text to state that it is haraam, such as silk for males, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “These two [gold and silk] are forbidden for the males of my ummah and permissible for the females.” Narrated by Ibn Maajah, 3640; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Ibn Maajah.

Similarly it is not permissible to wear the skin of a dead animal (one that has died of natural causes) unless it has been tanned. With regard to wearing clothes made of wool, goat hair and camel hair, these are pure and permissible.


2. It is not permissible to wear thin or see-through clothing that does not conceal the ‘awrah. Here are some examples of clothes you can wear.
















3. It is haraam to imitate the mushrikeen and kuffaar in their manner of dress, so it is not permissible to wear clothing that is unique to the kuffaar.


4. It is haraam for women to imitate men and men to imitate women in the way they dress, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) cursed the men who imitate women and the women who imitate men.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5546.


5. It is mustahabb to wear white clothes

It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Wear white clothes, for they are the best of your clothes, and shroud your dead in them.”

Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 994, hasan saheeh. This is what the scholars regarded as mustahabb. Also narrated by Abu Dawood, 4061; Ibn Maajah, 1472.

Click on the picture of this white garments for men if you are interested to buy this.



6. It is haraam for the Muslim man to let any garment he wears hang down beneath his ankles (an action known as isbaal); the limit for any garment is the ankles.

It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said; “Whatever of the lower garment is beneath the ankles is in the Fire.”

Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5450.


7. It is haraam to wear garments of fame and vanity, which means a garment that stands out from others so that people will look at the wearer and he will become known for it.



"Modest dress plays a key role in purification of the soul & deep inner contentment - ~Mufti Ismail Menk (Islamic Scholar)

Hence;

Allah’s rules apply to both genders, but in diverse ways. For example, men are also required to cover parts of their body out of modesty, but not in the same way as women. Similarly, men are prohibited from wearing silk clothing and gold ornaments whereas women have no such restrictions. Therefore, Allah has ordained different commands for men and women while encouraging both to be modest.


Therefore;

To help our brothers and sisters, we have gathered some Fine MODEST CLOTHING for MUSLIM MEN and WOMEN. Click here if you are interested in buying ISLAMIC clothes for you or your loved ones.




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