Hijab is for Everyone, Males & Females

Hijab & Clothing for Men

People usually only discuss Hijab in the context of women. However in the Holy Quran, Allah (The One & Only God) first mentions Hijab for men before Hijab for the women.

 "Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: That will make for greater purity for them: and Allah is well acquainted with all that they do"
 (Surah Noor, chapter 24, verse 30)

The moment a man looks at a woman and if any brazen or unashamed thought comes to his mind, he should lower his gaze. 



1: Men are also required to cover their body parts that reveal body

For men, it's compulsory for them to cover their body from navel to knees.

This has been confirmed in the narration of Abu Sa'id al-Khudri who said that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said, "A man's 'awrah is between his navel and his knees."

Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said to Jabir, "Cover your thighs, for the thigh is the 'awrah."

The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) also said to Hudhayfah when he had his thigh uncovered, "Do not reveal your thigh nor look at anybody else's thigh, whether he is alive or dead."

And he said to Mu'mar when he passed him by with both his (Mu'mar's) thighs uncovered, "O Mu'mar! Cover your thighs; the thigh is 'awrah."



2: Men are required to lower their gaze strictly and not look up to women in public places intentionally.

 "Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: That will make for greater purity for them: and Allah is well acquainted with all that they do"
 (Surah Noor, chapter # 24, verse #30)



3: Gold and Pure Silk are Haram (Forbidden) for Men

A man by the ruling of Allah (The One God) is not allowed to wear either silk or gold.

Islam has forbidden men from wearing silk and gold but has allowed it for women, as well as for men who have a skin problem and need to wear silk.

Ahmed, al-Tirmidhi and al-Nisa'i reported that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said, "Gold and silk are allowed for the women of my Ummah and forbidden for the men." '

Umar ibn al-Khattab reported, "I heard the Messenger of Allah saying, 'Do not wear silk, for one who wears it in this world will not wear it in the Hereafter'.
 Hadith - Sahih Al-Bukhari 7.693, Narrated Uqba bin Amir

A silken Farruj was presented to Allah's Apostle and he put it on and offered the prayer in it. When he finished the prayer, he took it off violently as if he disliked it and said, "This (garment) does not befit those who fear Allah!"

"Men are only allowed to wear silk if it does not exceed three or four fingers in lying next to each other in width. Ahmed, Abu Dawud, al-Nisa'i, al-Tirmidhi and Muslim have reported on 'Umar's authority that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) had forbidden men from wearing silk except to the extent of two middle and index fingers joined together, as demonstrated by the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w). In another narration, he (s.a.w) forbade silk except to the extent of two, three or four fingers.

Islam has allowed the wearing of silk for sick male Muslims without any limit to the width. Al-Nisa'i, Abu Dawud, al-Bukhari, Ahmed and Ibn Majah reported on the authority of Anas that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) permitted 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Auf and al-Zubayr to wear silk because they suffered from the problem of skin irritation. Some scholars have used silk as analogous to the wearing of gold for medical purposes.

As for the evidence regarding the forbidding of the wearing of gold for Muslim males, al-Tirmidhi reported on the authority of 'Imran ibn Hassin, as did Muslim on the authority of Abu Hurayrah, that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) forbade them from wearing gold rings

'All reported that the Holy Prophet (peace be on him) took some silk in his right hand and some gold in his left, declaring, "These two are haram for the males among my followers." (Reported by Ahmad, Abu Daoud, al-Nisai, Ibn Hayyan, and lbn Majah, who reports the additional phrase, "but halal for the females.") '

On another occasion, referring to a silken garment, he said, "This is the dress of a man who has no character.'' (Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim.)

The Holy Prophet (peace be on him) once saw a gold ring on a man's hand. He immediately took it from him and threw it down saying, 'Does a person pick up a piece of burning coal and hold it in his hand?' After the Prophet (peace be on him) had left the place, someone asked the man, 'Why do you not pick it up and benefit from it?' He replied, 'No, by Allah! I shall not pick it up after the Messenger of Allah (peace be on him) has thrown it away.' (Reported by Muslim.)



4:Patterns/Marks In the Clothing: Simple Clothing Preferred

Hadith - Sunan of Abu Dawood, #4041, Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin, r.a.
The Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) once prayed wearing a garment having marks. He looked at its marks. When he saluted, he said: Take this garment of mine to Abu Jahm, for it turned my attention just now in my prayer, and bring a simple garment without marks.

Hadith - Muwatta 3.72 - Looking in the Prayer at What Distracts You From It
Yahya related to me from Malik from AIqama ibn Abi AIqama from his mother that A'isha, the wife of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Abu Jahm ibn Hudhayfa gave the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, a fine striped garment from Syria and he did the prayer in it. When he had finished he said, 'Give this garment back to Abu Jahm. I looked at its stripes in the prayer and they almost distracted me.' "



5: The clothes should be loose enough (not tight) that they do not disclose the figure.

I asked Jabir bin 'Abdullah about praying in a single garment. He said, "I traveled with the Holy Prophet during some of his journeys, and I came to him at night for some purpose and I found him praying. At that time, I was wearing a single garment with which I covered my shoulders and prayed by his side. When he finished the prayer, he asked, 'O Jabir! What has brought you here?' I told him what I wanted. When I finished, he asked, 'O Jabir! What is this garment which I have seen and with which you covered your shoulders?' I replied, 'It is a (tight) garment.' He said, 'If the garment is large enough, wrap it round the body (covering the shoulders) and if it is tight (too short) then use it as an Izar (tie it around your waist only.' -Hadith - Sahih Bukhari 1.357, Narrated Said bin Al Harith 


6: The clothes should not be see-through such that one can see through them.

7: The clothes should not be fashionable so that it will attract the opposite sex.


The clothes should not look like that of the opposite sex.

Al-Bukhari, al-Tirmidhi, al-Nisa'i, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah reported on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas that he said, "Allah's Messenger has cursed the women acting like men and the men acting like women."



The Holy Prophet (peace be on him) declared that a woman should not wear a man's clothing nor a man a woman's. He cursed men who imitate women and women who imitate men. (Reported by al-Bukhari and others.) Aspects of such imitation include the manner of speaking, walking, dressing, moving and so on.



8: The clothes should not give the impression that of the non-believer
  
Abu Dawud reported on the authority of Ibn 'Umar that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said, "Whoever acts like a people becomes one of them." This is related to anything linked to their creed or dress, such as the garment or hats of the priests, bishops, cardinals, nuns etc, or like Jewish garments or anything that distinguishes them from other people.



9 : Wearing White

Hadith - Al-Tirmidhi 4623, Narrated 'Aisha, r.a.
Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) was questioned about Waraqah and Khadijah said to him, "He believed in you, but died before you appeared as a prophet." Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) then said, "I was shown him in a dream, wearing white clothes, and if he had been one of the inhabitants of Hell he would have been wearing different clothing." [Ahmad and Tirmidhi transmitted it]

Narrated Abu Dharr, r.a. 'I came to the Prophet while he was wearing white clothes and sleeping.... '-Hadith - Sahih Al-Bukhari 7.717,



10: Wearing Green

Hadith - Sahih Al-Bukhari 7.705, Narrated 'Aisha, r.a.
When Allah's Apostle died, he was covered with a Hibra Burd (green square decorated garment).


Hadith - Sunan of Abu Dawood, Narrated Abu Rimthah, r.a.
I went with my father to the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) and saw two green garments over him.



11: Wearing Plain Red Not Allowed

It is permissible to wear red clothes if the red is combined with another colour; it is not permissible to wear plain red, because the Prophet (s.a.w.s) forbade doing so.

The hadith which forbid wearing plain red

1. From al-Baraa' ibn 'Aazib (may Allah be pleased with him): "The Prophet (s.a.w.s) forbade us to use soft red mattresses and qasiy – garments with woven stripes of silk." (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5390)

2. From Ibn 'Abbaas, who said: "I was forbidden (to wear) red garments and gold rings, and to recite Qur'aan in rukoo'." (Narrated by al-Nasaa'i, no. 5171. Imam Albaani said: its isnaad is sahih. Saheeh Sunan al-Nasaa'i, 1068).

3. From 'Abd-Allaah ibn 'Amr ibn al-Aas (may Allah be pleased with them both), who said: "A man passed by the Holy Prophet wearing two red garments and greeted him with salaam, but he did not return the greeting." (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, no. 2731; Abu Dawood, no. 3574. Al-Tirmidhi said: this hadeeth is hasan ghareeb with this isnaad).


Hadith which may be understood to mean that it is permissible to wear red if it is mixed with another colour

1. From Hilaal ibn 'Aamir from his father, who said: "I saw the Messenger of Allah in Mina, giving a khutbah sitting on his mule, wearing a red cloak, and 'Ali was in front of him, repeating what he said (in a loud voice, so that the people could hear)." (Narrated by Abu Dawood, no. 3551; classed as sahih by al-Albaani – Sahih Sunan Abi Dawood, 767).

2. The hadeeth of al-Baraa' ibn 'Aazib (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: "The Messenger of Allah was of average build. I saw him in a red hullah, and I never saw anyone more handsome than him." (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, no. 5400; Muslim, 4308).



[Red Hullah is a suit of two Yemeni garments which are woven with red and black stripes, or red and green stripes. It is described as red because of the red stripes in it.]

3. From al-Baraa', who said: "I never saw anyone who has hair wearing a red hullah and looking more handsome than the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). He had hair down to his shoulders, he was broad-shouldered and was neither short nor tall." (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, no. 1646. He said: in this chapter there is a report from Jaabir ibn Samurah and Abu Rimthah and Abu Juhayfah. This hadeeth is hasan saheeh…)

4. From al-Baraa' who said: "The Messenger of Allah had hair down to his earlobes. I saw him wearing a red hullah, and I have never seen anyone more handsome than him." (Narrated by Abu Dawood, no. 4072; Ibn Maajah, no. 3599. Classed as sahih by Albaani – Saheeh Sunan Abi dawood, 768).

5. Al-Bayhaqi narrated in al-Sunan: "[The Prophet] used to wear a red cloak on Eid."

This is the view of a number of scholars, such as al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar (Fath al-Baari Sharh 'ala Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 5400) and Ibn al-Qayyim (Zaad al-Ma'aad, 1-137). And Allah knows best.

Hadith - Bukhari 7.695 (Also 7.744) Narrated Ibn Abbas, r.a.
The Prophet (s.a.w.s) said, "Whoever cannot get an Izar, can wear trousers, and whoever cannot wear sandals can wear Khuffs."



12 : Garment Should Not Hang Past Ankles

Hadith - Al-Muwatta 48.12, Similar narration in Abu Dawood #4082
Yahya related to me from Malik from al Ala ibn Abd ar-Rahman that his father said, "I asked Abu Said al-Khudri about the lower garment. He said that he would inform me with knowledge and that he had heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, 'The lower garment of the muslim should reach to the middle of his calves. There is no harm in what is between that and the ankles. What is lower than that is in the Fire. What is lower than that is in the Fire. On the Day of Rising, Allah (The One God) will not look at a person who trails his lower garment in arrogance.' "

Hadith - Sahih Al-Bukhari 7.678, Narrated Abu Huraira, r.a.
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s) said, "The part of an Izar which hangs below the ankles is in the Fire."

Hadith - Sunan of Abu Dawood, Narrated AbuJurayy Jabir ibn Salim al-Hujaymi
The Holy Prophet said, "Have your lower garment halfway down your shin; if you cannot do it, have it up to the ankles. Beware of trailing the lower garment, for it is conceit and Allah does not like conceit."


13: Do Not wear images

Like humans, animals, or insects  on your cloth

Be Known as a Muslim
The Noble Qur'an 7:3
[Say (O Muhammad SAW) to these idolaters (pagan Arabs) of your folk:] Follow what has been sent down unto you from your Lord (the Qur'ân and Prophet Muhammad's Sunnah), and follow not any Auliyâ' (protectors and helpers, etc. who order you to associate partners in worship with Allâh), besides Him (Allâh). Little do you remember!

Narration - al-Hakim and Tirmidhi (hasan)
"Allah likes to see the mark of His benevolence on His servant."

Wearing the izar (loin-wrap), thawb (long cloth), `imama (turban), jubba (coat or mantle), sirwal (baggy pants), etc. is of the Holy Prophet's Sunnah (methodology) of dress. There is no such thing as an unimportant or unnecessary Sunnah.

Hadith - Tirmidhi (hasan), Book of knowledge; al-Baghawi, Sharh al-sunna 1:233.
Whoever gives life to one of my Sunnahs which was eliminated after my time will receive the reward of all those who practice it without their reward being diminished.. .

Hadith - Tirmidhi (hasan gharib), Book of knowledge.
Whoever gives life to one of my Sunnahs, he loves me: and whoever loves me is with me.


Dressing according to the sunnah is an act of ibadah that brings with it a reward, insha'Allah (God Willing).

The Companions were quick to imitate every aspect of the Holy Prophet's example of dress:

Hadith - Bukhari, Volume 9, Book 92, Number 401. Narrated Ibn 'Umar
The Prophet wore a gold ring and then the people followed him and wore gold rings too. Then the Prophet said, "I had this golden ring made for myself." He then threw it away and said, "I shall never put it on." Thereupon the people also threw their rings away.

The very least that has been said by the scholars of the Sharia (Islamic law) in the matter is that following the Prophet in matters of dress or everyday matters such as eating, walking, and sleeping is a matter of excellence (ihsan) and perfection (kamal) and is desirable (mustahabb) and part of one's good manners (adab) in the religion. Every desirable practice performed on the basis of such intention means a higher degree in paradise which the person who neglects it may not attain to, and Allah (The One God) knows best.

Gratitude to Allah (The One God) for the Protection of Clothing

The Noble Qur'an An-Nahl 16:81

And Allâh has made for you out of that which He has created shades, and has made for you places of refuge in the mountains, and has made for you garments to protect you from the heat (and cold), and coats of mail to protect you from your (mutual) violence. Thus does He perfect His Grace unto you, that you may submit yourselves to His Will (in Islâm).