Wonder why it is only that women must cover their whole bodies except hands and faces, while I have never heard someone taking about how Muslim men must dress. The Holy Qur’an has clearly mentioned how women should be dressed at any country or environment whether in a Islamic country or non-Islamic country, but we also need to know how should Muslim men be dressed at any country or environment whether in a Islamic country or in a non-Islamic country.
Famous scholars agreed on the mode of dressing for men during prayers. So if that is during prayers, it means that this is the time when a person shows high respect and fear of Allah. Fearing and respect of Allah should not end immediately after prayer, but should also be applied to all the occasions and activities.
(1) Covering the nakedness
Allah says in the Holy Qur’an, “O Children of Adam, take your adornment (by wearing proper clothing) for every mosque (prayer)” )” (al-A’raf 31).
Salamah ibn al-Aku’ (ra) said to the Prophet, “O Messenger of Allah, may I pray in a long shirt?” He said, “Yes, but button it, even with just a thorn.” (al-Bukhari)
The `awrah (private parts to be necessarily covered) for men includes what is between the navel and the knees as stated by the Prophet (pbuh), so covering it is obligatory according to Islamic law. Wearing shorts that disclose the thighs or show the shape of the buttocks, does not cover the `awrah. Neither does a dress that is transparent and displays skin complexion, nor a tight dress that shows the size, shape or bends of the `awrah. All of this is prohibited (haraam). If the trousers are wide enough and not tight, then one may tuck his shirt in it as long as it does not display his `awrah. Covering the `awrah is obligatory during the prayer and outside it. What many people do is cover their `awrah while going to prayer but are negligent of it outside the prayer. This is a clear mistake and a wrong act which happens due to lack of understanding or as a result of a misunderstanding of the matter.
(2) Covering the Pubic Region & the Thigh
The Messenger of Allah passed by Ma’mar (ra) while his thighs were uncovered. He said, to him, ‘O Ma’mar, cover your thighs, for they are (part of the) ‘aurah.” .” This is related by Ahmad, al-Haakim and al-Bukhari in At-Taareekh and in mu’allaq form in his Sahih.
(3) Wearing Two Garments in Salat
It is preferred for a person to wear at least two garments, but he can wear just one if that is all he has. The Prophet said, “If one of you is going to pray, he should wear two garments, for Allah has the most right that you should look good for Him. If one does not have two garments, he should cover himself with a cloak when he prays, but not like the Jews do.” (Related by at-Tabaraani and al-Bayhaqi.)
General Guidelines Applicable Inside & Outside the Prayer
(1) Resembling Women’s Dress
Part of the natural inclinations of mankind is that men should preserve the masculinity which Allah has created in them, and women should preserve the femininity which Allah has created in them. Without this, decent human life becomes impossible. Men resembling women and vice versa is something which goes against man’s innate nature and opens the door to corruption and widespread promiscuity. The ruling in sharee’ah is that when it is stated that the person who does a thing is cursed, that thing is haram.
The Messenger of Allah said: “Allah has cursed the men who make themselves look like women and the women who make themselves look like men.” (Reported by Al-Bukhaari). Ibn ‘Abbas (radiallahu ‘anhu) also reported that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “Allah has cursed effeminate men and masculine women.” (Reported by Al-Bukhaari).
The resemblance may be in the way they move, walk and speak. Similarly, the two sexes are not permitted to resemble one another in dress or by wearing anything that is specifically for the other sex. So a man is not permitted to wear necklaces, bracelets, anklets or earrings, etc., as is widespread among hippies and the like. Women are not permitted to wear things that are specifically for men, like shirts, trousers etc.; whatever she wears should be different in style, details and color.
The evidence that the two sexes should not resemble one another in dress is found in the hadeeth narrated by Abu Hurayrah (radiallahu ‘anhu): “Allah has cursed the man who wears women’s clothes and the woman who wear men’s clothes.” (Reported by Abu Dawud).
(2) Resembling Clothing of the unbeliever
The use of clothing of the unbelievers which they have worn is permissible as long as there is no known impurity regarding it, because the default for things in general is purity and it is not overridden by mere doubt. Likewise, what they have woven and dyed and what has been imported from their countries are also permissible, as long as they do not comprise anything forbidden, because the Prophet (pbuh)and his sahaabah (companions) wore items the kuffaar had woven and made, and likewise the Prophet (pbuh) wore a Roman a long outer garment, open in front, with wide sleeves.
(3) Clothing Worn to Show One’s Status or to Show-Off
Regarding dress of high repute, i.e. to show-off or as a status symbol), there is a sound and truthful hadeeth narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allaah be pleased with them both) that Allah’s messenger Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “He who wears libaas ush-shuhrah (clothes of pride) in this world will be dressed in humiliating clothes on the Day of Resurrection.” (narrated by Ahmed & Abu Dawood)
Those who wear such dresses will be punished on the Day of Judgment in accordance with their deeds, provided that he/she meant sovereignty and supremacy upon mankind. In return, Allah Almighty will humiliate him/her on the Day of Judgment and will suppress him/her to put-on such a dress for which people would despise him/her and mock at him/her. The question here is: “What consists libaas ush-shuhrah?” What is meant by this expression is a anything worn to show-off and to attract the attentions of others, so as to look upwards unto him/her once he/she appears wearing it. This, of course is due either to its strange colors amongst the ordinary dresses of other people or due to the stylish models or even to how precious, expensive or even to the contrary of this as being trivial and completely valueless. Hence, our righteous forefathers used to hate, disregard and even despise either extremity of the fame-clothing: i.e. those which are highly bombastic & precious and/or vise versa alike.
(5) Wearing Clothes Below the Ankles (Al-Isbaal)
One of the things which people treat as insignificant, although it is serious in the sight of Allah, is isbaal, which means lengthening one’s clothes below the ankles; some people let their clothes touch the ground, and some allow them to drag on the floor behind them. Abu Dharr (radiallahu ‘anhu) reported that the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “There are three to whom Allah will not speak on the Day of Resurrection, nor look at nor praise: the one who wears his lower garment below the ankles; the one who reminds others of his gifts or favors; and the one who sells his product by means of lies and false oaths.” (Reported by Muslim).
The one who says, “I am not wearing my clothes below my ankles out of arrogance” is in fact praising himself in a way that is unacceptable. The warning against isbaal is issued to all, regardless of whether they do it out of arrogance or not, as the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “Whatever part of the lower garment is below the ankles is in Hell.” (Reported by Imaam Ahmad; Saheeh al-Jaami’).
