Men - Dressing like Muslims

Abdalhakim · 27-02-2009 01:31PM #1

Salaams, brothers and sisters.

I'm new to this forum. I have a few questions for brothers (though if sisters have any views they would be welcome).

Do you think that we should dress like muslims, or is western dress acceptable?

Do you ever wear "Islamic" clothes? If so, what, and on what occasion? What reaction do you get from non-Muslims?

wes · 27-02-2009 02:40PM

Abdalhakim wrote: »

Salaams, brothers and sisters.

I'm new to this forum. I have a few questions for brothers (though if sisters have any views they would be welcome).

Do you think that we should dress like muslims, or is western dress acceptable?

Do you ever wear "Islamic" clothes? If so, what, and on what occasion? What reaction do you get from non-Muslims?

There is no such thing as "Islamic" clothes. Wearing Pakistani clothing for instance is not Islamic, it is a cultural thing, as Arab traditional clothing would be different theres. Now, there is nothing wrong with being proud of ones heritage and I have occassionaly worn traditional Pakistani clothing, but I normally dress in Western style clothing.

All we need to do is dress modestly and we can dress modestly while wearing Western style clothing.

AbuBakr · 27-02-2009 03:49PM

Assalaamu alaykum, brother Abdalhakim!

Welcome to the forum.

I agree with Wes - nothing wrong with "western clothing" so long as it's modest. I used to have to wear suits and ties to work, and I'd change in the evening into something more loose and comfortable. I've got a couple of thawbs (is that the correct spelling? - I'm talking about the thing that Arabs wear that's like an ankle-length shirt) and I like to wear one at home when I can. I don't know whether this makes sense, but I find that I move more slowly (can't really run about in a thawb!) and I feel calmer and more relaxed when I wear a thawb than when I wear something like a t-shirt and jeans.

Now that I don't have to dress up for work, I've thought of trying out something like the long shirt and loose pants that men from Pakistan sometimes wear, and actually wearing them outside rather than just indoors.

What about yourself?

Abdalhakim · 28-02-2009 02:30PM

AbuBakr wrote: »

Assalaamu alaykum, brother Abdalhakim!

Welcome to the forum.

I agree with Wes - nothing wrong with "western clothing" so long as it's modest. I used to have to wear suits and ties to work, and I'd change in the evening into something more loose and comfortable. I've got a couple of thawbs (is that the correct spelling? - I'm talking about the thing that Arabs wear that's like an ankle-length shirt) and I like to wear one at home when I can. I don't know whether this makes sense, but I find that I move more slowly (can't really run about in a thawb!) and I feel calmer and more relaxed when I wear a thawb than when I wear something like a t-shirt and jeans.

Now that I don't have to dress up for work, I've thought of trying out something like the long shirt and loose pants that men from Pakistan sometimes wear, and actually wearing them outside rather than just indoors.

What about yourself?

Wa'laikum assalam.

I think it's called the shalwar kameez - I've seen people wearing them, mainly I guess of India/Pakistan/Bangladesh origin. Would they be offended if I wore traditional Pakistani clothing when I'm not from Pakistan?

I just wear ordinary clothes. Don't we need to cover the awrah - the body from the navel to the knees, and cover the shoulders and upper body when we pray (and we should pray in clean clothes).

But I asked the question because I read a lot on the internet that Muslims should dress distinctively because "whoever imitates a people is one of them".

hivizman · 28-02-2009 06:05PM

Just out of interest, there was an article in The Guardian a couple of months ago with a nice photo of men at prayer. Here's the link:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/dec/11/muxlim-virtual-world-mmorpg

The photo shows a wide variety of clothes styles, from "western" to more "traditional".

Jannah · 01-03-2009 10:15AM

Hmmm, I don't think guys should get too bogged down in the whole 'needing' a beard, thobe, shawlar kameez etc- it's not really that important in the wide scope of things. While obviously women must wear hijab, I would find it peculiar to see a guy wearing something when it was not the clothes of his culture... I would think that the whole "whoever imitates a people is one of them" is more confined to mannerisms- especially since there is no such think as 'non-muslim' clothes as much as there isn't such a thing as 'muslim clothes'.

Abdalhakim · 01-03-2009 05:29PM

Yeah, I see what you mean. I guess it's seeing all these fellers on YouTube with the sunnah beards dressed like someone from Saudi that got me thinking.

Wasn't there something a couple of years ago about not wearing ties because they were supposed to be based on the Christian cross? I wasn't really convinced at the time, but a few brothers were very sure that this was so.

wes · 01-03-2009 10:46PM

Abdalhakim wrote: »

Yeah, I see what you mean. I guess it's seeing all these fellers on YouTube with the sunnah beards dressed like someone from Saudi that got me thinking.

Wasn't there something a couple of years ago about not wearing ties because they were supposed to be based on the Christian cross? I wasn't really convinced at the time, but a few brothers were very sure that this was so.

Well the tie things sounds made up to me.

Just wear what you find comfortable and don't worry about what people on You Tube say, anyone can throw up a video on there and claim to be an expert.

hivizman · 02-03-2009 12:57PM

On the tie thing, I remember this came up when some sailors in the British navy were held by Iran back in 2007. There was something about not wearing ties on the news when they were released, and I've found this article "Why don't Iranians wear ties?".

Briefly, it seems that, after the Iranian Revolution in 1979, ties were denounced as symbols of "western imperialism". Some Iranian clerics rationalised the ban on wearing ties by arguing that the tie was derived from the cross that crusaders wore on their surcoats:

Crusaders in the 13th and 14th century were attacking Muslims and wanted to conquer Jerusalem. Their clothing was made of armor with a big cross over their chest. Later on, the cross became smaller and slowly changed to a white shirt and cravatt (neck tie). This resembles the cross and has become the symbol of western civilization, western domination, and capitalism.
Source: http://www.icbh.org/topics/muslimu.htm

The consensus on the web, though, is that wearing ties is OK for Muslim men so long as they are not made of silk and don't have pictures of animals or non-Islamic religious symbols on them.

Jannah · 02-03-2009 05:49PM

Abdalhakim wrote: »

Yeah, I see what you mean. I guess it's seeing all these fellers on YouTube with the sunnah beards dressed like someone from Saudi that got me thinking.

Haha, ahhh, I know what you mean! I think that the kurta is a great option for men, though- it's very blendable into 'western' style clothes too.

hivizman wrote: »

wearing ties is OK for Muslim men so long as they are not made of silk and don't have pictures of animals or non-Islamic religious symbols on them.

Lol, I think ALL guys shouldn't have ties with animals on them!!

Abdalhakim · 03-03-2009 12:01AM

Jannah wrote: »

Haha, ahhh, I know what you mean! I think that the kurta is a great option for men, though- it's very blendable into 'western' style clothes too.

I've been looking at pictures - some of the kurtas look very neat, and as you say you can wear one with an ordinary pair of trousers and still look good. :cool:

Abu Shakurah · 03-03-2009 04:27AM

Abdalhakim wrote: »

Salaams, brothers and sisters.

I'm new to this forum. I have a few questions for brothers (though if sisters have any views they would be welcome).

Do you think that we should dress like muslims, or is western dress acceptable?

Do you ever wear "Islamic" clothes? If so, what, and on what occasion? What reaction do you get from non-Muslims?

Wa alaikum as salam,

The requirement for men is that the garments should be loose and not show the form from the navel to the knee. You should also avoid wearing clothes in imitation of the kuffar. The garments should also be above the ankle, for the Prophet told us that whatever is below the ankle is in the hellfire.

Abu Shakurah · 03-03-2009 04:30AM

hivizman wrote: »

On the tie thing, I remember this came up when some sailors in the British navy were held by Iran back in 2007. There was something about not wearing ties on the news when they were released, and I've found this article "Why don't Iranians wear ties?".

Briefly, it seems that, after the Iranian Revolution in 1979, ties were denounced as symbols of "western imperialism". Some Iranian clerics rationalised the ban on wearing ties by arguing that the tie was derived from the cross that crusaders wore on their surcoats:

The consensus on the web, though, is that wearing ties is OK for Muslim men so long as they are not made of silk and don't have pictures of animals or non-Islamic religious symbols on them.

I asked this question to Shaikh AbdulAziz, the Mufti of Saudi Arabia, in 2002 and he said as ties were no longer a specific dress associated with the kuffar, that they were acceptable. I would still advise the brothers to be careful in the manner of their dress - the trousers of the west are not acceptable attire for modest males.

Abu Shakurah · 03-03-2009 04:31AM

Abdalhakim wrote: »

Yeah, I see what you mean. I guess it's seeing all these fellers on YouTube with the sunnah beards dressed like someone from Saudi that got me thinking.

Wasn't there something a couple of years ago about not wearing ties because they were supposed to be based on the Christian cross? I wasn't really convinced at the time, but a few brothers were very sure that this was so.

Shaikh Al Albani was of this opinion.

oceanclub · 04-03-2009 09:18PM

hivizman wrote: »

Some Iranian clerics rationalised the ban on wearing ties by arguing that the tie was derived from the cross that crusaders wore on their surcoats.

Pity they didn't have Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cravat

The cravat is a neckband, the forerunner of the modern tailored necktie and bow tie. [...] The modern cravat originated in the 1630s; like most men's fashions between the 17th century and World War I, it was of military origin. In the reign of France's Louis XIII, Croatian mercenaries [2] were enlisted into a regiment supporting the King and Cardinal Richelieu against the Duc de Guise and the Queen Mother, Marie de Medici. The traditional Croat military kit aroused Parisian curiosity about the unusual, picturesque scarves distinctively knotted at the Croats' necks; the cloths that were used, ranged from the coarse cloths of enlisted soldiers, to the fine linens and silks of the officers. The sartorial word "cravat" derives from the French "cravate," a corrupt French pronunciation of "Croat" — in Croatian, "Hrvat".

P.

balkanac · 21-03-2009 07:58PM

CENSORSHIP BY A NON MUSLIM MODERATOR

wes · 21-03-2009 08:12PM

balkanac wrote: »

imitating the disbelievers is forbidden and who ever immitates the disbelievers becomes one of them ooooo muslims why do you walk down the street with your head bowed down are you not proud muslims be different grow your beards dress differently and be proud muslims and do not worry about anything else for who is more worthy of fearing than ALLAH do you fear men and their gaze of dissaproval because you dress differently? be muslims islam means submission to allah and his laws not to tk maxx and heatons or dunnes stores down the street

Are you joking? You sound like a parody by being so extreme.

Nodin · 21-03-2009 08:18PM

balkanac wrote: »

imitating the disbelievers is forbidden and who ever immitates the disbelievers becomes one of them ooooo muslims why do you walk down the street with your head bowed down are you not proud muslims be different grow your beards dress differently and be proud muslims and do not worry about anything else for who is more worthy of fearing than ALLAH do you fear men and their gaze of dissaproval because you dress differently? be muslims islam means submission to allah and his laws not to tk maxx and heatons or dunnes stores down the street

...see, if you over do it, it becomes too obvious that you're taking the michael....Less is more.

balkanac · 21-03-2009 08:36PM

CENSORSHIP BY A NON MUSLIM MODERATOR

wes · 21-03-2009 08:52PM

balkanac wrote: »

too extreme :eek:
i guess thats it now days if you have a beard and pray 5 times a day you are too extreme prehaps all muslims should immitate the non muslims

There is nothing wrong with growing a beard. I grow one from time to time. Sometimes, I even wear a Salvar Gameese (the spelling there is completely wrong) and sometimes I wears Jean and and cleanly shaven. You do realize not all Muslims actually do the whole beard thing right? Where my family is from, it is common to see men with and without beards.

Also, there is nothing wrong with wearing the same clothes as non-Muslims. Also, there is no such thing as Muslim clothing either btw. Also Non-Muslims also grow beards, so the whole imitation thing is silly if you ask me.

balkanac wrote: »

lets all celebrate easter munch on the eggs, kiss under the missletoe for christmass or buuu scare each other for hallooween for they are some of the non muslim festivals and if a muslim celebrates theese he is imitating the non muslims thus wearing european clothes is like eating a big fat turkey for christmass dinner

Whats wrong with joining in on the fun? Halloween is a bit if fun for children. As for kissing under mistletoe, well you don't have to do that, I personally wouldn't kiss a stranger in such a fashion, as I would find it uncomfortable. As for Easter eggs, there just chocolate eggs and a bit of fun for children. You can join in on all these things and still be a good Muslim. You don't have to do anything you feel uncomfortable doing either, but joining in on some the fun is a good thing.

I would also think it good to invite non-Muslim friends to join in on Eid. I know this kind of thing is done in Malaysia, where everyone joins in on there others festivals and everyone has a lot of fun and gets to know one another better.

balkanac wrote: »

it must be when you think about it

cheers:eek:

I think your going way way over board here. Join in on some of the fun. You'll still be a good Muslim. Don't listen to those who say you aren't, they are just hateful people imho.

balkanac · 21-03-2009 10:14PM

CENSORSHIP BY A NON MUSLIM MODERATOR

Abdalhakim · 21-03-2009 11:08PM

balkanac wrote: »

imitating the disbelievers is forbidden and who ever immitates the disbelievers becomes one of them ooooo muslims why do you walk down the street with your head bowed down are you not proud muslims be different grow your beards dress differently and be proud muslims and do not worry about anything else for who is more worthy of fearing than ALLAH do you fear men and their gaze of dissaproval because you dress differently? be muslims islam means submission to allah and his laws not to tk maxx and heatons or dunnes stores down the street

I'm confused. Some of you are saying that there's no such thing as "Islamic clothing" for men, just traditional clothes of people who happen to be Muslim. Others are saying that, if I wear anything that's commonly worn by non-Muslims, I'm "imitating the kuffar" and that makes me a non-believer. I know that there are many ahadith about what the Prophet (may the blessings of Allah and peace be upon him) wore, and what he liked and disliked, but I thought that the only obligatory thing for normal wear is to cover the awrah?

oceanclub · 21-03-2009 11:14PM

balkanac wrote: »

imitating the disbelievers is forbidden and who ever immitates the disbelievers becomes one of them ooooo muslims why do you walk down the street with your head bowed down are you not proud muslims be different grow your beards dress differently and be proud muslims and do not worry about anything else for who is more worthy of fearing than ALLAH do you fear men and their gaze of dissaproval because you dress differently? be muslims islam means submission to allah and his laws not to tk maxx and heatons or dunnes stores down the street

I thought it was against Islam not to drink before posting?

P.

wes · 22-03-2009 01:43AM

balkanac wrote: »

a bit of fun?
a bit of fun?

its only a bacon sandwich and here is my friend he sleeps with my wife and i sleep with his wife but its only a bit of fun, and we slander other people while we have a few beers down at the strip bar at the weekend its only a bit of fun

Who says you have to do these things? Again, you can be a good Muslims and engage in local festivals and what not. Its not against Islam to eat a chocolate egg for goodness sake.

You don't need to eat bacon or have sex outside marriage if you don't want too. No one is holding a gun to your head and saying you have to do these things. You are quite frankly being ridiculous here.

balkanac wrote: »

if you think religion is fun you are in for a suprise place your hand over the burning stove and feel the heat of hellfire for that is not fun god did not make religion and mankind for a bit of fun this life is a test for the here after and hellfire is where i fear a bit of fun may take me my imaginary wife friends and drinking pals.. to

Who said you have to do those things? You are engaged in a absurd straw man. You have invented a position for me to argue with. I have never said any of what you suggest above and this is an invention of your own.

Also, I am pretty sure we can fun on this Earth and still be good Muslims. To some how suggest otherwise is silly in my opinion.

balkanac wrote: »

sura 21:17 "we created not the heaven and the earth and what is between them for sport" ie a bit of fun

What the hell are you talking about?

wes · 22-03-2009 01:45AM

Abdalhakim wrote: »

I'm confused. Some of you are saying that there's no such thing as "Islamic clothing" for men, just traditional clothes of people who happen to be Muslim.

The simple fact, is that there is no such thing as Muslim clothing. All we have to do is dress modestly.

Abdalhakim wrote: »

Others are saying that, if I wear anything that's commonly worn by non-Muslims, I'm "imitating the kuffar" and that makes me a non-believer. I know that there are many ahadith about what the Prophet (may the blessings of Allah and peace be upon him) wore, and what he liked and disliked, but I thought that the only obligatory thing for normal wear is to cover the awrah?

IMHO, these people are taking things to an extreme.

balkanac · 22-03-2009 09:30AM

CENSORSHIP BY A NON MUSLIM MODERATOR

wes · 22-03-2009 12:40PM

balkanac wrote: »

The simple fact, is that there is no such thing as Muslim clothing:eek:

Well, there is no such thing as Muslim clothing. Just Pakistani or Arab clothing and what not.

Big Wave · 22-03-2009 12:44PM

Kusumac.

balkanac · 22-03-2009 12:59PM

weser, look at depictions of muslims in art through out the centuries and you will note a distinct image today there are no turbans and men are not covered by a single white sheet as were the prophets companions no suits no hats no englishman look as regards to "islamic clothes" there is a recession proof idea for you sell muslim clothes a piece of cloth wrapped around a man is muslim be different

wes · 22-03-2009 01:10PM

balkanac wrote: »

weser, look at depictions of muslims in art through out the centuries and you will note a distinct image today there are no turbans and men are not covered by a single white sheet as were the prophets companions no suits no hats no englishman look as regards to "islamic clothes" there is a recession proof idea for you sell muslim clothes a piece of cloth wrapped around a man is muslim be different

All I have to do is look at the fact that Pakistani Muslims wear different clothes than Arab Muslims for instance.

As for ancient art, well it hardly changes the fact that Muslims the world over dress differently.

balkanac · 22-03-2009 01:22PM

CENSORSHIP BY A NON MUSLIM MODERATOR

Men - Dressing like Muslims

Comments